Should i let my cats outside?

Question

I was brought up with cats and they've always been let outside - they are animals afterall.
my wife and i now have kittens, and we live on a semi-busy road, i was confident my cats won't kill themselves by running under a bus.
Until this morning when i saw the remains of someone elses cat splattered in the middle of our road.
is it ok to let them in the back garden ONLY when we are there. Or is there away of making them only stay in our garden.

Answer 1

I always thought it was unnatural to keep cats inside - a friend of mine has 4 cats and they've always been "house cats" due to the busy roads he lives by. They seem happy enough but I think its because they don't know any alternative.

On the other side of the coin, I live in the country and my cat has always been allowed outside - she loves it. She never strays too far, but occasionally does disappear for a couple of days (probably because she's been inticed with food by one of my neighbours). However, all that said, she does get picked on quite often by a neighbouring Tom...and I've had to seperate her from fights on more than one occasion. You can't ever be around all the time to assure that your cat doesn't get bullied (or in fact bullys others)...but thats just life in general isn't it?

My advice to you would be to keep your cat as a house cat, purely because it currently knows no different (so isn't going to miss the freedom) AND because you live near a busy road. I don't trust drivers in the country to avoid cats, never mind those driving down a busy road.

Good luck with it - the main thing is, make sure you give them plenty of love!

Answer 2

I used to live on a busy main road and my cats had a special 'run' built for them as there was no way we could stop them scrabbling over an eight foot fence - I also got them used to a harness and lead from a young age and they were able to explore that way, but this quite a long winded affair.
Sadly cats will explore and have practically little or no road sense in the main, so will always be a massive risk.
Cats do need fresh air ad sunshine on their coats (it's the only way that they get vitamin D) so you need to work something out.
I knew someone who bought a new kitten every year as the old one had invariably got run over on the busy road to the front of her house - I suggested perhaps that she should stop having cats, but she reckoned it was better than them dying of old age and disease...
It's up to you - the only other alternative that I can suggest is growing all your plants around the border right up and over into the garden so that they cannot get a purchase and keep them in that way

Answer 3

Cats are so much different when it comes to letting them outside, than it is with a dog.
My precious cat, tasha, died at the ripe age of 16 last May. She was a house cat, and always wore a collar (like you, i lived on a semi busy street, so i always kept a collar on her in case for some reason, she DID get outside).
We also had a dog, and when my cat would see the dog getting to go outside, she became curious and would want to go outside. Luckily, we had a decent sized backyard. What i would do is i purchased an extra long leash and would hook it to her collar. That way, she felt independent (like cats HAVE to haha), but i still had some control over her.
You do have to becareful of your cats getting fleas or ticks from being outside though. If you do choose to let them outside, even for a small amount of time, be sure to check their fur and skin to make sure you do not see any ticks or evidence of fleas.
Cats by nature are very curious and do enjoy new surroundings and what not. If you are still nervous about them getting out, do what i did with my rabbits. We got some wire fencing-style stuff (i use the technical terms hah), and made a small, removeable fence so they could run around without getting loose. Hope that helps! Keep your kitties safe :)

Answer 4

The usual rule is to keep the cat inside one room (preferably the one where it's going to sleep) for 2 weeks, so it knows where home is. Then, for one week or so, let it wander around the house. Then you can let it out for an hour or so under your supervision (maybe on a leash for the first few days); do this once daily for about a month. Then, when the cat knows the area fairly well, it's probably a lot safer to let it out on it's own than it would be when it's just a poor, unknowing, defenceless kitten! It's best to repeat this process whenever you move to a new neighbourhood.

Answer 5

Over 30 years I have had many cats. At least 5 have died on roads (why don't drivers be more careful?) and one was killed by a jack Russell terrier. Our current cats (rescue ones) both live in doors all the time. If it is done from when they are kittens, provided the ideas in the other answers are acted upon, then they will be fine. Elderly cats also like their comfort and can stay in. We have a Persian and she is fine on a rabbit harness in the summer, when she explores the garden with us. She is ready to come in when it gets wet or dark though!

If they are looked after, kept entertained, then they can lead happy, contented lives, without illness and other "outside" stresses. Mind you, I have seen cats that you just could not keep in, so I guess, know your cat first!

hope this helps.

Answer 6

I would let them exercise along with you in your back garden. I don't think cats are clever enough to only stay there by themselves.
I have a lovely ginger tom cat who lived in Wimbledon with my daughter and family for 10 years an now he lives with us in Scotland in a quiet lane so he goes out just as he did in Wimbledon but not too far away and usually for about half an hour. My daughter had a back garden.
I have just checked my favourite cat book and they say not to change their routine and if you decide to keep them indoors make a gym for them to play in cutting out holes in cardboard.A climbing tree to climb up and a scratching pole is a must.Be careful of open windows where they may climb out.
A small tray of grass , Lawn grass, catnip,parsley,sage and tyme are all suitable.I have a very good friend who absolutely adores cats and she keeps all five indoors all the time.
I am a cat lover like you and I know you want the best life for them.
Judy

Answer 7

I love my cats and I hate letting them miss out on the feel of grass under their paws; the cat-joy of climbing a tree; chasing butterflies ... but I would be devastated if anything happened to them while they are outdoors. And many things can, unfortunately. They can wander accross the road and get hit by a car; they can get into a cat fight and come home with wounds or fleas or terrible diseases; etc.

When I was living in a house, I never let any one of my cats outside unsupervised... even in the fenced backyard... I am always watching... same as you would do with little toddlers. Now that we are in an apartment, I've turned the year-old cat into an indoor only cat and he adapted to the new conditions within a week because he is young enough to be distracted with toys. My 8-yr old neutered male goes out on walks with me twice each night wearing a halter and leash; so I am in control of him at all times.

If you can be sure of your control over your cat and kittens (they come to you when you call them), then I suppose you can let them out in the safety of your backyard but ONLY when you are there to supervise and see to it that they don;t go where they shouldn't.

Answer 8

I used to live on the Great Western road, i had 4 cats at the time and no harm came to any of them. I then moved to Grt Yarmouth a nice quiet area, 2 of my cats were run over.
It is a chance you take, the same as if you walk out the door. I would say let them out, keep them in at night time, cats love the out doors and hunting. I now live back in London and have one cats who loves it outside, she never ventures to far though. I love watching her chase leaves and bugs in the garden. Let the babies run free during the day.

You do need to keep the cats in for 6 weeks though once you get them so that they get used to smells, then on their first outings be there with them. You never know they may hate it and want to be house cats. But give them the choice.

good luck

Answer 9

Sorry but the person who said keep them on a harness or lead obviously doesn't know much about cats. They won't have any of it and will try strangling themselves in order to get free. I don't believe you should keep a cat indoors. I know that you are taking a risk having them going outside but generally they will be scared of traffic due to noise and then can run really fast. It's a good idea to let them out in the garden but you will find it near impossible to make them stay there, even if you build a 9 foot fence around the whole of it they will just climb it. They are curious animals and can jump higher then you think. I don't think it will do them any harm to prowl around other back gardens. Accidents always happen but think it's better for them to have a fulfilling life while their alive with chance of accident then living life confined to house. Just my opinion

Answer 10

Hi
I'm a cat lover and we have two tabby cats,no way would I let my cats out near to a main road what I'd do is,make your back garden safe so they can't get out, then you could make a large run with wire so you'll know there safe and they can run free,and you'll have peace of mind too.
Good luck.