Why don't American people let their cats outside?

Question

there was this guy asking people for advice about letting his cats outside and for the most part, people were telling him not to do it. (i assume they're american becuase they were using american syntax) why is this? isn't it cruel to keep an animal locked up? I live in Ireland and no one keeps their cats inside. my own cat was kept indoors for a whole year because of illness and the whole time, she was desperete to go out. she's fine now and comes and goes as she pleases, but she's never been hurt outside or ran away in all the years we've had her. I'm not saying anyone who keeps their cats indoors is wrong, but i really don't understand it.

Answer 1

I don't think that applies to all americans, and I have met English people who kept their cats indoors but I think you are right it does seem to be an american thing. I think it's either genuine lack of knowledge on how animals should be treated or a form of arrogance which allows them to think they have a right to treat and animal like a cat in that way. Some suggest it's in the best interest of the cat but if it was, then the cat would choose to stay in the house. They have an incredible sense of direction and rarely get lost, if the don't come home for a few days it's because they have been prevented through injury or being shut in somewhere, or they've choosen not to. And that's a choice we have to respect.

I have 3 cats, at least I think I have 3, there are 3 others who also seem to think they live here too. And one of mine i know for a fact also lives next door. That's cats for you, if anybody doesn't enjoy that characteristic they should get a dog or a rabbit or something.

Answer 2

I agree.I am in the UK and my 9 yr old cat has always been indoor/outdoor.I lock her in when I go to bed at night but during the day and evening she comes and goes as she wants.She is of course spayed,up to date on jabs,microchipped and wears a collar.

I took her for her annual boosters last week and,after reading how many Americans keep their cats in,I asked the vet his views.He said it was cruel as cats are not dogs and need much more freedom and independence.I was pleased because I think the same-my neighbours keep their cat in and I feel bad for him-he spends his life pawing at the windows.

I agree that bird killing is a problem but luckily not for me as Sasha (my girl) is the worst hunter in feline history-she's never caught a thing in her life-except for moths-despite frequent attempts.
I also think the thing you often hear on yahoo about outdoor cats not lasting long is rubbish.As I said Sasha is 9 and several indoor/outdoor cats on my street are in their mid teens.I live in a suburban area with light traffic and no cat has been knocked down in our neighbourhood while I've lived here,though I do have Sasha insured in case of emergency vet bills.
I agree it is not safe in areas with very heavy traffic but you shouldn't keep a cat if you live there.

I accept that in rural areas in the states they have larger predators than we do-coyotes,wolves,bears etc but as I said above my view is that if you live somewhere where you can't safely let a cat out either due to busy roads or big wild animals then you shouldn't get a cat at all.

As for foxes in the UK they are not really a threat to most healthy adult cats-at a year old Sasha got in a fight with the a local fox when she tried to share their food (like many Brits I feed my local foxes a little most days)and it was the fox that ran,cat's claws are lethal,as anyone who has played with a cat will know.Big dogs and thuggish humans are a risk but 1 I am willing to accept.For me part of feline charm is that they are so independent and uncontrollable compared to dogs.

My basic view I suppose is that if you want a pet you can monitor 24 hrs a day you should have a dog.

Answer 3

Well, I also grew up in Ireland and our cats too were outside whenever they wanted. We did however live in the country and they were safe to ramble about for the most part. My gran did have her cat hit by a car though and i suppose its the danger of things like that happening that makes people want to keep their cats inside. i now live in the UK and although my street isn't too busy, I don't let my cat outside. I would die if she got hit by a car or eaten by next doors dogs. Sometimes she mieows to go out but because she has always been inside, it doesn't bother her too much. She has lots of toys, a GIANT scratch post we custom made for her and she can go wherever she pleases in the house. So I think its better for the cat in all. Shes just safer!

Answer 4

I use cat fence-in for my garden which keeps my cats on my property and out of danger. When I suggested to an English friend that she might consider "franchising" the system in England she laughed and said, "Oh, the British would NEVER confine their cats". I assume their are laws in England and Ireland requiring some regulation of free-roaming dogs.

