is it cruel to not allow a cat to go outside?

Answer 1

It's not exactly cruel...but I think a cat should get some fresh air just like we do.

Answer 2

It is cruel to allow a cat to go outside. You know they have laws about dogs being at loose. Too many people treat cats as disposeable possessions. They are compainions and are deserving of our protection. I have seen more than a few 3-5year old children playing on streets with no adult close. Their reasons could be similar as some of the answers. My children would never be beyond my reach because I was not prepared to risk the options. I have taken in 8 strays as my own and I can see they are evolving and have become more endearing through the years. I have fostered for a rescue group and once the door is closed they will adjust. Sometime it take a few weeks but even the unaltered male will know he's better off(males get neutered asp).
Most cats can be trained to use a collor and lease but never leave unattened. I have two cats that go on lease a few times a week just out around garden and to sit beside me.

Answer 3

When I got my kitten last summer we made the decision for her to be a house cat and not let her out. The reason for this is that we live on a very busy road and in my area there is always posters up asking for the where abouts of missing cats. If you are protecting your cat from being killed by a car then how can it be cruel? We make sure she has plenty of toys and attention and she is very happy and content. I would just like to add that the person who sold us our kitten told me that all of my cats siblings went outside before they got new homes, my cat had the opportunity to go out but never wanted to.

Answer 4

What is cruel is not protecting your cat properly. If you live in the country then they have to deal with wildlife looking for food. If you live in the city then there are too many dangers to list and the odds are against the cat being safe.
Giving excuses that "the cat prefers" or whatever is plain stupid. If you love your cat you would want it to live for several years and would do whatever it takes to make them safe.
Cats can be perfectly content living indoors if you provide them with everything they need. Scratching posts, toys, treats, etc....
There are many things on the market to help keep your kitty entertained and happy. Yes, it would be cruel to lock up the kitty and not give them anything to overcome boredom. But that is a choice and only you can do the right thing.
Please, please always keep your cat indoors where it is safe unless you have an enclosure or you are willing to be outside with it the whole time to protect it properly.
Thank you for asking a very good question...I just wish people would care more for the welfare of their cat and quit making excuses why it is better to let them roam. Just look at the newspapers and see how awful it is that so many are killed and abused because they allow them to roam. It just makes me sick.

Answer 5

Cats will live very happily as house pets, so it isn't cruel. It is difficult for a cat who is used to going outside to adjust to the lack of freedom, as it is in their nature to explore.

My brother has a cat in a third floor flat, and kitty is very happy. They have had him for 10 years since a kitten and he has never been outside, other than on the balcony.

I think it is a hard decision in this day and age, as there are so many problems that cats can face in the big wide world i.e heavy traffic, mindless vandals and theft. Pedigree cats are particularly at risk.

If you live in a more rural district, away from very busy roads you will probably be ok. I used to live in a small village and was surrounded by fields, when I had my Burmese cats. If I was getting a young cat for my current city life, I would think twice about letting it out unattended.

If you have an older cat who is used to the bustle of town life, they are more streetwise and will cope better. You can also get cat harnesses so that you can take them out safely - though not all cats take to them, my little cat just used to flop over if you tried to take her on a lead, she wasn't going to be told what to do!

Answer 6

Absolutely. It's cruel to lock any living creature up because you are denying it's free will. A cat will naturally explore it's local area, many streets away from where it lives. Imagine all the exciting and interesting places a cat will CHOOSE to go that are being denied it because the "owner" looks upon this living creature as some sort of toy or ornament. I have seen cats locked in their homes, staring out of the window and I feel so desperately sorry for the life that has been taken away form them.

As for safety issues, it is better to have died free than to have spent a lifetime in prison. Would you keep your children locked up in case the universe does something not very nice to them? If you do you are usually seen by social services.

The fact this question needs to be asked at all makes me despair.

Answer 7

Nope! its NOT cruel...cats are territorial animals and believe it or not the house/flat will become their territory! i have had cats which i have never let out and they have been happy wee souls, I now have 3, one wont stay in...two are not bothered , they actually prefer 'in' to 'out'!
They don't suffer at all from not being allowed to roam into neighbour's gardens or out into the street.A cat which has never been outdoors will have no desire to go out. (according to a cat expert!)
There Is nothing "natural" about a cat being outside. When humans domesticated cats (about 6,000 years ago), they removed them from the wild and changed their ecological role. Cats are no longer wild predators that fit into an ecosystem, but are dependent on humans, receiving the things they need to live from people.

and finally!!
Cats can be happily kept inside all the time. Many people do so and would have it no other way. They say they have deeper and more satisfying relationships with their cats and that those cats are healthier and live longer.


>^..^<

Answer 8

It is not cruel to not allow a cat to go outside. If you keep them in in the beginning they never know the difference. I have two enclosed porches where my cats go most of the year except when it is extremely hot or cold., and they love to lay looking out at the birds and squirrels, and they are very happy and content!!!They do get a lot of fresh air when they are on the enclosed porch(in the summer) as everything is screened in,and there is a ceiling fan that runs when it is hot.

Answer 9

I wouldn't say it's cruel, it just limits his experiences in life... You could raise a child and never allow him to do certain things, like say- play sports. And he could grow up perfectly happy and fit. But there wouldn't be much debate that such a person didn't live his life to the fullest.
I think it would be much the same issue with a cat that spends his entire life indoors. Sure- he could be a very happy lovely cat, but I for one can't help thinking that maybe he's been missing out on some stuff during his cat-life.

Answer 10

It depends. If going outside is dangerous (living near a main road etc) then I think that keeping the cat is is the lesser of two evils.

Also if the cat has always been a house cat they won't miss going outside. Some pedigree cat breeds need to be kept indoors as they are too delicate to cope with outdoor weather.

If you are keeping your cat in you need to make sure they have a litter tray and also to play with them a bit so they can exercise their "hunting" instinct - with toys on a string, little catnip mice and so on.

My mog, Reggie, likes to go out but to be honest his favourite thing is crashing out on his bed under the radiator or on a comfy lap! It snowed yesterday and he didn't go out at all! He was horrified at the idea of leaving his warm house to go out in the cold! I keep him in on bonfire night or any other other night when fireworks are going off for his own safety.

Answer 11

Absolutely not. I have 5 perfectly happy, healthy, and SAFE indoor only cats. Im perfectly ok with them never experiencing the outdoors because I know that they will never run away and get lost, get hit by a car, get attacked by other animals that they may encounter, they will never be captured and used as bait in pit bull fighting rings. I also know that they will never catch feline aids or leukemia. I know that they will never get worms from eating the gross stuff they find outside. They will never bring fleas or ticks into my house. They will not need extra vet visits to get stitches to repair them after a fight with a neighborhood tom cat. On average, the indoor cats live a much longer life than an indoor-outdoor cat. Just give kitty stuff to do, possibly someone else to play with. Bird feeder near the window are a terrific source of entertainment. What ever you do , keep kitty indoors, you will have her for a much longer time, and with alot less worry.