Cats - should they be allowed to roam?

[aidualk]

I used to be a cat owner and I want a kitten eventually. Lately I came across this page on facebook and it made me think. Should cats really be allowed to roam free wherever they want?
They kill wildlife, crap in people's gardens and anger dogs/animals that are peacefully chilling in their houses/gardens.
Really think about it. And let me know! I want to really take in both sides before I adopt a fur baby!

Also need to add - no other pet is allowed to do this, not ONE. So why are cats the exception?

Because they are free spirits. Ours largely hang about in our house and garden

On balance, I think no. For the reasons you've said and also for their own benefit. In many countries they don't roam and they get on fine, so whether they roam or not is a cultural thing and it's mostly normal here but that doesn't make it an intrinsically good thing.

I think the concept of owning an animal is a bit weird anyway but I guess if you do say you own one then it makes sense for it to be within your physical control.

A couple of my friends have cats and they've cat proofed their gardens with those sort of slanting inwards things that you put on top of fences so the cats are contained although of course they still impact on any wildlife that is actually in the garden, but it's a compromise that works for them.

No I'm sick of having to clean cat shit out of my flower beds

I'd like to know how people expect cat owners to control where their cats go. Have any of you ever even met a cat?! Their catchphrase is "don't tell me what to do"

Yes as they would continue to roam even if we stopped keeping them as pets as there are so many strays around the world. I, for one, get more irritated by pigeons🤣

No, they shouldn’t. Several of my cat-owning friends admit to owning them because they’re ‘less work’ than dogs. But I think the reality is that the ‘work’ just gets shared around- I’m forever cleaning poo out of my garden before DS can ply safely- really annoying to be cleaning up after someone else’s pet. And don’t get me started on what they do to native wildlife.

Well, you set physical boundaries. Doors, walls, fences. All of these items are freely available. There are entire parts of the world where cats are indoor pets and others where cats are pests and aren't indoors at all. It's not some kind of default state to say cats are owned but their actions unregulated.

It's interesting actually. I guess cats usually don't present much risk (other than the mentioned antisocial behaviour!)nor are they perceived as dangerous. They are pretty good at looking after themselves. They also come back again- would other pets do this if trained? Genuine question - I don't know much about other pets as I've only had a cat! They're also quite self-sufficient but, again, maybe other pets are too? We let our cat roam but she doesn't tend to go far. She quite possibly annoys the neighbours but they let their cats out too so we are pretty used to / tolerant of them around here.

I have a house cat, she never goes outside. I see so many missing cat posts on my local fb, I couldn't bear to not know if my beloved pet was safe or not. Unfortunately, where I live, people think nothing of letting dogs roam (uk) and there are 100s of wandering cats, and accidental litters as a result. I can't get over people not neutering their cats if they do let them roam, mine is spayed for her own comfort despite never being at risk of impersonation!

If every cat had access to a litter tray it would be a lot nicer for everyone else.

*impregnation!

As recently as the 70s, maybe even later, dogs were allowed to roam free too.
I can't remember why this stopped.

Lanbro - I had to laugh at impersonation!!

I remember the dogs roaming around. They were always on a mission and had their routes.

I’m guessing increased traffic knocked it on the head (figuratively and literally).

God I love cats! And I love how they do whatever they want.
But in lockdown I have been obsessed with the tits and robins at the feeder outside my window. They’re adorable and feed each other, it’s so cute, like they’re kissing!! So when I get a cat it will have to stay inside.

I’m so sick of cats in our garden. They shit everywhere and have left dead mice and birds. I have a young child, so have to check before she goes outside. I actually don’t see what pleasure people get from keeping outdoor cats, they’re the pet that is never at home so what’s the point? The ones beside me are going to come to an unpleasant end

No, they shouldn't!

IF people really feel the need to let them out, they should at the very least put a bell on their collar, in a vain attempt to reduce their killings of wildlife.

There's no evidence that cats are the cause of a decline in wild bird numbers in this country. Many bird species are increasing in numbers.

They also kill rats and mice, which are pests, and which would multiply in astonishing numbers if left unchecked. There used to be a huge breeding pair of rats in our neighbour's garden, and the only reason their offspring didn't overrun the area is because of all the local cats killing the babies before they could reproduce (the adults were too big to be caught, and eventually died).

Cats won't usually go near dogs outside their own home, so if dogs are angered just by seeing them, I think that's the dog's issue?

Unless the cat lives in an exceptionally busy area, I think the risk of road accidents is an acceptable payoff for the huge amount of stimulation and ability to express natural behaviour cats get from the outdoors.

It would be nice if cats would be trained to use litterboxes in their own homes or gardens though, I admit. Cats don't tend to toilet in their own gardens, which is why a lot of cat owners don't realise the annoyance they cause to others.

I do understand the nuisance and I hate it when they stalk birds, but cats would never have been domesticated if they weren't useful. THEY KILL VERMIN, or at the very least, keep them at bay. People don't seem to appreciate that! I have only been without a cat once in my life, and in that period, mice got into my house. Really horrible, you will understand if you ever had the experience! Fewer bin collections, people feeding birds with seed, neglected gardens - mice are everywhere and cats do a good job keeping the numbers down.

You don’t get to claim that cats don’t affect wildlife and then say they control the mouse population at the same time....

They are complete pains and I can’t quite believe that it’s acceptable to let your pet shit at random on other people’s property. One of our local cats gives no shits about anything and has to be chased out of our bedrooms if we leave windows open.

@Littleelffriend I think you'll find that the law is against you. Cats are both protected against cruelty and as the owner's property. If you make those threats verbally to your neighbour, then don't be surprised if the owner reports you - I would ask the police to note it,as evidence in the event of the cat being injured or killed.

I think it's morally wrong to keep cats in high density housing areas where they are a source of misery for their neighbours. I have had to cover my vegetable beds to stop local cats digging and shitting in them. Also, any bit of border where I've been sowing seeds or planting seedlings. Since next door decided to keep two cats, I no longer have as many birds visiting my feeders - they may not kill the birds but they do deter them from my garden. I receive no joy from other people's cats.

@jackdawdawn which law is that? Cats are not recognised as animals by police Scotland.

Cats can be kept indoors, but are more likely to suffer from behavioural problems in this situation. They have been domesticated for less time than dogs have, and less intensely. Cats still need to walk on the wild side, in my view, and keeping them in frustrates their natural instincts in many cases.