Aside from traffic dangers I know that here in CA and also in CO there is danger from coyotes taking cats. And I was surprised to be reminded that alligators can be predators for housecats too.

Many cats do OK outdoors - a cousin had a cat of nine years that was killed crossing a street she had crossed every day of her life. I would prefer my cats could live a "natural" life and would not like to see any of them die from a predator, and we have human ones here too, or from a car.

Answer 5

I'm an american and I don't understand the point of keeping cats locked up inside.

Their points are that they get run over, they get diseases, they get killed by other prey.

Ok, as a human. If you walk outside, you can get run over or in a car wreck. You can easily get the flu or other diseases, or you can get shot or stabbed to death by being an innocent bystander or someone you know.

So , since cats should never go outside, humans should never go outside either should they. It seems the same to me.

As you can tell, I don't believe it keeping my cats inside 24/7. I personally think it's cruel not to let them enjoy the sunshine and fresh air that they enjoy by going outside.

The arguments of keeping them inside make no sense to me.

Answer 6

Hi. My Texas cat is an indoor/outdoor cat. He comes and goes as he pleases, too. He's fixed, so I don't worry about him overpopulating the neighborhood. During the day, he stays inside . At night he sleeps on the patio and defends his territory from other cats that prowl around. There are many cats in this city that are outdoor cats. It is not at all unusual to see a cat out strolling around.

Answer 7

1) Cars- Everybody drives in America and nobody slows down. I live on a busy street and this is the main reason I keep my cat inside.
2) Fleas, mites, bad dogs, worse people. Serial killers always start with animal torture. America has more Serial killers than any other nation. Also more small caliber weapons and people who would rather shoot a problem than solve it. We also have more large weapons but most people would not use a 50 caliber machine gun to kill a cat. It's a question of the right tool for the job.
3) Some cities do not allow cats to free roam.
4) indoor cats do live longer
5) some cats do get lost.
6) birds. Is letting your cat eat birds and other small animals right? If it's one wild animal against another, that is just nature. Put a domestic cat in the mix and the scales are not even. Besides the cat gets worms and then you have to take her to the vet.
7) Cats that are not used to roaming don't miss what they never had. Cats live in the moment.
8) We do things our way in America. Try to think of it as part of our famous "individuality."

Answer 8

Um apparently you don't have dogs who will come along and swallow up your cat and toss poor thing back & forth up in the air and eat tearing to bloody bits. America has an overflow of dogs ! Well you better start understanding that we Americans must keep our cats inside to be able to be safe. We also have huge hawks ! Sad but true.

Answer 9

a lot of americans do let their cats outside. i used to have a cat and he came and went as he pleased, but now i have another cat and she stays inside because we live on a busy road now. i think a lot of people keep their cats inside to keep them from getting worms and from getting run over. i bet a lot of them are paranoid of their cats getting hurt. some people have there cats declawed(which i dont agree with) and the cats wouldnt be able to protect themselves outside.

Answer 10

IT'S not that all AMERICANS let their cats outside and thats just it you say ALL AMERICANS it's like saying why do these certain people do this but these ones don't. First off AMERICA is a free country second if you had lived in this area you would know why alot of us DO NOT LET OUR CATS OUTSIDE it's not CRUEL IT'S LOVE for that we AMERICANS know where we live and what kind of dangers are out there for our animals just bacause we have our cats it's not saying that they don't have what they need on the inside of the house I have a whole playground set up for my cats!!!!! and just like the one lady said if you will not allow your dogs out why should you with your cats BUT it is the individuals CHOICE and only they have the right to choose if they want their animal outside or inside it's not right it's not wrong to each their own in my opininon...and the owner of the animal knows their animal better than anyone else. I do not want the kind of diseases are out where you live but in the NY area there is ALOT of traffic people that still thieve your animal and soooooooooo many diseases and wild animals that our loved ones could get so you tell us is it cruel to LOVE YOUR ANIMAL