Cats always getting killed on the roads

[JuliaBrett]

On Facebook not a week goes by without someone saying 'have you seen my cat' or 'cat missing or there is a dead /dying cat on the road.' Isn't it about time we stopped allowing cats to roam free and for their own safety either keep them in the garden with secure fencing, keep them indoors or don't keep a cat at all.
It's cruel, we don't allow dogs out on the road so why do we allow cats? If you love your cat keep them safe.

We allow cats out because we can’t thaw them for walks and they want to be outside

I have a cat who is made to stay indoors or in a cat house in the garden. I can't say he's absolutely happy with it at all times, especially spring, but he's safe. I've lost several cats (never came back despite being chipped and never missed coming home for a meal) so not doing that again.

@JuliaBrett Because ultimately nature intended for cats to be outside.

Have you ever owned one? I suspect no as if you did you’d realise how ridiculous you sound and you’d know that a life indoors is no life for a cat. It’s not like dogs where you can take them out on walks and for runs at the forest, park etc for enrichment

Any time that ours need to be kept in for a few days due to a house move or medical problem they are soon climbing the walls to get outdoors again.

It's cruel. It's their nature is not an excuse. You could say the same about dogs.

I have three cats.

One is a house cat out of choice, she gets stressed if she wonders more than a few steps into the garden from the back door and darts back in soon as I go in.
One is a house cat because she never grew, shes 3 and the size of a kitten and would just be a disaster letting her roam.
The third is the size of a farm cat, he roams but he doesn't go far (likes to sit at the end of the garden hoping he can belly flop the birds). He's kept in during winter & when it gets dark. He'd go crazy if I kept him in all summer though.

I think it's safer to keep them in personally. You can leash cats; they do get used to them.

@JuliaBrett You're not for real!

Have you tried taking it out of the freezer c.12 hours in advance?

If you keep a cat indoors from the get go, they don't know any different and are fine. You can also buy catios these days! people are so dramatic

It's cruel to keep cats inside if they want to wander.

I've had eight cats in my life, all here in London, and only one was killed the road.

Yes I had cats. Your rudeness suggests that you have a cat and let it run the risk of getting maimed on the roads. So feeling guilty? So a short life with a painful end is ok with you?

You do realise the stark difference between a cat and a dog? Cats are clever and keep their wits about them. Ours all know their own way home and never stray out of our quiet neighbourhood (we have trackers on their collars). In my 30 years of cat ownership none of mine have ever gotten into a traffic accident. If I let our golden retriever out on her own however I would be extremely concerned for her safety, especially around cars and she’d never be able to find her own way home.

I think it depends where you live as well.

In the city on a busy road, wouldn't be fair to let them roam.

In the countryside in a small quiet village, most likely going to be fine.

My 2 are indoor cats. Age 1 & 2. They don't know any different except for coming out to the back garden with me and even then they're absolutely terrified. They don't run out when the door is open. They like it inside with me lol

I also always see posts on local groups of cats being run over (I live in town centre) and it's just awful, I could never let my 2 out with the dangers around

It’s about quality of life. Humans are safest in solitary confinement in a prison cell too. Fed, watered, medical care, books, Netflix, an hour a day in an exercise yard. So cruel to let us roam free and potentially be hit by a bus or murdered at a cash point or trampled to death at a sports event. Not to mention the cruelty of letting us experience backstabbing bullies or heart breaking of abusive partners or toxic workplaces.

A golden cage is a cage and for many living beings it is torture to be caged. Yes, being cage free and free range cat, human, bird, and so on has risk but the reward is a chance to experience moments of happiness, years of content. That is worth a bit of misery or even a sudden sticky end.

I had a cat I tried to keep in and I ended up with stitches

As I said, over my 30 years with 8 cats over that time period they have all lived long, happy and healthy lives, dying of nothing more than old age. All have been allowed to freely roam as they choose. Some were self imposed house cats and again that is fine with me.

I do not feel one bit guilty for prioritising the happiness and natural instincts of my cats. If for some bizarre reason I wanted an animal to keep strictly cooped up for their entire life I’d get a hamster.

Dogs are also pack animals. They are happiest with their pack and aren’t really curious. Cats are solitary, curious, and happiest roaming and exploring between naps. Cats and dogs have different needs in life.

The only cats of mine that died were
One killed by a loose dog
One allergic to anesthesia and died while at the vet for an operation
One killed by an owl

They were all clever enough to cross a road.

Our cat was so desperate to get outside, she jumped out of a bedroom window at 3 months old. Neighbour found her in his garden quite happy. She’d never been out before so didn’t know any different! Couldn’t keep her in after that as she’d dart out of any open door or window. It was awful when she was spayed and had to be kept in while she had the cone of doom on. She’d stay near the door meowing all the time.

She has a great life and adores being outside (except in winter). She’s prefers to sleep outside from May-October and we hardly see her except for when she’s sunning herself or rolling in the dust in the patio, or chasing a mouse round the garden at night. She climbs trees and fences and is just living her best cat life.

She’s coming up to 8 now and I’ve always said I’d never keep her in as better to live the life she’s had (Sheba on tap too)even if it’s shorter than having to resort to zoomies round the living room as cooped up all the time or turn into a fat, lazy cat with no quality of life.

Cats need to be outside to have any decent quality of life. The question should not be whether to let a cat out or not, but whether the area around your home is too high risk and you should consider another more suitable pet.

same with dogs. no one should get a dog unless they can commit to give it daily off lead exercise in a safe way for the next 10-15 years

pets ownership is not a right, it is a privilege and a huge commitment and should not be undertaken half heartedly.

Too right. We wouldn’t have considered getting a cat if we lived in a flat or near a busy road.

@NoTouch Agreed. And also with dogs, they shouldn't be left alone for more than around 4 hours at a time.
I think it's cruel when people work ft outside of the home and leave their dogs.
When I rehomed an elderly rescue my working hours were looked into before I was allowed to take her on ❤️

I have an indoor cat. It's very much the norm for cats to be kept indoors where I live.

There are millions of cats worldwide who live in apartment buildings and don't get out.

My local Facebook is full of “my cat’s missing” followed in about an hour by “home now, thanks everyone”.