Would you get a cat if you lived near a main road?

[Bubblebrush]

I am having a dilemma as to whether to get a cat. I always had pets as a child, including a cat, and would love another. There has been a lot of upheaval at home recently and I think a pet would be good for my children.

BUT the road behind our back garden is an A road. The type with a 30mph speed limit and we are near a pedestrian crossing so cars aren't going particularly fast. But it is busy - lorries as well as cars.

Would you?!

No way.
If you decide to - get a indoor only rescue. Think it would end in heartbreak otherwise!

Absolutely not. No way.

We rehomed an indoor only cat - it’s possible

Rehome an indoor cat or even better rehome an indoor special needs cat. Special needs doesnt always mean costly. My epileptic cat has her medicine paid for by the rescue we got her from. A friend has a deaf cat that doesn't need any extra money spent on her just understanding owners.

Indoor cat only, too risky otherwise.

We got a kitten last year. We kept her in for four months and then took her out on a harness and lead to explore neighbourhood. We have a large garden and live in a cul de sac but near a road through housing estate with 30 zone. We give her a luminous collar to wear. She goes out and so far she has been fine. Our old cat lived until 16 1/2 and never got run over. I would get one if you want one, but get a kitten as easier to train.

We live on a main route into a small market town. Busy 30mph road, lots of traffic, but with long gardens at the back. We have always had cats here (20+ years) and never lost one on the road because they don't have any reason to go that way as the gardens have everything they need (we are always careful never to let ours out of the front door, which opens straight onto the pavement.)

Letting ours out the back door, they would have quite a long way round to get to the road at the front, which I guess would mean crossing other cats' territory? Ours have always stayed pretty much in our garden with the occasional birding mission into the gardens either side. These are older properties with mature gardens - lots of trees etc which seem to provide cat interest.

Before this, we lived in a house on an unadopted lane and lost a young cat on the really quiet road at the end. We think it may have been chased by the bastard cat next door.

No, not ever. Indoors only if beside a busy road. Otherwise you're basically handing the poor animal a death sentence.

No, sorry. I'd consider rats/rabbits/guinea pigs?

Indoor only is an option but you would have to be super careful with windows and doors. With children who can easily forget this is a risk. You can get things to put on windows (flat cat screens I think) so you could safely open windows.
Alternatively, you could look at cat proofing the garden so cat couldn't roam but would be able to get out.

My parents live in a small village.
The road through the village isn’t even a B road but it can get busy due to it being the main route for the other villages to access the A road about 3 miles away.

They have had over 20 cats and lost the majority of them to the road.

No way, not worth the risk. Indoor cat is the answer👍

Thank you all. I wouldn't want an indoor cat. We like the windows open all year around- and the back door is tied back and open most of the time. I'll put the idea aside I think - and maybe consider an alternative.

Can you catproof your garden? Look on Protectapet and Sanctuary SOS for inspiration; you can buy through them or do a DIY version.

Indoor cats in a house are not particularly suitable for busy homes with children in my opinion. You won't be able to have the back door open to the garden at all in the summer if you have an indoor cat...

Definitely cat proof your garden so they can go out, but no further than the garden.

Thanks for the suggestion but it's not a garden which would lend itself to cat proofing. Those catio thingys are pretty hideous too!

I will just shelve the idea. If people had replied in spades to say that it's usually perfectly ok - they just get used to it, then I would have been comforted. But if that's not the case then I'm not going to get one just because I want one!

Indoor cat yes - outdoor cat no. Not me personally but a friend - had a few cats near a main road. Vast majority were killed sadly. sad

I live on a busy main road. Always had a cat. Never lost any to the road. Only illness/old age and some utter cunt poisoning one.
The cats I have had over the 11 years here (5 cats in total) have all stuck to front and back gardens. Not one of them have ever left my front drive. When I get home, they have always leaped from the back garden to greet me if they have been out.