Is it fair to keep indoor cats

[Babycat]

Hi new thread for me, I'm new be gentle, no claws please!

This is a subject I'm agonising over at the moment, all the reading I've done, people like Vicky Halls et al say provided the cat has sufficient environmental enrichment then cats can lead very happy lives indoors. Having spoken to a cat breeder they seem to think very much that cats should be allowed outside.

And I'm not just talking Moggies here, I'm especially interested in people who have pedigrees with little road sense, do they go batty being kept indoors? Wreck your house/show compulsive behaviour etc

I have bought a huge cat tree and toys, but I'm wondering how fair it'll be to keep a cat indoors, not mentioning the RSPB stuff as cats are hunters and that's what they do, but it's natural behaviour and shouldn't be discouraged imo.

[yola]

I have 3 pedigrees (Persians) and although they have supervised access (makes them sound like crims ) to outdoors, they are essentially indoor.

None seems to have suffered as a result. I have one cat who has always had behaviour issues, but apart from that (he toilets in inappropriate places) they don't scratch or damage anything any more than other cats. Infact I'd say that when my neighbour's outdoor mogs used to come in they'd do more scratching damage than my lot.

Mine not only have little road sense, 2 our of the 3 will walk up to strangers and roll around infront of them, I suspect someone would be tempted to help themselves sooner rather than later so my kits are staying indoors or carefully watched in the garden!

[Moli]

I have 4 pedigree's, and they only get out when I am home and when its nice enough to leave a window open..Maybe an hour or so everyday...

[Aquatic]

My cat has just started going outside recently but seems to stay in the garden only but I do worry about him so much because after my last cat was sadly knocked down by a car.
But as the saying goes you don't own the cat the cat own's you. and that's true. They'll do what they want to do theirs no stopping them (well no stopping Felix).

[Babycat]

I hear what you're saying Aquatic, but I live in a high rise apartment, if kitty wants to go out they have a long drop down!

Thankyou for the replies, I think it's an interesting debtate to have, and I'd be very interested in others experiences.

I haven't got the cat yet.

[Aquatic]

Oh I didn't know that I would want Felix to be an indoor cat but there's no stopping him. so I just let him haha!
When are you getting the cat?

[Stephan]

It`s your choice-as long as the cat is happy?

I would never want nor have an indoor cat but that is just me

[alexgirl73]

I have 3 cats, 2 moggies and one pedigree (exotic shorthair). All of them are happy and contented cats. They enjoy lazing on windows enjoying the sun, but none of them (apart from Broxi, one of my moggies) has shown any inclination to go out. And when Broxi does, he soon wants back in again!!

[Babycat]

Originally Posted by Aquatic

Oh I didn't know that I would want Felix to be an indoor cat but there's no stopping him. so I just let him haha!
When are you getting the cat?

Later this week, I'll watch out for stress signs and the usal but it'd be great if there was a definitive answer wouldn't it?

I know some cats are really homely and stay in, and some are roamers so it makes it difficult to tell how a new cat will react.

[Moli]

Think it is sensible to have them as house cats....