Is your cat an indoor or outdoor cat?

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 19/05/2024 00:25

We don’t have a cat flap. So cat is in overnight, and in while we are out at work. When we are home we are door staff. Cat goes out the back door and hops up at the kitchen window to come in - goes to the door to ask to go out.

We’re not rural but do live on a very quiet one-way street, and our back garden backs on to other back gardens rather than a road.

justasking111 · 19/05/2024 00:30

My DIL went off on honeymoon leaving us with her indoor cat. It was summer so doors open. She slowly crept outside enjoying lying on the patio.

I'd let your cat find her own level.

Beamur · 19/05/2024 00:32

Yes, it's riskier to let them out but most cats get such enrichment from being outside it's usually a fair trade off.
There are places where it's not safe to let cats out - busy roads, etc and some cats are better kept in - dopey breeds, deaf cats, etc.
I have one cat that lives outside all the time, another cat who lives inside but can go out at any time and 2 slightly dopey ones I don't let out at night.
You can minimise the damage that they do through hunting by feeding a high protein diet and ensuring that they are well stimulated with play and environment.
Of my 4 only one regularly hunts.
A lot of Reddit users are in the US where indoor cats are much more common as they are at risk of predation and other dangerous wildlife - like snakes. Cats don't really have that kind of danger in the UK.
Personally I try and keep kittens in as long as possible as they are very poor at assessing risk.

DrJonesIpresume · 19/05/2024 00:47

Unless there is a very good reason why a cat should be kept inside all the time (deaf, blind, FIV positive, lives near a very busy road, nickable breed) then they should really be allowed the opportunity to spend time outside if they want to. Depriving a cat of its liberty when it is desperate to go out is tantamount to cruelty imo.

RosesAndHellebores · 19/05/2024 00:58

Outside. Microchipped cat flap.

Selfishly I don't want to deal with litter trays.

Unselfishly, the cats love it outside: running, jumping, climbing, not falling in the pond, hunting, sunbathing, etc. They are leading their best lives and ultimate safety shouldn't be at the expense of freedom and joy.

buffyslayer · 19/05/2024 01:06

Technically outdoor but he prefers to be inside

One thing I did was every single time I shouted him and he came running or he came back in by himself was give him treats, so he associates coming home with treats

PiggieWig · 19/05/2024 01:07

Mine’s a bit of both. I like him in at night and when I’m at work, and he’s generally a bit of a homebody, but this time of year when the weather’s nicer he plays out more.

He has a little mate over the road who’s just started being allowed out. They’ve been hanging out together either side of the window for months so they are enjoying rolling round the back alley together now it’s nice 😊

VelvetTurtle · 19/05/2024 01:07

Outdoor wouldn't want an indoor cat

RogueFemale · 19/05/2024 01:10

LiveLifeToTheFull2 · 18/05/2024 23:55

Just that really....

I posted a post on Reddit about advice and tips on how best to let 6 month old kittens out for the first time and got an absolute roasting 😳
Apparently it's a thing to not let your cat outdoors and it's bad for the environment and dangerous for the cat etc

I'm already so anxious about letting them out for the first time soon but am also aware they are cats and have an instinctive nature to explore and enjoy the outside world
They keep looking outside in the garden at the birds, bugs etc and I can tell they desperately want to get out on our garden.
We live in a semi rural area with fields surrounding our harden garden and I hope that is enough to keep them out the back and not the front where there is a cul de sac road
Neighbours are all lovely and cat owners so not worry about any weirdos farming the cats

🥴

Indoor cats are only a 'thing' in the USA and Australia. Your responses on Reddit likely from one or both regions.

Outdoor cats are completely normal in the UK.

I don't agree at all with indoor cats, cats absolutely love roaming around outdoors, and it's cruel to imprison them, the same as caged birds. And if you live somewhere it's not safe outside for cats (e.g. near a busy road), then DON'T have a cat - it's that simple. But it sounds like you have the perfect environment for cats. Just make sure they're neutered/spayed and microchipped before they go out.

Let them out supervised for short periods initially. Don't let them out of your sight at this stage, at least a few weeks. They have to learn how 'outside' relates to 'home', and where home is. Let them out when they're waiting for a meal (not just after eating), so there's an added incentive to come back inside.

Take it slowly.

Even when they've learnt to come home, keep them indoors at night, not out roaming while you're asleep.

Yes, they may kill a few birds (though not all cats are good at it, mine isn't). But even the RSPB says the effect of cats on bird populations is nothing compared to the loss of bird habitats, and often cats will take the weaker birds who are easier to catch.

Floralnomad · 19/05/2024 01:11

Our son has Siamese and they have a catio which they love however they don’t spend much time outside even when it’s hot as they prefer to be with a human . Keeping cats indoors is fine if you have the time and inclination to make the inside interesting- climbing opportunities, walkways , cat wheel etc .

PiggieWig · 19/05/2024 01:14

Agree on letting them out when they are due a meal. Also be prepared for the sheer panic when they break their curfew then swan in hours later having had a fine old time

PearlKoala · 19/05/2024 01:16

Indoors. We adopted her when she was 3 and she had always been an indoor cat, we just continued it. She will sit at an open door and stare out, she doesn't seem to care. Honestly, she is too stupid to let out, there are feral cats around here and they would savage her. We reckon she is part ragdoll, she has blue eyes, is pointed(is that how you say it? I don't know, she has a brown face and paws!) and goes limp when you pick her up. She is just not made for the big bad world. If she showed any desire to go out I might rethink it but she is 10 now so I don't see it changing.

