once and for all.....Should cats run loose, or be kept indoors?

Question

I believe inside, but some of my friends are giving me a hard time about it. I want my cat SAFE.

Answer 1

My cat, Sarah, was born outside before being abandoned by her mother and adopted by myself.

Initially, I attempted to keep her inside, and succeeded in doing so for about a year and a half, until, despite her many toys, she began staring out the windows and crying. Not being able to stand seeing her upset, I then began letting her into my fenced backyard and she quickly figured out how to climb over the fence and run freely around the neighborhood.

Every night however, she has always come home, often with "presents", namely small animals.

Now, she leaves the house at about the same time I do and is either waiting by the front door when I get home or arrives shortly thereafter.

She seems to be very happy with this lifestyle, which she has maintained for the past 15 years and I feel terrible when I am forced to lock her indoors (such as when I know that a storm is coming or after she has had an operation) and she begins sitting by the window and crying.

Answer 2

I actually found this information on Hartz website. It says: In 1930, the life expectancy for a cat was 8 years. It has since doubled. Today the average lifespan of an outside cat is only five years, but inside cats can live 18 to 20 years according to Humane Society of the United States.

If that doesn't shut them up then you should get smarter friends.

Answer 3

I think all cats should be inside. My 3 kittens are all inside cats and I wouldn't even think of letting them run loose outside. There are so many dangers outside for cats. The cat could get hit by a car, could get in a fight with another cat, causing thousands in vet bills, could get chased by a dog, can get sick if he hasn't had all his shots, could get stolen etc. I would be too scared to let them out.
My Burmese cat (passed away last year) was a mostly indoor cat but sometimes she went outside for an hour during the day. She was around 10 years old when she was lost for over a week, she was trapped inside a garage only a few doors down the street. Not only was she very skinny, she had a terrible eye injury. Something poked her in her left eye - surgery was needed, costing $600 and blindness in that eye. It's truly not worth letting the cat outside.

Answer 4

I think it depends on what the cat wants. We own a lot of cats and we let them do whatever they want. Cats dont like being stuck inside all day and if you let them play outside then they wont turn on your curtains!! I know you want your cat to be safe, what with the whole getting run over thing so it also depends on where you live. If you live near a highway or a busy road i wouldnt let your cat out as much but you have to let it do its own thing sometimes. How would you feel being cooped up inside all day? I would suggest you get a cat-flap so your cat can come and go as it pleases ^_^
The average life expectancy for cats living indoors may be a lot higher but, dont take this the wrong way, the longer they live, the harder it is to let them go.

Answer 5

Whatever you do, consider NOT declawing your cat. When a cat is declawed, it is the same as amputating each finger down to the first knuckle from the tip. It is very painful for the cats, especially when they use the litter box. I rescued a stray cat that was about 2 years old 3 months ago. The first few days in the house, I kept him in the basement with a new scratching post. He became very comfortable with it and when his fleas were gone and he had been fixed, I let him into the main house area. He never scratches the furniture and so far, is content to be inside.

Answer 6

I have my cats inside at all times, it saddens me to see all of the dead cats on the road, not only that getting killed by other predators, there are cat haters out there that will deliberatley poison cats, cats are also attracted to anti-freeze which is fatal, they will climb up into cars. Young kids having sacrificing rituals. There is a website called littlebigcat.com, try to look at it some time. The average life span of an outdoor cat is 1-5 years, the average life span of indoor cat is 10-20+ years.

Answer 7

The average indoor cat will live 10-15 years, while the average outdoor cat only lives about 3 years. This says it all, at least to me. I love my cats and I want them to stay with me for as long as possible! So much can happen to an outdoor cat. I coudn't sleep at night knowing my kitties were running around town, where they could get attacked by dogs, ran over by cars, catch feline diseases, etc.

Answer 8

Cats should be both inside and out. Every living thing should be given some fresh air. Leaving it in the house will keep it safe, but go outside with it for a little. Your cat can run around , or go wild if it likes, but if you always keep it in the house, who knows what would happen. Just put yourself in the cats position. Would you want to be stuck inside the house all day and notlet your mom/dad let you go out? neways, its whatever you think is best for your cat. Hope i helped!

Answer 9

I see lots of thumbs down on the keep them in but...IT'S NOT EVEN ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE CAT...That's secondary...there are plenty of them in the world even though we are all partial to our own...It is about the absolutley devistating effect they have on other wild life. Cats are like roaches...the more people the more roaches...They are overpopulated and kill a lot of native birds and insects that are endangered. If you live in the country on lots of acres with only one cat it might not have that much of an impact but in a city or town or any other populous area forget it. You are doing drastic environmental damage by letting you cat roam. If you can let your cat out in a confined area for small increments under your careful watch then fine - but don't just let it out and let it go!!! I love my cats dearly but the truth is the things your cats kill are more important than your cats!!!

Answer 10

Tell your friends that most cats are indoor cats these days. It is safer and life longer lives. It will cost you less in vet bills too. when it comes down to it, it is your cat. You want it to have a healthy life. I have 3 and have this continual battle with my BF.. His cats were outside cats and never came home... You think he would get it.