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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

Does your pedigree cat get outside?

68 replies

haggisaggis · 22/10/2012 12:58

Just wondering - our 18 month Maine Coon has been getting out since January - and absolutely loves it. Couldn't think about keeping him as a "house" cat (but we do live in the country with no busy roads near by). Noticed on theh breeder's website that they no longer sell to people who let their cats out (unless into a pen) and wondered if we were in a minority letting ours out.

OP posts:

Fluffycloudland77 · 22/10/2012 13:31

Yes, we have had persians and bengals and I always let them out.

Although the current cat hasnt been out yet today, he's spark out. He knows what rain looks like.

cozietoesie · 22/10/2012 13:43

I stopped letting my senior boys out years back (from kittenhood) - not because they were 'pedigree' but because of the danger of cars. They've been quite happy inside.

My on and off lodger, though, was brought up on the streets and is very car-wise. Even he, though, came quickly to prefer a centrally heated house with nice soft cushions of an afternoon.

It's just down to you and the cat, haggis.

cozietoesie · 22/10/2012 13:44

PS - the lodger was allowed out at will because he'd been on the streets and I felt it would have been not on to contain him after that. He just started choosing to stay in.

Original poster

haggisaggis · 22/10/2012 13:53

I can fully understand not letting them out due to traffic - but have noticed on a couple of pedigree cat breeder sites that they won't sell to anyone who intends to let their cat out (but one then gave links to rescue sites suggesting you get from there instead if you don't want to keep your cat in inferring (IMO anyway) that moggies are inferior to pedigrees..)
Just wondered if I was the only pedigree owner who lets their cat out (ours really loves it)

OP posts:

Lonecatwithkitten · 22/10/2012 13:55

The posh arrogant boy (half British shorthair) goes outside he is the result of the fact that his breeder allows all her pedigree cats outside. Unfortunately his Mummy had an illicit liaison and he is the result.

cozietoesie · 22/10/2012 13:59

Some breeders say that, yes. It's never been an issue for me since mine are house cats but I have noticed it. I don't know if there's any implication about pedigrees being 'superior' in some way because I have a feeling that some of the rescue organisations also stipulate that. (I mean for other than rescue cats who have to stay inside because they have special needs and there are some of those.)

I'd be interested to know others' experiences. Maybe it depends on whether you're in a rural or city location.

SilverBellsandCockleShells · 22/10/2012 14:04

Our British Shorthair goes out. In fact, he's out more than he is in!

We were told when we got him that he would never be a hunter as his mother was an indoor cat and had never taught him. But nobody told him that, instinct prevailed and he is one of the best hunters I have ever come across!

I can't imagine keeping him inside, that would feel cruel ... plus I can't be bothered with litter trays all the time.

MrsVamoOOOOOs · 22/10/2012 14:04

I have 3 cats. 2 are pedigree, one is a cross.

They have never shown any interest in going out. We have a huge cat tree and loads of toys for them to amuse themselves with, but to be quite honest, the 2 pedigrees are raggies, and are happiest when they are curled up somewhere, sleeping usually.

It's probably a good job they don't go out, raggies are notorious for just flopping anywhere...it's bad enough when they decide to sleep one to a stair, and you take your life in your hands trying to get past ! And my 2 boys are so dopey and daft that they would just flop in the middle of a path or road somewhere, and see nothing wrong with it !

Original poster

haggisaggis · 22/10/2012 15:06

My Coonie is a fantastic hunter - which considering several generations before him were inside cats shows how instinctive the hunting thing is. (our moggie on teh other hand has to wait on the Coonie catching him something to play with..)

OP posts:

tabulahrasa · 22/10/2012 15:10

My Siamese goes out, when it's dry, not windy and not cold... So not that often really, lol.

2blessed2bstressed · 22/10/2012 15:20

We have a five year old Maine coon who has always been able to come and go as she pleases. She's an excellent hunter, with a tendency to drag her victims in through the cat flap with her...sometimes dead, sometimes still able to run/fly around my house
I am of the opinion that all cats should be able to be outside if they want, and whilst I understand that if you live near a very busy road it might not be safe, I think in that case I would just consider a different pet.
I hadn't heard of breeders laying down the law like that, but actually, how would they enforce it anyway?

cozietoesie · 22/10/2012 15:42

Well they couldn't of course - but the last two times I've bought from a Siamese breeder, the cross examinations were positively frightening. A full telephone interview followed by a meeting. And that was before I was allowed to see the cats to see if any of them liked me. (Luckily, on both occasions, one kitten 'chose' me.) I don't think I'd have had the strength to fib through all that.

