DH wants kitten to be an indoor cat

[MsIngaFewmarbles]

He is saying that as we live near a busyish road that we should keep him in and buy him toys to keep him amused. I'm not convinced, cats love to go out surely? He's still only 3 months and hAsnt been spayed yet so we have some time to think it over. Any thoughts or experience welcome.

[GingerNutRiskIt]

My rescue boy decided himself that he was going to be an indoor cat. Whenever he's gone outside he's cried and would shake. He just doesn't bother going out any more. He's 2 and half. He plays all day with us and sleeps all night either on the bottom of our bed or on the chair in our bedroom. I'm actually convinced that he's scared of the dark, as he won't venture out of our sight when the lights are off. In fact, he lets us know when he wants to go to toilet and hubby has to escort him to use the litter tray. It's like having a baby all over again. He's ridiculously spoilt!

[MargotLovedTom]

I'm over it now Rubbish because it doesn't happen any more but it pissed me off no end at the time. I've seen plenty of threads on here about it absolutely kick off; it's quite an emotive subject!

[RubbishMantra]

You sound really angry Margot.

My cats enjoy shitting in their tray and my garden.

[GwenaelleLaGourmande]

My cat used to be an indoor cat as ndn's dog was a cat killer - literally. He was perfectly happy.

We have since moved and he is now an equally happy outdoor cat.

Indoor cats are the norm in many places.

[SecretNutellaFix]

My two are house cats- we live on a normally quietish road which is often used as a rat run by racer types, there are lots of other cats nearby and quite a few dogs who are escape artists.

In summer, if we are going into the back garden they come out with us, but never for very long- mostly they have a sniff around and then go back in to whereever they have chosen to sleep.

We have had no issues and part of my reasoning for keeping them as indoor cats is that they generally have a much longer lifespan, are less likely to get sick or injured and will generally be very sociable animals. The other part was that I had already had two cats killed on the road which was very quiet and I couldn't cope with the panic all the time about what happened to them.

[girliefriend]

I don't really like keeping cats in unless there is a very specific reason, the reasons you have given wouldn't be enough to keep a cat inside for life. Plus you have to remember in a few months it will be sunny, you will have windows and doors open much more than you do now.

For that reason if none other i couldn't keep my cats in, they use the windows like a cat flap!!

[FoxyMcFox]

I am lucky enough to live in the countryside with open fields on all sides, so our cat has as much freedom as she wants. Personally I wouldn't consider getting a cat or kitten unless I had an adequate outdoor space for it. Unless rehoming a cat that had previously been an indoor cat. Just seems an odd thing to do.

[sparkysparkysparky]

Had both in my life. Lovely old indoor cat has just been PTS. She and sibling would have been outdoor in previous house but neighbours bought poorly trained rottweilers at same time and that and busy road made decision for me. Ensured lots of fun and games when she was younger. We are in totally different house now and DC wants a kitten. I will let it out but intend to use Dreamies and litter tray to encourage homing instinct. For late lamented old girl we had covered litter tray in bathroom. won't pretend it never stank but - it's in the bathroom. i found crystals litter the most effective at stink management.

[Swanhildapirouetting]

I'll never forget seeing a black panther in a cage at Berlin Zoo. Okay a biggish enclosure with climbing structures landscaping. And he looked so incredibly bored and sad. That's when I remembered that my cats had the run of the entire neighbourhood. A neighbour once said she had seen my cat three streets away (he is extremely friendly). I still feel it is completely unnatural to keep an animal which naturally roams in a small confined space for a long time. There is a cat opposite who sits all day longingly looking out of the window (Flat upstairs) We are on a quietish residential road - a car racing down would kill them if they were not used to the traffic and our cats can get over all the fences - I see them disappearing into other people's gardens all the time. They do such a lot of racing up and down exploring and they love it outside winter or summer yet always always come inside to snuggle up on beds and sofas. We never let them out until they were at least 6 months old and very slowly introduced them to the outside world. There are many cats on our street and all familiar faces and I have never yet heard of any fatalities from our neighbours. But there is always the risk. Still I think the cat would prefer to live the way it does - certainly they have no behavioural issues.

[StUmbrageinSkelt]

Our cats are indoor and have a cat enclosure. One of them is an ex-stray cat who lived in the storm drain and for the most part he has adjusted.

We're in Australia though and I think it is wrong for cats to wander here. They don't belong.

[SacredHeart]

We have three indoor cats who live fantastically. We have a cat tree and shelving in almost every room. Cat toys and play time scheduled.

If you can do this then indoor is perfectly fine and saves them from a lot of dangers in urban living. i notice with all the outdoor owners I know you wouldn't know they have cats as they have nothing in the house for them so I guess letting them go out is the easier and cheaper option.

