Indoor cat - opinions please....

[Girlgoneglobal]

I need help!

I have always had cats but after I lost my last puddies I decided against getting anymore as I knew I would be moving overseas. After three years I really miss them. There is a cat-shaped hole in my life. We are about to move again (within the tropics) to a 2400 sq foot condo with a bit of a balcony it runs down one side of our flat but is only about three foot deep. Last week someone stopped me on the street and said she ran a cat refuge and did I want one? Of course I do! But I can't get over the fact that I am not sure what I think about keeping a cat inside.

My previous cats have all been outdoor cats. They've been buggers for bringing things in but the pay off of seeing them explore, jump walls, sunbathe, hide in plants, scratch my tree barks rather than furniture and just be free when the wind gets up them makes me think that is what cats should be doing. I've gone bonkers in my flats with no outdoor space - so what would a cat be like?! We also live ten floors up and I'm not sure I want to deal with any cat/balcony related incident. I don't currently work, but that may change. In fact I hope it does.

On the other side I live in a country where animals are treated pretty miserably. Nobody is interested in anything moggy ("pure bred' only please....) and animals can have a pretty brutal/short life. So I do think that a comfy moggy cat life lying around in the sun with guaranteed love (one-sided obv), and food and water is preferable to the lives these cats currently lead in the refuge but I'm torn.

I'm overthinking. I want to give a cat a home more than anything - but I want it to be a happy home and I couldn't bear it if I thought it was unhappy. On balance what do you wonderful cat-loving people think?

Apols if I don't pop back regularly the time difference sometimes make regular comms a bit difficult. Thank you.

I had two cats in a large flat for a while. They were both happy and neither really go outside now even though we now have gardens, a field, wooded areas ad adequate cat flappage.

Rescue cats are often kept in smallish pens.

An indoor home with a loving hoomin is surely better than no home at all.

That's good to know! Thank you.

I am totally biased and nothing would make me happier than being convinced it was totally in their interests to rescue them and keep them in an apartment..... and I do tend to agree with your last sentence. I just want to think about it carefully as it's a commitment, a bit harder here with fewer vets around and there's a chance the poor things are then going to be boxed up and packed off with us 5000 miles away if we ever move back home.

We have indoor cats. As long as there are lots of toes and things to jump on and off (DH put up floating shelves in one of the spare rooms solely for the cats to use as jumping and climbing pads!) then they're fine

We even have the balcony doors open and the cats just sit there and stare at the world going by

*toys not toes

My resolve is weakening.....

And I want to move into my new apartment now so I can phone my cat lady (who plugged her number into my phone under 'crazy cat lady'). At the very least I think I am going to offer to foster. But last time I did that the foster cats lasted 17 years....

thank you!

One of mine refuses to go outside even though the option is open to her. She is a rescue, but been with me for 5yrs now. She likes to look out the window, and sit in the open doorway if we're on the balcony. That's it though!

My flat is designed with cats in mind - hidey holes, scratching posts/boards, shelves etc. It can definitely work well:

Being in a flat is much better than being in a rescue pen so go for it! The rescue can pair you up with a cat who is more suited to being indoors. You can get Velcro shields for windows and doors to enable you to open them without the cat escaping.

Generally speaking for all the reasons you ave given, cats should be given the opportunity to be outside, its not OK to deny them that just because. Having said that though, from what you have described, even an indoor cat would be better off with you then at the shelter, even more so if the cat you adopt is unlikely to be re-homed elsewhere. If you are prepared to provide as much stimulation as possible, cat trees, toys, maybe growing cat grass, then I would go for it.

Sounds good OP but just remember to future proof a bit- are you going to live in this place for as long as the cats likely to live- if not where are you likely to go next, will the cat come too?

I watch the kitten cams at tinykitttens.com, a rescue in Canada, and all the cats that are adopted from there are required to be indoor cats. Many of them have Facebook pages - there's a list here www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=fl_772712539470279

You can see that they are all kept happy and occupied and even the former ferals don't seem to be unhappy at being indoors - in particular, Mr T, Bill and Pliny were all adopted as adults straight from the forest and have adapted amazingly to life indoors. www.facebook.com/MrTBradybillandpliny/?fref=pb&hc_location=profile_browser

Thank you all!

Yep. It's a pragmatic decision. In an ideal world I wouldn't, but I'm fairly convinced I'm going to give them a better life then they currently have. And yes to future proofing. It's very unlikely we will be here for as long as the cat(s) are alive so they would be coming with us.

Although I'm half tempted to ask for an older three legged mog just to make me (and cat) happier.

Thank you for all your thoughts.

Thanks for all your advice. Here they are!

Betty likes dreamies, climbing her cat tree and shedding hair. Grace likes playing fetch, tummy tickles and and hiding under beds.

They are both gorgeous! Congratulations on your new furry family members

Congratulations on your new additions . My mum has an indoor Ragdoll he's 15 and would be horrified if anyone suggested he went outside .

Thank you! I had forgotten how nice it feels to be proud parents to new kitties. At the moment I find everything they do enchanting - which I expect won't last long when they decide to race up the curtains at 3am tomorrow morning!

I have 2 adopted indoor cats, they've been home for 16 months and I STILL find myself staring at them in adoration, and being enchanted by the slightest little thing. I doubt I will ever stop - and wouldn't want to .