2007-02-16 00:08:11 · 23 answers · asked by gemma w 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Most animal lovers will tell you it's not only OK, but in fact preferable... They live longer, healthier lives if they're kept inside, and they don't really "miss" being out.
2007-02-16 00:11:36 · answer #1 · answered by I hate friggin' crybabies 5 · 5⤊ 2⤋
Yes. Both my cats were indoor only, but when we moved onto 10 acres of land in Vegas, my oldest decided she wanted to be an indoor/outdoor cat.
Make sure you still spay/neuter you cat and do not have their claws removed. I don't feel it's natural for a all cats to be outdoor's, some don't like it, but I do feel it's natural for a cat to have it's claws. Even if you de-claw them, they'll still try to "scratch" at furniture. Just keep some scratching posts around and you'll be fine. I digress, that's a whole, other argument lol =P. I just always noticed my cats "play" fought with both their front and back claws, so when they were indoor only cats, I felt if they did go outside or became indoor/outdoor cats, they should be able to defend themselves and able to survive if needed (get food if they get lost).
An indoor cat may sit at a window and try to chase birds like crazy, that doesn't mean they are "longing for the outdoors". My youngest does this all the time, but you can leave the door wide open, she'll never walk out it; just stand there at the exit looking out not daring to budge (my youngest does this, face it the outdoors frightens some cats, mine is one of them and she's always been this way).
As far as the idea an indoor cat is an unhappy cat - that's rubbish. Both my cats are happy as can be, they were when they both were indoor only, and they are with one being indoor/outdoor and one being indoor only.
Just take the cue from your cat. If they are scratching at the doors and keep trying to run out of them, then don't try and force them inside. That will surely make them unhappy.
You're cat will tell you what he or she wants. If they want to be an indoor cat, then yes - it's perfectly fine - let them have all the indoors they want =). They won't love you any less because they aren't experiencing the outside.
2007-02-16 01:03:10 · answer #2 · answered by irishturtle 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not only acceptable, in this day and age, it is sometimes necessary. Most cats, especially the long haired breeds, will have a natural preference to the indoors. The necessity of keeping a cat indoors is safety. Cats are stolen, killed by vehicles, attacked by other animals and even poisoned by garbage they may try to eat. Cats are clean and if you have a litterbox that eliminates the need for them to ever put a paw outside the door.
2007-02-16 02:33:12 · answer #3 · answered by peskylisa 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i was glad to read the answers given by nearly all of the people so far to answer you question telling you that it is OK to keep cats indoor...
My cat has been an indoor cat all her life ( she's nearly ten) she has managed to sneak out a couple of times but is always very relieved to come back in.
She also will walk on a lead ( leash) so occassionally i will take her out on the lead for a bit of a wander .. but that's all she needs.
2007-02-17 22:14:58 · answer #4 · answered by ll_jenny_ll here AND I'M BAC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many cats can thrive quite well indoors provided they have certain very necessary requirements supplied for them. They will need a good, clean litter tray, a scratching post, somewhere they can get sunlight (like a window ledge), food, water, and a variety of entertainment in the form of toys, climbing frames etc. They should also be given a safe,secure and comfortable place to sleep. If you can give the cat these things plus the love and attention they like then there is no need for them to be outside.
2007-02-16 00:31:37 · answer #5 · answered by artemis_of_the_woods 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is not only ok, it is much better for your cats. Even if your cats are immunized, there are other dangers outside that they could face. I have neighbors that put their cats out. One came home with an infection from possibly another animal bite that caused the cat's eye to swell. Luckily, they took the cat to the vet, and the vet had to do surgery. An expensive lesson... over $200. There are cars that can (and do) hit cats, people looking for animals to take and sell to labs and for other inhumane reasons. Last night, it was maybe 8 degrees outside and the cats that were outside were all looking for warm places to go. They hide up inside cars, by the motors. I won't go into what happens when the car is turned on. Cats do live longer, healthier lives if they are kept indoors.