[wanderings]

I've lived on two 30mph main roads, and let two cats out of both, with no problem (over several years). Admittedly both places had driveways, so there was some "distance" from the road. I would say that if the road has a constant flow of traffic, such as a main road in town, this is more of a deterrent to cats, than a country road with the occasional 60mph car.

[MargotLovedTom]

Forgot to add, it only stopped when we got a dog and now they give the garden a wide berth (and I always poop scoop before anyone starts ).

[MargotLovedTom]

I don't have anything to add re the indoor/outdoor cat debate apart from objecting to the self-congratulatory way some posters refer to having no 'smelly litter tray' anymore once their cat goes outside. You may not have the problem because it's your neighbours who have to deal with
your cat's shit.

About five - six years ago when our youngest dc was still crawling and the other dc were toddler/pre school age, our neighbours had four cats who constantly used our back garden as a toilet (obviously other local cats may have been involved as well). It pissed me off so much that I had to check the garden over every time the children wanted to go in it.

Thank you cosietosie for being thoughtful enough to mention this issue.

[favouritewasteoftime]

Enclose your garden with a cat-proof fence. A precious poster mentioned a good product - Protectapuss. Best of both worlds.

[QueenFuri]

I have a 7 month old kitten and apart from sniffing the open front door every now and then she is an indoor cat, I live in a flat and I'm not allowed to install a cat flap so she can't get in when she wants as it's 1st floor, plus their is a busy road on my doorstep. I also had 4 cats growing up, 1 was poisoned with anti freeze, 1 moved out, two were knocked down we presume as we never saw them again. Its dangerous for a little cat to be outside! I may let her out in the garden in the summer on a harness though.

[RoastedCatNuts]

I wouldn't let mine out again, they are used to being indoors and there are more dangers than cars, anti freeze, brake fluid, theft for dog bait and others.

If a cat has never been an outdoor cat they don't know about the outside world, it is an ideal way to start having an indoor cat.

Living in a rural setting is a bit different, it is great to see them free, but personally I would rather have them safe from harm.

We have an outdoor run on the back of the house so they can 'take the air'. Or play, or sit in the cat house.

[Indantherene]

We now have 2 indoor cats, having only ever had outdoor cats. The people over the road have had 3 kittens run over and killed in the last 6 months. We are on a residential street so traffic isn't constant but when it comes it's fast.

They have a huge cat tree and masses of toys. I really don't like the litter trays because no matter how often you clean them out they still stink.

We did try to get some older rescue cats before getting these 2, as our older cats used to keep away from the road, but tried 3 rescue centres and nothing suitable.

[dillydollydarling]

I had 2 cats, both of them allowed outside and absolutely loved it. Unfortunately Jessie got hit by a car on the road outside the houses behind us. I'm convinced someone across that road was feeding her. My other cat Luna is still allowed outside although we now have a 3 month old so the cat flap has been locked and we have to let Luna out through the door (don't want Squiffy following her out yet!) He will be allowed out once neutered and big enough. I live on a fairly quiet road in a residential area.

I feel like it's cruel to keep them inside unless you can provide sufficient stimulation and exercise. I don't think many people can provide that though and I know with me working 8 hour days, I certainly can't. Roads are always going to be a danger but I'd rather have a happy outside going cat, than an unhappy inside cat. Plus, Luna only ever toilets outside now so no smelly litter tray! (except for the kitten of course)

[RubbishMantra]

I live on a busy road, but it's in the centre of town, so the traffic is slow.

We live in a row of terraces and I only let them out the back. Mcat explores the neighbours' gardens and MKitten hasn't made the leap over the wall. Yet. Nerve-wracking though.

Pavlov training using Dreamies helps get them in.

[Fluffycloudland77]

I think constant traffics more off putting to a cat than the occasional car on a country lane.

If he clocks the fields they should hold more interest for him than a road.

He might not want to go outside though. Time will tell.

[FoxyMcFox]

I have a 1yr old cat and she would drive me insane if she was shut indoors all the time. Has your dh had cats/kittens before? He might have a change of heart when your kitten starts older and bigger and starts looking for more than ping pong balls for fun!

I also feel sorry for indoor cats. If I were you I would let it out into the back garden. It will escape and hopefully the fields will be more interesting than the road.

[thecatneuterer]

I don't know about dogs and barriers, but cats seem to be fine with them. And that is the only way to keep the cat in your garden. Training is impossible.

[cozietoesie]

The Lodger used to use a litter box, Fuga and he was an outside-going cat. In fact he brought himself up on the streets but decided that he liked a tray when he moved himself in with us.

I never minded. He preferred it and it sure beats having neighbours upset by cat poo in their rosebeds. It also enables you to keep a weather eye on their health via their innards.