Are housecats cruel?

[daisywaisydoo]

I've recently said goodbye to my two beautiful cats due to stupid roads

Is it ever fair to keep a cat indoors always?

"Then lets consider what makes a pet happy. I think avoiding harm is quite high up that list."

No it isn't. Because animals don't have that level of thought. A cat crying at a window to get out can't think "I'm kept in here because there's a busy road out there and I might get hurt". All it can feel is the instinctive drive to roam, to hunt, to explore.

There is nothing wrong, obviously, with a cat that chooses to stay inside. Many do. But to impose an inside life on a cat is cruel. And selfish.

Totally agree with catameringue

So curlew you think curbing the 'natural instincts' of anything is cruel?

Let's decriminalise murder then, assault in general. Stop medicating schizophrenia. Some people have an instinct to want several wives on the go so you must be in favour of that. I'm also experiencing a strong natural instinct to want to slap some intelligence into you so I'm sure you'll oblige me.

Let's all do what we instinctively want to do tomorrow shall we, and see where Chairman Curlew's bonkers theory gets us.

'It just makes me sad when people in flats have young cats or people don't let them out because they are 'valuable''

So if you're too poor to have a house with a garden not on a busy road, no cat for you! Better they get put down then.

Hhaha, yeah, my kittens are so unhappy in this flat.
Tell that to Zazzles who is currently asleep on my neck,, and Matilda who is on my pillow.
Eponine and Jemima are on DD's bed.

Honestly, I get that people care about animals, but on MN they just end up being weird.

"No it isn't. Because animals don't have that level of thought."

So, if beings have unsophisticated thoughts with little comprehension of the world one should embrace that?

I presume therefore you let your toddler out at night unsupervised to let it respond to its' basal instincts. Enforcing rules, schooling and discipline - none of that featured then.

My two boys have lived all their lives inside. Initially with their old owner who lived in a flat, and now with us in a house. One of them is mildly curious about "out there" but the other wants no part of it. If you get a kitten it will grow up never knowing any different. Or if you go for a rescue, ask them for an indoor cat. They're likely to have quite a few possibilities. Plenty of people live in flats, and sometimes they have to give up their pets. Or they die. Lots of elderly people with house cats living in flats who die and then their families either won't or can't take in their kitties.

And I'm really sorry for your loss.

It would be cruel to send an indoorsy cat out, and cruel to keep an outdoorsy cat in. As an owner of some cats, I totally agree that it depends on the nature of the cat.

Our most adventurous cat likes nothing more than waving around in the top of the highest trees, and the quietest one will fix you with an Alan Rickman stare if you dare suggest he moves from the sofa.

Catameringue- I can only presume you were posting under the influence of catnip.......

I have 2 cats

The first one I found when he was only a few weeks old.... Someone put him in a plastic bag, tied it up and put it near some bins near my flat

I found him and moved him in with me but I lived in a small flat so he never went outside. About 6-9 months later I moved back in with my parents who have a massive house and garden.... He had plenty of opportunities to go outside but never wanted to and would prefer to stay indoors.

When I moved to London I took him with me and he became anxious and started overgrooming.... I think it was the stress of moving and new surroundings.... After trying all sorts of things the vet suggested we get another cat so they could be friends and have company!

So we got a kitten from a rescue centre and they are best of friends now!

Both house cats.... I didn't really know how to have 1 house cat and 1 outdoors cat so they are both house cats.

They are happy and lovely and I love them!

I might add that we actually have a cat flap at the back of our house that the previous owners fitted and our cats refuse to go anywhere near it!
I think they are more than happy being indoor cats.

Some cats, however, would go absolutely nuts if you even attempted to keep them indoors so.... Every cat is different and it's about what works for you and your cat(s).

I'm also assuming that by asking "are house cats cruel?" you actually mean "is it cruel to have house cats?"

Or are you actually wondering if house cats are cruel and spend their time plotting against you and planning on taking over the world?

And curlew I have already presumed that you are utilising Broadmoor's wifi access.