Indoor or outdoor cats?

[Lorna]

Hi everyone,

I have obviously only just got the kittens so this won't be an issue for a while, but I am thinking about keeping them as indoor cats - I have already lost one cat to an RTA, I can't bear to lose another. Also I am studying Law at Uni and there might be a point where I have to move to the city, surely it will be better for them to be indoor cats from the start, then they will not miss anything if we don't have a garden at any point?

Will that make me a bad mum? xxx

[kado]

No it wont. I would prefare all of mine to be indoors as i panick when there out. I understand if they never go out they wont know what it is like to go out. I have lost my darling kay in may this year too a RTA so you do worry more.

[angieh]

I don't think it will make you a bad mum, Lorna. It is very much a matter of how you see the best for your kitties. If they have never been outside and have plenty of opportunity for play, exploring and exercise indoors then they will know no differently, especially if you think you may eventually have to move into the city. If the kittens, when older, are used to going outside then a change like that would be very hard for them I would think.

I haven't voted in your poll only because my Merlin is 22 years old this week. He can go out whenever he wants to, but does not have to go out - he has an indoor litter tray. On a kind sunny day, he may wander out to read his pmails and to nibble a bit of grass, but not often and certainly not if the weather is wet or cold. When he was younger though, he was out a lot, but not as much as my other cat Smudge who loved to be out, day or night. She was in her element outside and Merlin has always been more of a home body.

Your kittens are young enough for you to think about training them to a harness, so that they could go out if you choose to take them. There are plenty of people here on Catsey who have experience of walking their cats! If I ever have another, I would certainly like to give that a go.

[random]

Mine are indoor only Lorna, one goes out on a harness. I intend (when I finally move) to have my new garden cat proofed and/or build an outdoor run attached to the house so as they can go into the garden.

The reasons for this are my own personal reasons really due to incidents which have made me reach this decision. First incident I lost one of my babies in which I assume was an RTA, I found her at the side of a back alley at the back of our house dead, almost unrecognisable by her face, it was truly dreadful and something I will never really get over. Even after this I still thought road accidents happen, it is a dead end road and the only vehicles which use it are those which deliver to the shops early morning, so I decided to make sure the cats were always in before 11pm and never let out 'til the deliveries had been.

The second, my old girl went missing and I found what I suspect was a clump of her fur and I still to this day do not know what happened to her, she was never found, although after what happened to my sister's cat I now have my suspicions although I sincerely hope not.

And the last straw was when some poor excuse for a human being set his dog (purposely) onto my sister's cat, she died in my arms in the vet car park just before we got her in to the emergency vet.

The thing that did it for me was the sick b*****rd who killed Jennie for kicks, I am not prepared to have my cats out anywhere which I don't EXACTLY where they are at any given time. Some people say it is cruel and I am selfish e.t.c. but tbh, I really couldn't care less anymore, the cats are just fine and as happy as they ever were when they were allowed out freely, they have plenty of toys and climbing frames and of course me, the dogs and each other for entertainment and they get on just fine as they are now.

If you make the choice to have them as indoor only cats then yes, it would be best and easier for the cats to never know a life outside, with those of mine who I had to convert to indoor cats I had to do it gradually and I still take Tucker out on his harness. Kiara rarely used to go out anyway and Vitaani couldn't care less to be out on her harness or not but Tucker adores it so I do still take him out regularly on it. Princess and Colin have been indoor only from day 1 and hate it if I even carry them outside in my arms, as does Kiara now.

It is totally your choice and my opinion is don't let anyone tell you that you are being cruel or anything as they will be just as happy indoors as long as they are kept occupied and have things to do and full run of the house to explore and there is always the option of training them on a harness too. You will come across people who believe a cat should be put out all day (or even all night!) and if something happens then that's just life, but that's not my personal point of view. JMO.

[candyshandy]

Why don't you get the garden cat-proofed and then they can go out and be safe. I've had my garden done but my lot are only allowed out when I'm at home and the sun is shining - the thought of muddy persians just scares me!!

[Jac]

I live on a very busy main road. No way would my kittys go outside. I have my own front garden which I hope to cat proof at some point but until then a most def indoor only.
In saying that I used to live in a safe place (for cats) and mine got out, only they decided to go no further than there own garden

[dandysmom]

Leia, my present cat is indoor only by her choice: for some reason she's scared of outdoors, so I have never tried to harness train her as all my previous cats were. I live in the City on a heavily trafficed street and only two blocks from the woods where there are foxes, raccoons and opossums. Harness walking is a good way to let them enjoy the sights and smells of outdoors without the dangers. Plus it's a bonding thing with them. Although expect very strange looks sometimes from people who see you walking a cat along the street! If you're not contemplating harness training then I'd suggest that they will be perfectly content being indoor cats as long as they have things to stimulate and amuse them. It is not cruel, it's simply sensible in this day and age; of heavy traffic, loose running dogs and sadistic people; they will not miss what they've never experienced, and will lead a longer safer life.

[Lorna]

Thanks guys makes me feel better! the opportunities for me to practice Law are much broader in the city, and I think it would be cruel to let them see the outdoor world and then take it away from them, but I cannot bear the thought of anything happening to them. This isn't a busy road per se, but there are cars parked all along and on 3 occasions this week I have had to slam my brakes on because cats have run out from under the cars in the morning, I would be devastated if anything happened to them. My next door neighbours at my old house had 2 Maine Coons and they didn't go out as they didn't want them to be stolen, I feel the same I'd break my heart if anything happened to them xx

[dandysmom]

Originally Posted by Lorna

Thanks guys makes me feel better! the opportunities for me to practice Law are much broader in the city, and I think it would be cruel to let them see the outdoor world and then take it away from them, but I cannot bear the thought of anything happening to them. This isn't a busy road per se, but there are cars parked all along and on 3 occasions this week I have had to slam my brakes on because cats have run out from under the cars in the morning, I would be devastated if anything happened to them. My next door neighbours at my old house had 2 Maine Coons and they didn't go out as they didn't want them to be stolen, I feel the same I'd break my heart if anything happened to them xx

It only takes a second! A dear friend of mine lost two cats to RTAs right here on my street because she didn't believe in keeping them indoors....

[Lorna]

Absolutely dandysmom I agree 100%, its only because I look all the time! Tigger my ex's cat went out one day and never came home I was devastated. I would rather know where my babies were, and silly as it sounds, but I'd never let my dog out alone!