British short hair blue desperate to go outside - what would you do?

[30ish]

We bought two beautiful BSH blue kittens last August. We wanted to keep them as house pets as we fear they will be stolen or hurt. Because of the warm weather, children playing and leaving doors open, the cats have been pottering about outside - we bring them in when we come in. They are now desperate to be outside, all the time.

Are we wrong to keep them as house pets? What is your experience? They are so beautiful but slightly dim and I really fear for them outside although we do live in a very quiet/almost rural area. Our neighbours have show worthy gardens and I wouldn't want to upset them by releasing two cats into the neigherbourhood. I will try to post photos.

Great post Seawig (and what a cat!)

There are some cats who don't mind being indoors. I've fostered and indeed owned a few that would merrily spend much of their time in the house. Sometimes perhaps they were scared, others just older or lazy or whatever.

And some cats are a danger to themselves. I think this is what you need to figure out - if they are not terribly good at managing the great outdoors then I understand the decision to limit their exposure to it, as it would be pointless and very shortlived.

If however they are perfectly capable of having fun outside without getting hurt, then I do think it would be best to let them do it.

I'm with BetrandRussell on this one. It would never have entered my head to keep a cat indoors!

Unless you live in NYC in an apartment block let them out! Cats roam. They hunt. They look around. They play. All outside. Our nearly one year old cat started to go outside in the spring and he loves it. When he first went out we made sure he was hungry and we have trained him to come back when we shake his dried food box. He comes running! Once he didn't come back until dark but now he doesn't even really want to go out as its cold and rainy and is happier sleeping on the bed. But he can go if he chooses to. Don't contain your cat. Of course things can happen to them but it's a risk worth taking for their happiness