I would really like a cat, but...

[canwehaveacatchat]

I have been considering getting a kitten. My DS16 is also now desperate for one.

But... we currently live in a small two bed flat. I don't even have a discreet place to put a litter tray, and we don't have garden.

It feels unfair to get a cat that can never go outside. But this must happen? I had two cats as a child, and eventually we moved house and the second one was able to get out, but until then, they were house cats.

Does anyone here have a similar living situation?

If I was to buy an automated cat litter tray, would it be nasty to put it in the living room (in a corner, under a table, for example?

We are hoping to buy somewhere bigger in the next 6 months or so, but no guarantees it won't still be a flat.

Also, although currently WFH, I'm usually office based. Maybe it's not fair to have a cat and be out 8 hours a day.

Any thoughts appreciated.

My SIL has rag dolls. They don't do well as outdoor cats, they also don't mind having their own space and being left. There are many litter tray options.

[quote RandomMess]@Littlewhitedove2 mine are whistle trained too, they even appear half asleep as it's in their sub consciousness! Half the time they don't know why they've come 😆[/quote]
It’s brilliant isn’t it!? I don’t know why more people don’t do it- cats train so easily in most cases!

The dog comes running too just in case she gets lucky 😆

We started off whistling every time we fed them, then it was just in the evenings for their last feed which was a treat of half a pouch shared between 2.

Doesn't matter what time of day we whistle now they come and tbh probably whistle once a week at most.

We have two British Shorthairs, a brother and sister (littermates); who live a very happy indoor existence.

The breed is playful yet docile; and are unerringly trusting- not a desirable trait for an expensive, slow moving cat with a lack of street cunning!

Ours have an enriched environment- freedom of the whole house, toys, trees etc and are seemingly really happy with their lot. They have supervised access to the garden in summer, but aside from catching flies and sleeping in the sun, life was very much same usual and they happily spent most of the day still in the house!

I'd say go for it!

We have a cat in a 2 bed flat. I am happy with the set up because our cat is terrified to go outdoors and refuses when offered. Fair enough. We have ramps and ledges on the walls for her to climb about on and she's content.

However when it's her little life is over I would wait til we've bought a house with a garden before having another cat as I don't think it's fair to keep them shut in.

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences (and training tips )

@marmalademermaid your cats do sound perfect, living a lovely life, but I'd definitely only be having one, so it wouldn't have company apart from me and DS.

I will definitely wait and see what our living situation is at the summer, but I've made the mistake of following some Instagram pages and I'm so cat-broody

I mean, looook...

Nothing wrong with having an indoor cat (in my opinion - I know there are people who disagree!) I have 2 of my own. They are Ragdolls, and as another poster has already said, they were bred to be housecats, and don't fare well as outdoor cats. They have very little prey drive (if at all), very dopey, very loving and affectionate. We adore our boys and I can't see my husband and I ever getting a non-Ragdoll cat now (we've both had other cats in the past)!

Please don't.
Cats aren't meant to be kept indoors. It might be different if you had a big home for it to wander & exercise some of its instincts, but the fact you live in a small flat makes it doubly cruel and selfish. Sorry OP. An adult or senior rescue cat that's known nothing but indoor life is a different story.

@EllenRipley

Please don't. Cats aren't meant to be kept indoors. It might be different if you had a big home for it to wander & exercise some of its instincts, but the fact you live in a small flat makes it doubly cruel and selfish. Sorry OP. An adult or senior rescue cat that's known nothing but indoor life is a different story.

Agree except the bit about a cat that knows no better. It's still cruel.

There is no such thing as an "inside cat".'

There are cats that aren't allowed outside, or through conditioning or preference stay inside.

But they are not born this way.

Much like there's no such thing as a "cage bird".

It's cruel.

i have an indoor cat in my (large) studio flat. he’s a rescue - we got him at 6 months and he moved here with me aged about 14 months.

he was mistreated as a kitten and doesn’t know how to Cat. he doesn’t really play (he has MANY toys!) and is perfectly content either looking out of the window or sleeping in one of his many preferred spots.

he’s not clever enough to go outside - he just doesn’t have the smarts and he’s still nervous aged nearly 4.

i have a litter tray in the bathroom, i scoop as soon as he uses it.

he is a very, very happy cat.

I also have two indoor cats. We adopted them from the RSPCA as indoor cats.

They are both very happy.

Interesting that you say you want an expensive breed but you want it to go out & wander. You do know that expensive cats allowed outdoors are likely to be stolen?

I don't particularly want it to go out, quite the opposite. As I said, I'd be pretty nervous, but I just thought that it was best for them to be allowed to.

Cats are very domesticated now, many pedigrees are clueless and really not suited to outdoor experiences!

I agree that farm cats etc it would be cruel to keep them indoors.

Friends that have Ragdolls describe them as having "fluff for brains"

Most cats if they miss the window of going out as kittens once they older then they are actually too afraid of outside and it just stresses them.

How many cats go 6 doors up the road and spend hours in their 2nd home, an awful lot of them!!! They like their home comforts because they've been domesticated.

