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.

[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.

[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.

[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!!

[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.

[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.

[RubbishMantra]

You sound really angry Margot.

My cats enjoy shitting in their tray and my garden.

[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!

[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!