2007-02-16 00:22:22 · answer #6 · answered by lucy7 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It's more then OK..cats should be indoors. A responsible pet owner would never just let a beloved pet run around free outside.
Outdoor cats get hit by cars, get diseases and parasites, can be attacked by other animals, get poisoned or beat by cruel people and cats are also dangerous to native wildlife.
2007-02-16 01:37:11 · answer #7 · answered by KathyS 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've had my cat for almost a year and the only time she's ever been outside was when we brought her home and when she went to the vet to get declawed and spayed. Every once in a while she gets curious when a door is left cracked and tries to poke her head through but she's never gotten outside without someone holding onto her before. I don't want her to get out and get any diseases from stray cats in the apartment complex I live in, among other things that could happen to her.
2007-02-16 02:51:24 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well I couldn't stand the loss of one of my babies I have 5. I never let them outside. I built shelves under the windows so they can look out there and smell through the screen in the summer. Some times I take the oldest out on a harness and leash and let her explore and get fresh air on a really nice day but that is as close to being out they will ever be. I don't think they mind staying in the house I can have the door wide open and they usually don't go near it not even to take a peak. I think they know it doesn't get better then pets, hugs, toys, unlimited food, bed, couch, chairs to claw (even though they have scratchers around the house) Sleep eat and play. Purrrfect. LOL
2007-02-16 00:48:49 · answer #9 · answered by Sandy 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes my mother has her cat inside all the time.
As long as you have a scratching post, and some toys for it to play with, and you spend a bit of time with it each to play with it, the cat will live a healthy life indoors.
Cats if kept inside, they can't attack and eat the wild life, not fight with other cats, or annoy the neighbours, they also tend to be healthier, and possibly live longer if given some toys etc to keep them fit.
Mum has a large scratching post, and different toys for her Manx (tailless) cat to play with. She also lets it outside when hangs the washing, and it comes back inside when she does. She also has special cat grass for it to eat, in a flower pot, which brings in for a few days then back outside for a few days to recuperate.
She did try to train it to walk on a special leash so it could go for a walk, it would come to mum for the leash and harness to be put on, and go out side for walk around the front or backyard, but as soon as mum would walk the cat any where else it would not move. Looked very funny to see, but mum felt it was mean dragging it down the road, so did not persist longer walks.
2007-02-16 00:46:30 · answer #10 · answered by brat_baby_one 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The first thing people that own cats need to realize is that they do not "own" their cats. Cats will do what ever it is they want no matter how bad you try to bribe them w/ goodies and toys, they will go and do what they want - the complete opposite of dogs.
With that said, male cats tend to want to go outside a lot more then female cats. i think it's just a natural trait of the male sex in general. Yes, your cat will technially "live longer" if you keep it in doors all the time and all that good stuff, but if your cat really wants to go outside it will find it's way out even when you didn't want it too. i personally first didn't let my cats out when i first got them for about a year ago and they seemed to be "happy". The one day that one of them got out on accident - i realized that the only way to get him back was to let the other one find him. That may sound funny but it worked. i let the other one out and w/ in a few min's had found the lost cat and we walked back to my house together - which was really weird. After that, i let them out when ever they wanted and after that, they seemed to be a lot happier and more affectionet w/ me. They purr a lot more now, and lost a lot of weight as a result of it too.
Now, that's not where the story ends. My half-Persian cat; the_Gizmo, was "found" by another family and kept him for about 2 weeks in their home. i found out about it through another neighbor and took him back. They didn't know that i had him chipped and got the local animal control involved and got him back. After that though, i realized that i HAD to keep them inside because of fear that they would be "found" by another clepto-family.
If i could i would but know that i can't. It's all up to your cats and what you are willing to accept as a result of it. Cats in all honesty are very neutral when it comes to their happiness. Do what you feel is best.
Good luck.
2007-02-16 01:37:05 · answer #11 · answered by c.R 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