Do I have to keep a pedigree cat inside only?

[NantucketNightbird]

All the ads I have looked at state this. I have 3 cats who happily go outside at their pleasure or sleep in the beds. I was thinking of taking in ex breeding cats but I don't know if it would work if I can't let them out. But even the ads for kittens say indoor homes only. Why is this? Thanks

Firstly because they're valuable and could get nicked. Secondly they might have had all their self preservation instincts bred out. Thirdly ex-breeders might never have been out before so not be very streetwise. IMO the place for cats is wherever they want to be, with free access to outside and in. Whatever their breeding. With so many cats needing re-homing I'd not get a pedigree kitten, or even an ex-breeder as I think it perpetuates the problem. I might consider breed - specific rescue.

Thanks, that all makes sense and makes me look a bit clueless my last cat I took in as a stray 6 weeks ago he has now been neutered and has settled in really well. So I think I will contact rescue and see if they have any older cats that need a home.

We had an ex breeder and cat show winner but she didn't want to go outside, we had to teach her how to play chase the string and she was scared of the live mice the other cats helpfully bought home.

But, she was happy in her own way and occasionally ventured into the garden.

Not necessarily. I've got a Devon Rex, v, unusual looking breed, resembling something between a bat and an alien with curly hair. I don't really worry about him getting nicked, because a neutered cat's not going to be worth much anyway.

He does have a very trusting nature though, very friendly and inquisitive. Luckily he's chosen not to leave our courtyard, unlike our big black and white moggy - but moggy's more clued up, and can look after himself. Both of them have Loca8tors on their (quick release) safety collars. You can get real time GPS tags, which are even better.

Or you could cat-proof your garden?

Thanks rubbish. Very jealous of your Devon Rex, I may hunt you down and steal him
I had no idea that you could get trackers for the collar! That would be so handy with my smallest cat mog she disappears for whole days. She is tiny too, 2yrs old but looks like a kitten.

Depends on the cat plus the breeder I think. BogBastardKitten is a pedigree Siberian and the plan is for him to go out, but many breeders did stipulate indoor only. I think it is mainly for reasons of value if they potentially get nicked, and of course that they've put a lot of effort into producing kittens and don't like the thought of them getting hurt outside. We found a breeder who was OK with him being an outside cat.

Breed wise I think it must depend. BBK is a Siberian and the breed was domesticated early in the century from wildcats they found roaming around St Petersburg, so they are huge and streetwise. The other breed his owner had (Birmans?) she described as having one brain cell between them ...

I prefer thick cats. Birmans sound fabby.

Fair enough. They are certainly lovely to look at . Thick homebodies might be a definite advantage anyway - BBK is intelligent, curious and prone to get himself into a WHOLE lot of trouble!

That's why I like thick ones.

Our British Blue goes out as do all the pedigree cats we know. I also think its unlikely that they will get stolen as when neutered are worth nothing.

Our Russian Blues go out, we had to keep them in for a few weeks when we first got them and this was their daily position until they were allowed out.

Although now that they have free access to the garden they spend most of their days like this.

this is mabel, she is a persian. i let her go in the garden and (so far...) has shown no interest in going further although i have done my best to make it hard for her to get out of the garden (she isn't great at jumping/climbing). some how, although this is my own opinion, it doesn't sit well with me for a cat to be made to stay inside if it wants to go out