Original poster

haggisaggis · 22/10/2012 15:59

THink it would be impossible to enforce - but means you would need to downright fib which I couldn't do. We were thinking in the future of getting a second Maine Coon and would have gone to original breeder - but now can't do that. At least I'm not alone in letting mine out!

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TerrorNotSoFrightened · 22/10/2012 16:03

I have a male ragdoll, he is only just 6 months and gets out to play in the garden whenever we are out there, he comes back in with us though.

I won't be letting him out on his own, not on purpose anyway, the children seem to have other ideas though.

cozietoesie · 22/10/2012 16:07

Well I would hope, Haggis, that a good breeder or rescue would be looking at the 'cut of your jib' and not going by rote questions or stipulations. I've known some people I wouldn't let loose with a cactus no matter what they said about not over-watering it. I keep my Siamese in because of cars, as I said, and because it's very easy with Siamese who generally just want to be around you and sitting on you. With my lodger, who wasn't a Siamese, I took a different view.

It depends on the cat(s), the people and the circumstances I think.

MrsWolowitz · 22/10/2012 16:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Floralnomad · 22/10/2012 16:10

My DM has a Ragdoll who has never been out and shows no inclination to do so. We were told by various people when we got him that they have no road sense at all , although TBH I doubt he would be able to get over the garden fence as he is quite big and heavy. He is also very affected by changes in temperature and seems to get cold very easily so I don't think he would cope with rain/ wind at all. My DM has numerous cat toys and baskets in every room ( looks like she owns 10 cats) and he seems quite happy.

out2lunch · 22/10/2012 16:10

when i got my siamese i had every intention of letting him out with my other two mogs but
he is completely bonkers and wouldn't last five minutes - he's not remotely cat like think more a rabbit
he has been out on a harness but isn't that keen on the great outdoors so has made our house his territory

DivineInspiration · 22/10/2012 16:11

Both our Bengal boys go outside and love it. We live rurally and have a big garden and woodlands for them to roam and hunt in. Their breeder was reluctant to agree to us allowing them out - she said because of the risk of them being stolen and then bred from, thus 'damaging' her breeding programme, I suppose. She was still reluctant even when we said we'd not allow them out until after neutering, but did eventually agree.

I can't imagine keeping them indoors: they love playing out so much and practically tore the house apart during their pre-neutering months we kept them in for because they had so much pent-up energy. I can understand urban-dwellers fearing traffic or theft where cats are concerned, though.

bureni · 22/10/2012 16:11

My NFC prefers the outdoors along with the rest of my moggies, he gets treated the same and treats other cats the same as any moggy would, although he is my biggest cat by a mile he is not the boss.

cozietoesie · 22/10/2012 16:16

Actually, Divine, theft was something which was a concern to me some years ago and I should have mentioned that. But it was for a different reason. I lived in an area where some 30 or 40 cats had gone missing in a year and it was widely known (including by the police) that they were being taken to be used in connection with 'illegal activities'. That ceased to be a concern for me when my cats became indoor cats. (The lodger was the exception to the rule.)

TwirlyCat · 22/10/2012 18:28

My two British Shorthair boys are indoor cats. One doesn't even seem to register that there is an 'outside', the other one I think would like to go out but is still contented enough indoors. The breeder specified that they should be indoor cats when we got them. We live in a city centre, if we moved to a quieter area I would consider letting them out. I would be happiest with a cat proof garden though, as I would worry so much about them!!

weeblueberry · 23/10/2012 10:43

We have two Ragdolls who come into the garden with us but don't venture past that. We live (relatively) close to a motorway and Ragdolls are well known for their lack of survival instinct. They'd last about 2 minutes if they were just let out. We made sure they have plenty of items to stimulate them in the house. And because there's two of them they keep each other entertained. I don't think I could keep a solitary housecat though if they were going to be in the house alone all day...

cozietoesie · 23/10/2012 11:32

What does he weigh, bureni? I saw some pictures of NFCs and they look absolutely massive.

Paiviaso · 23/10/2012 11:45

My bengals are indoor cats, though are allowed out for short periods of time into the garden when I'm supervising.

My breeder recommended they be kept indoors, but it is not in my contract that I must. I am not comfortable with my pets being free-roaming, I believe it is fully my responsibility to keep them safe and happy.

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