Do you think all pet cats should be kept indoors?

Question

I like to hear more opinions.

To me keeping them inside is responsible. They cant get hit by cars, attacked by dogs or other animals, and is less likely to get stolen

to me if you love your pet you wouldnt take such chances. What if it was a super friendly dog? Would you still let it run loose?

I had a few dogs run loose where I used to live. Not many cars. Never harmed and she would wander a few miles and come home by night. Never got lost

well just cause it wanted to isnt a good answer. What if your kid wanted to be outside all the time? Would you let your kids wander around anytime they wanted?

Why is a cat different. Should be part of your family like a kid

Answer 1

I don't believe ALL cats HAVE to be kept INDOORS ALL the time. Don't jump on me here because I'm not saying people should let their cats roam free. No, I am totally against that.

Like a couple of the other posters, we let one of our cats outside....sometimes a couple times a day. He sits in the grass by our patio where we keep an eye on him. He'll chase some bugs, falling leaves, run up the tree after birds, then come back down, eat some grass, etc. But he doesn't run off. And once we're ready to go in, we scoop him up and take him inside. We can't do this with our female because we know how rare it is for a cat to act as our male does. He's quite needy and scared of being separated from us.....but she has quite an independent streak, and I have no doubt in my mind she'd run off without thinking twice.

And I've been saying the same thing! People keep using the excuse that cats are happier when allowed to roam outside. Sure, they enjoy it, but a toddler would enjoy playing in the road....it doesn't mean you should ALLOW them to do so!

Answer 2

Well apart from that people dont let their dogd run free either. If a dog sits down and has a dump in my backyard i call the police to come get this animal and fine the owner. When a cat does that, there is no legal issue. Thats weird to me. I wouldnt want to have a pet that bothers the people that live around me. Beisides, most cats can live indoors and be perfectly fine.

Answer 3

You are ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!!!! Indoor cats live much longer, healthier lives than do indoor/outdoor cats.
Kudos to you for knowing the difference between being a responsible and an irresponsible pet-owner. Wish more people understood what seems to be so obvious to the rest of us!
I assume that you also believe having your pets spayed or neutered is being a responsible pet owner? If so-good for you! Spread the news because far too many people just don't get it and the animals are paying a hefty price for the ignorance of their owners.

Answer 4

Depends on a few factors...

Do you like fleas and ticks in your house?

Do you like a pretty, healthy, cat or a rough and ragged cat that has a smokers cough and a tattoo that says MEOW and always comes home late, with blue pool cue chalk on his little paws and catnip on his breath?

But if it makes you mad? The dead mouse bouquet will make all better Im sure?

a calm and secure cat, or a ferrel neurotic cat?

Outdoors do tend to make them a bit more wild and a little less friendly if you try to bring them inside. I say it should be either or, not both.


*sorry... I watched far too much Tom & Jerry as a child.

My cat does not go outside past the caged in pool area...

Answer 5

Yes, and even that is not a guarantee of safety. I had a cat for 18 years that never went outside and only had one other cat in the house in that time. They both lived together for about 10 years.

When she got sick the vet told me she had FIP which is a disese that affects the lining of the heart. That is what she died from. FIP can only be contracted from contact with a cat that is sick with it already. The other cat was fine until her death from old age at 19.

BTW, don't have them declawed either, that is inhumane. What they do is cut off their toes back to the first knuckle, not just the claw.

Answer 6

Not all cats want to be kept indoors and it depends on the breed of cat you have, but its not a bad idea if you can manage it as cats are not like dogs and can get lost easily.

Answer 7

I use cat fence-in for my back garden so my six cats stay on my property and are able to enjoy fresh air and sunshine.

The garden is somewhat "sterile" for them as there are no mice, and the birds know to keep well away from the garden. I would never have unleashed that many cats on my neighborhood and this was my first garden so I wanted them to be out there with me. Plus I didn't want to have to watch all six to see if one got out when I went out the door.

Answer 8

My cat loves to go outside, and I think fresh air is good for them. If you live near a street, you should take precautions to keep the cat in your yard (one of those collars that makes the noise that is annoying to the animal once he goes out of his boundaries or something like that, im not a big fan of the ones that shock though). Or put up a fence. They probably are safer indoors, but outside is healthy too, just keep an eye on them. It also depends a lot on the cat (some tend to run off, others like to stay around in their own territory). My cat just runs out the door whenever he gets the chance, and has been doing so for the past 7 years, and he is fine.

Answer 9

I think cats can live a perfectly happy life even if never given the chance to go outside. And just like you say they are much safer.

Answer 10

my own personal opinion is yes...cats should be inside animals you reduce the risk of getting hit by cars...there is less of a chance it will pick up a disease...and lets face it there are alot of animal abusers that do bad things to loose animals...so my answer is yes keep them inside if you love your cats i do...