RogueFemale · 19/05/2024 01:23

There's a wonderful Instagram account called Mr.Kitters. A cat in USA, with a camera on his collar. In a lovely safe environment, with lots of neighbour cat friends. You can see how much fun they have. https://www.instagram.com/p/C2AqMcEgINl/

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/p/C2AqMcEgINl

RogueFemale · 19/05/2024 01:25

PiggieWig · 19/05/2024 01:14

Agree on letting them out when they are due a meal. Also be prepared for the sheer panic when they break their curfew then swan in hours later having had a fine old time

Yes!

RogueFemale · 19/05/2024 01:29

PearlKoala · 19/05/2024 01:16

Indoors. We adopted her when she was 3 and she had always been an indoor cat, we just continued it. She will sit at an open door and stare out, she doesn't seem to care. Honestly, she is too stupid to let out, there are feral cats around here and they would savage her. We reckon she is part ragdoll, she has blue eyes, is pointed(is that how you say it? I don't know, she has a brown face and paws!) and goes limp when you pick her up. She is just not made for the big bad world. If she showed any desire to go out I might rethink it but she is 10 now so I don't see it changing.

Sounds like one of the American breeds which has the essential catness bred out of it, to make it a docile dolly.

Blackcats7 · 19/05/2024 01:33

I have had catios for my cats for the past 30 plus years accessed via a cat flap from the bungalow. This is the best of both worlds with safety combined with free access to the garden.

PearlKoala · 19/05/2024 01:38

RogueFemale · 19/05/2024 01:29

Sounds like one of the American breeds which has the essential catness bred out of it, to make it a docile dolly.

Show quote history

I don't know tbh. She belonged to one of our neighbours, they were Russian and brought her over with them. They had to move and couldn't get a landlord that would take pets so we offered to take her. I'm not sure she is full breed anything, they insisted she was a siamese but apart from the points she is nothing like a siamese. She is also the quietest cat known to man, never meows, I believe siamese are quite loud. We settled on part ragdoll because of the limpness but she doesn't have the fur of a ragdoll.

WalkingaroundJardine · 19/05/2024 01:39

We currently have 3 indoor cats. In the past, we only had outdoor cats but have lost so many of them to the road. One cat would just stay in our garden but even she had to be put down after another cat came in and attacked her.

Having had both, the indoor cats are way healthier. They don’t pick up fleas as often or illnesses such as the cat flu. I wish that I had done it earlier.

I would disagree that it’s cruel too, especially if they are not the only cat and the house is a reasonable size. We have bought toys for them, play with them and even when we are busy they get creative and I sometimes find one of them at the top of the wardrobe with no idea how she got there. That particular one I believe would be killed quickly if outside because she is so adventurous and courageous.

They are all incredibly affectionate too.

RogueFemale · 19/05/2024 01:48

@PearlKoala Well, I'm glad she has found a loving new owner to care for her :)

CaptainCabinets · 19/05/2024 02:07

First is indoor/outdoor, he gets very angry and hateful if he has to stay in, so he goes out straight after breakfast for everyone’s sanity! The deal is that he comes in at nighttime and he seems to be happy with this compromise. He never seems to go far as he appears over the fence within about 30 seconds of being called. The only day he isn’t allowed out immediately is bin day, as he’s been found raiding wheelie bins on more than one occasion so it seems safer to wait until the bins have been collected. I don’t work on bin day so can meet his demands to go outside as soon as the bin lorry leaves.

Second has the option to do the same as him but prefers to be indoors. She will venture out and sprawl on the grass if it’s sunny, but doesn’t usually go much further. She used to be an intrepid explorer but has decided she can’t be bothered anymore now that she’s getting on a bit. Spends most of her outdoor time yelling at any neighbour cats who dare to cross onto her lawn.

Third is allowed outside only under direct human supervision as she is completely cross-eyed (vet is unsure how much this affects her vision), has no sense of danger and a bad case of pica, so would either end up lost, run over, mauled or poisoned by her decision to eat something ridiculous. First cat is also very good at supervising her and will corral her back into the house if he’s worried that she might try and do a runner.

mcdonaldschip · 19/05/2024 02:12

My cat is mostly indoors. She never asks to go out but will go out if the windows are open or we open the front door/back door. She tends to stay out for an hour or two before wanting to come back inside, she rarely stays out all day.

I just have to call her name if she's not already waiting to come back inside.

DoubleeDenim · 19/05/2024 02:14

They’re all outdoor cats aren’t they 😑

SabrinaThwaite · 19/05/2024 03:56

Mine is mostly an indoor cat - happy to potter in the back garden and chase away any incomers, or to sit on the front doorstep and growl at anyone passing by. She would prefer to be with (and preferably on) humans though.

I lost my first cat out on a road at night, so ever since then I have kept my cats in at night. Also train them to come to a whistle (and give treats immediately on arrival).

Toddlerteaplease · 19/05/2024 04:02

Mine go into my enclosed garden.

Ponderingwindow · 19/05/2024 05:36

Indoor

cats and dogs are subject to the same leash laws where I live. They must always be contained outdoors, either by a fence, on a leash.

even if we got cat proof fencing, our cats would be at risk from predators. Only a fully contained catio would be safe.