We got our cats - 2.8 year old sisters at 8 weeks and they are indoor cats.

Tbh I have heard too many sad stories about outdoor cats and we live in a cul de sac filled with cars off a pretty busy road which really put me off letting them out.

They have never known any different, they have each other company, lots of toys, a huge cat tree and lots of fuss from me and DD. They are happy, healthy and loved.

FWIW one of my friends is a senior vet nurse specialising in feline behaviour and she's has raised and kept 6 healthy, happy indoor cats from bottlefed kittens to their late teens.

@RandomMess

How many cats go 6 doors up the road and spend hours in their 2nd home, an awful lot of them!!! They like their home comforts because they've been domesticated.

Domesticated is not the same as "doesn't go out".

Cats are hunters. Rat and mouse catchers.

Our seemingly docile dope of a cat regularly brings home his catch of the day.

Honestly to me it's like caging a bird. It's just not right.

I would rather he lived a full, active, outdoor and potentially shorter life, than a long, dull, and sedentary indoor one.

British shorthairs are perfectly suited to being indoor cats. In fact, all the ones I’ve known have been the opposite of streetwise and I feel it’s irresponsible to let them out.

Also, if you want a kitten and a specific breed then go for it! Just have your cat spayed/neutered even if it’s an indoor cat and you can be sure you’re not contributing to the surplus in animals.

Honestly if you're getting a BSH cat, I wouldn't let it out for many reasons but the one being someone would probably steal it to keep or to sell on, they are expensive breeds and people know as much. I have five indoor cats who aren't interested in going out, one passed away last year at eighteen and she wasn't interested either - I think most cats are just happy napping the day away with a few play times thrown in etc and they entertain each other.

My current cats go out (rehomed as adults and used to going out).

The girl suffers with arthritis due to a RTA before we got her so is on supplements and pain relief and has to hobble around.

Boy hunts but never eats it just plays and the animals has a horrible slow death

Thankfully we aren't quite living in a Red squirrel area because having a nest of grey squirrels brought up is just lovely plus having to take them to the vet to be put down.

Countless abscesses needing vet treatment from fighting, yes he loves those experiences.

I have a cat who chooses not to go outdoors. We live in a two bed flat, litter tray in the bathroom so it’s all fine. During the summer windows wide open, I know she can jump down and back up - she did it once and freaked out. She’s not interested. Maybe next summer she will venture out. People can say it’s cruel, but I’ve never stopped her.

My last cat was an old rescue who used to occasionally go out and then chap the door to get back in after like ten minutes.

@AhNowTed I think it really depends on the cat. Mine spent 4 years stray and has decided that was quite enough. He couldn't catch a cold, runs away from spiders and ventures out to sniff the air and back in. Summer he sleeps in the garden. If a person or another cat glances at him then he runs back in crying
He's more than welcome to go out (no cat flap but I let him out) but doing actual cat stuff.. no

In fact, all the ones I’ve known have been the opposite of streetwise and I feel it’s irresponsible to let them out.

That's one of my two in a nutshell...they are sisters but totally different (possibly different fathers within the litter).

Edie is very obviously part Bengal in looks and temperament (another reason I wouldn't let her out). She is curious and agile and always lands on her feet - including on the one occasion she managed to fall out of a first floor window.

Piper would cheerfully follow her...and get in all manner of predicaments...she's a huge ball of fluff who didn't get the hang of jumping on the kitchen worktop until she was 2.

I'd have to have the local fire brigade on speed dial if I let her out.

Hmm...maybe its not such a bad idea after all ?

I have a BSH, he can go out but very rarely shows any interest. We have high walls around our garden so if he did go out he couldn't get out. Very occasionally he'll go and lie in the sun for 20 minutes but he could easily adapt to living totally inside. He is rubbish at climbing and doesn't have a lot of balance.

Be aware that although BSHs are absolutely gorgeous, laid-back and loving they are not lap cats and won't get on your lap for a cuddle. They also loathe being 'off their feet' so don't like being picked up and they also sleep a huge amount of the time. Mine is very affectionate and loyal and likes to be near me at all times but he never gets on my lap and he's only really wide awake for around three or four hours. He doesn't even lie on the chair next to me, he prefers to lie on the footstool near my feet. He does love strokes and fuss though.

I also have a Ragdoll and she is much more cuddly, loves being picked up and will sit on my lap for ages. She is very easy-going but needs more company and attention. I love them both and like having the two as they are good company for each other and have different but complementary characters.

Dd has 4 cats all various ages, all since kittens. 1DC spends alot of time outside/roams, 1 doesn't ever bother to step foot outside, 1 'plays' in the garden and likes to 'patrol' the garage roof, 1 will hide in the tree out front to 'shout' at anyone walking past it. Cats are basically furry, loveable arseholes who'll do whatever they choose to do. They can no longer keep upstairs windows open as the DC who has never shown any interest in the outside world nor easy accessible cat flat for 4yrs, was caught half hanging out an upstairs window 🙄