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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Is it cruel or kind to keep a cat in?

285 replies

nc8975 · 14/01/2023 19:38

We adopted our kitten back in the summer, she's now 8 months old, spayed, vaccinated, chipped etc. She was semi wild (on a farm) from birth until we got her at about 13 weeks, living with her mum and litter mates outside but fed by someone.

She is keen to go outside; dashes for the door and looks longingly out the window), but we're really worried she won't come back or will get hurt. We live on a housing estate next to a bit of open land, but also quite close to a railway line (not hugely busy one). We have a good sized home but can't help but feel we are cooping her up a bit (I WFH so she has company most of the day and we play with her)

Which option is kinder? Will she just adapt to being indoors?

OP posts:
cushioncovers · 14/01/2023 19:44

I think she needs to be able to go out.

SirenSays · 14/01/2023 19:48

I'm probably in the minority here, but given how many cats are stolen, run over or attacked by dogs. I think it's nicer to keep them in, especially as they kill other wildlife. Can you try to build a catio or provide more enrichment at home?

Floralnomad · 14/01/2023 19:48

Our son has indoor Siamese but they do have a large catio for fresh air and sunbathing in the open air . Aside from that the interior of the house is like a cats playground - which I do think is necessary if you have indoor cats .

megacat · 14/01/2023 19:49

I used to think cats should be free to go out until mine was killed on the road. On a road I didn't think he went near, he seemed to just potter in the garden. Now I'd never let a cat out, it may seem cruel to some but at least they wouldn't end up in the state my poor boy ended up in.

Mouthfulofquiz · 14/01/2023 19:49

Yes keep in so it doesn’t kill birds and poop in your neighbour’s gardens.

TheThirdKit · 14/01/2023 19:51

Please let it out. Or give it to a shelter for rehoming. Really cruel to keep cats locked inside permanently. It'll go stir crazy. How would you like it?

greenkitten2 · 14/01/2023 19:54

Indoor cats are so much safer for the cats and wildlife. A catio is great. You just need to give extra enrichment when they are inside.

Outtasteamandluck · 14/01/2023 19:56

megacat · 14/01/2023 19:49

I used to think cats should be free to go out until mine was killed on the road. On a road I didn't think he went near, he seemed to just potter in the garden. Now I'd never let a cat out, it may seem cruel to some but at least they wouldn't end up in the state my poor boy ended up in.

Me too. Exactly.

I have an 9 month old boy. I won't let him out. I would be devastated if something happened to him.

My girl died at the end of my drive on a housing estate. She never went far.

My boy will have to stay inside I'm afraid.

Original poster
nc8975 · 14/01/2023 20:00

This thread is just a materialisation of my inner monologue....

OP posts:
Original poster
nc8975 · 14/01/2023 20:01

Thank you by the way, sorry didn't mean to sound ungrateful Blush

OP posts:
thaegumathteth · 14/01/2023 20:03

My two are indoor cats - neither of them have ever shown the slightest inclination to go outside though which helps. We live close to a lot of roads. They have each other though which helps I think and they run wild through the house chasing each other.

Outtasteamandluck · 14/01/2023 20:04

You didn't Smile

levellingleveller · 14/01/2023 20:05

It’s really, really cruel. Cats are evolved to respond to an active, moving environment, filled with living things. Your house cannot provide that. And we all know how good fresh air and being outdoors makes us feel. Why would it be different for your cat? And you cat is showing you very, very clearly how much s/ he needs to outdoors.

If you can’t keep an animal in the way it needs, don’t have that animal as a pet. Give your cat to someone who can give them the life they need.

Morechocmorechoc · 14/01/2023 20:06

Your cat dashes for the door because it wants to go outside. That's natural for cats. Let it out. If it helps we used a cat leas to get ours used to the area for the first month. Cats hated the lead but then it's a safer introduction to the area and the railway. Might be worth taking cat to the railway while a train passes so it sees it as a danger area.

