O want to let my indoor cat out but....

[ThereIsAlwaysWine]

....he literally eats every single thing he sees! Slugs, wasps, grass, anything he wants! Is this normal? I started to keep him indoors about a year ago, he's 18 months old, as he was always vomiting from eating god knows what. But he's always trying to get out and it's so hard to keep him contained but I'm worried about him getting very sick, not to mention the vet bills. Any advice please, I'd be most grateful!

To be honest this sounds like the type of kitty that does need to be an indoor cat!

Maybe look into cat proofing your garden so he can't wander, then keep your garden free of harmful things?

It's a tricky situation and i don't envy you!

Is there any other reason you want to let him out. I was thinking the same (not that ours would go out as they are too scared), but the vet recommended I keep her in. She keeps hers in too.

You could look into getting a cattio which would limit the number of undesirable things he could eat. Also limit his freedom unfortunately but a better option than he has at the moment.

Can you make him a catio? That way he can be outside in safe environment?

I reckon you will already be on top of this but I thought I’d mention just in case. Outdoor cats require more vaccinations than indoor cats due to their exposure to more pathogens. So even though your cat stays indoors, I’d say get them the outdoor vaccinations in case they escape and eat germy things.

I agree with other posters that it sounds like they should be an indoor cat or you should get a catio. You can’t control what pets do and your cat sounds unwise when it comes to deciding what’s food and what isn’t!

I don't think it's kind to keep a cat indoors when it so clearly wants to be out. It's no life for them to be stuck inside four walls.

That said, if he genuinely makes himself sick then you could look at a catio but he may not be content to be contained in there and either.

It's completely normal behaviour and there's no reason it would lead to vets bills. All cats eat grass. And all my cats have experimented with eating a variety of insects including wasps when they are young. They get stung by a wasp a couple of times (on face/paws) and learn not to pick on those, but they continue to catch and eat all sorts of other insects including moths and dragonflies. And small rodents. It's natural behaviour.

I can understand not wanting a cat to roam in case it is run over or attacked by a dog/person/fox/cat. But not so that it doesn't eat a wasp.

All cats eat grass, it aids their digestion. One of my cats in particular eats loads of it, she quite often throws it up, she's absolutely fine. If your cat really wants to go out please let it out.

Oh and she eats flies and moths too

Completely normal! Just keep on top of worming/parasite control.

I think it's cruel to keep cats indoors.

I think it's cruel to keep a cat indoors who desperately wants to be out. I thought indoor cats were supposed to have some grass plants to eat. Have you actually had any vet bills from eating stuff or just worried you will?

Mine go out for a few hours each day but stay home overnight. They love being outside so much.