Of course cats get killed outside its nature. But it's better having a shorter life well lived than a long one stuck in where it can't live like a cat. It's in prison right now.

PotatoCatkin · 14/01/2023 20:08

I have indoor cats.

Initially this was due to a twatty neighbour who kept trying to injure them so we kept our previously outdoor-going mogs inside.

All the cats we have now have been indoor since they came to us. They love it! They have each other for company, are safe, warm and have human company, toys and entertainment on tap.

They aren't at risk of injury or illness from outside risks or of making a nuisance of themselves by killing wildlife or shitting on others' property. Their life expectancy is greater than an outdoor cats would be.

I can't imagine I'll ever have an outdoor cat again. I get really frustrated with people who've lost one or more cats on the road then continue to have outdoor cats. So unfair!

rafanadalsarms · 14/01/2023 20:09

TheThirdKit · 14/01/2023 19:51

Please let it out. Or give it to a shelter for rehoming. Really cruel to keep cats locked inside permanently. It'll go stir crazy. How would you like it?

This. I think it's cruel to keep cats indoors. I've had one killed on the road and I don't regret having him. He had a wonderful life.

BigBangSmallBang · 14/01/2023 20:10

I agree that cats should be let out but my local rescue recommends keeping them in till they are 1. She says they are too immature to have road sense till then.

Original poster
nc8975 · 14/01/2023 20:10

If you can’t keep an animal in the way it needs, don’t have that animal as a pet. Give your cat to someone who can give them the life they need.

There really isn't any need for that. I haven't said I "can't", I've asked which is kinder, we love her and will do what's in her best interests and as can be seen by the responses it's not as black and white as that.

OP posts:
Kanaloa · 14/01/2023 20:10

I couldn’t have a cat because I’d have this argument with myself too.

I will say if there’s one thing Covid taught me it’s that living a life locked up inside to stay safe is like living a half life.

Blanketenvy · 14/01/2023 20:13

I think most cat's benefit from having access to the outdoors. I know mine are much happier (particularly one of them) when they can go out, even if it's just for a few minutes of sunbathing and bird watching. When they were younger I worried about them a lot but they now don't go much further than the back garden.

Newuser82 · 14/01/2023 20:13

Indoor cats may be safer but I would argue more unhappy. Indoor cats have a much higher rate of behavioural issues. In my opinion an outdoor cat is a happier cat and a happier cat has to be the aim!

Original poster
nc8975 · 14/01/2023 20:13

@BigBangSmallBang I did wonder if waiting until 1 would be sensible, she's a very small cat (not sure how much more growing they have to do from 8 months?) and at least then it'll be summer so lighter, better weather for her to get used to her surroundings (we've let her into the garden and she ran straight back in when it was raining Grin)

I take the point about a shorter but more fulfilled life. She looks pretty fulfilled right now snoozing and purring on my lap mind!

OP posts:
Newuser82 · 14/01/2023 20:13

levellingleveller · 14/01/2023 20:05

It’s really, really cruel. Cats are evolved to respond to an active, moving environment, filled with living things. Your house cannot provide that. And we all know how good fresh air and being outdoors makes us feel. Why would it be different for your cat? And you cat is showing you very, very clearly how much s/ he needs to outdoors.

If you can’t keep an animal in the way it needs, don’t have that animal as a pet. Give your cat to someone who can give them the life they need.

Couldn't agree more.

nicknamehelp · 14/01/2023 20:15

I rescued a year old cat who had never gone out he actually runs away from an open door. He's loads of toys and I'm home a lot for company he's very happy and content.

Cats23 · 14/01/2023 20:15

I had a catio built on the back of our house when we had our cats as I worried about my cats being stolen, lost, run over ect.
Growing up our cats (4x in total ) were free roam, 3x died on the road.
My 1x cat is desperate to get out ( now age 4) makes a dash for back door a few times and comes back within 30mins.
I often wonder if Ive done the right thing, my partner hates the catio but after seeing friends cats killed or missing a lot over the years, I know mine are safe

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