About differences between indoor and outdoor cats...?

Question

Ok, the answers I received to this question kind of bothered and worried me as well. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ak3NvaQoD5v84HN9_B9ELTfsy6IX?qid=20070221165249AAwY5jU

As I said, my 10 months old cat is pregnant. Here's the story. I had her since she was 2 months old. I kept her indoors all the time.

The problem was that most of the people (including my parents, but they're parents and their mind works according to the theory that cats + indoor = mess/extra work etc.) that I'm cruel and selfish for keeping my cats indoors and that I should let them out to play outside and to be free. So when she was about 5-6 months old i let hr (and her bro) out.

Now most people call me irresponsible for that. All I wanted was to let them be healthy, enjoy the sun, freedom, to play with other cats etc. it's not like I let them out of the yard. I only let them play inside yard limits, so I don't think i should be called irresponsible for that.

I mean what cat WOULDN'T want to be free and be able to play outside? It's actually healthy for them.
But I can't supervise them all the time. All i can do is make sure they don't get out of the yard, if they do find a way to escape it's not my fault. i'm just trying to do what's best for their happiness.

So.. all in all, did i do the right thing? What's better? Keep them in and and keep them away from something they might like or let them out? And I'm not talking about letting them out as in letting them run off on their own and be in the presence of other dangerous animals.

@ Judge's Slave: If you read the details I posted you know.

Ok, you're all reported. i thought you had some some common sense. i was asking for advice from people with experience, not shallow jokers.

Answer 1

So, you've kept your cat inside for awhile. And then YOU decided to let her outside UNALTERED. That was irresponsible any way you look at it. Now you have a 10 month old pregnant cat.

Play with other cats? Cats don't "play with other cats" that they don't know. They fight with them or mate with them. That's it. Cats don't need to go outside to be healthy. A simple search of the HSUS website would have shown you the dangers of letting cats outside. Torture from others, fights, diseases, poisons, cars, wild animals, etc. The average lifespan of an outdoor cat is around 2 years. It's like 12 of an indoor cat. So, how would letting a cat outside be "healthy"?

You've been run through the ringer by people, myself included, for being irresponsible and now are mad at that. But, the fact won't change that you have a 10 month old cat that's pregnant because you didn't get it fixed and you let it outside. That's irresponsible any way you look at it.

I'm not going to pat you on the head and say "sorry we were rude to you - you just made a mistake. It's OK" It's not ok. You now have endangered the life of your cat and created 5-10 more animals that need homes - while animals are dying in shelters every 7 seconds.

I don't know how old you are and perhaps if you had originally stated that, we would have been easier on you. But, every other post on here tonight is "my cat is pregnant and I'm so excited" or "my dog is pregnant, when will she have her babies" and many of us get sick of people refusing to take responsibility for their actions. Especially those of us who work with rescues and who KNOW about overpopulation in shelters and the high kill rates.

If your cat is not too far along, I stand by my original advice. Have the cat fixed and end the pregnancy. Then, keep them both inside 100% of the time. If your parents need convincing, visit http://www.hsus.org and search for "indoor cats" and show them all the information.

Good luck to you.

Answer 2

Cats are fine indoors and outdoors. Just make sure that your veterinarian is aware that you do let your cats out on occasion because there are some additional vaccinations that most vets only give outdoor cats. Plus they need to be kept on monthly flea and tick medication to prevent infestation and protect them from diseases that these parasites carry. I highly recommend Frontline Plus for cats. Also make sure that you don't have them declawed if you plan on keeping them as indoor/outdoor kitties. Their claws are their only self defense against other animals and can help them climb up a tree to safety if they feel threatened. I know you mentioned you keep them within yard limits, but just remember that if something spooks them or they see something they want to go after they can move really fast. As long as you're aware of the risks of letting your cat outside no one should be calling you irresponsible, that's just rude. As an addition, this is only a suggestion and I'm not saying you have to do this, but once she has her kittens I recommend getting her spayed so she doesn't accidentally become pregnant again. Hope this helps and good luck!

Answer 3

Well, I have two cats, and they both have always been indoor cats. The reason is because I think there are too many dangers for them outside, like cars, dogs, diseases, and not to mention people that enjoy doing mean things to cats (I've heard too many horror stories about that). This is my opinion about the subject, and this is how I take care of my own cats. I would worry about them all the time if they went outside. I guess I'm not sure what your question is, but I assume you wanted other's opinions about cat care. You obviously care enough about your kitties to ask for help and input on the subject.

Answer 4

Some cats have no fur genetically, so they live indoors. Some owners with expensive pedigree cats do not let them outside because they may get stolen, or they are show or breeding animals so they do not get into fights or get pregnant from other cats. If you have an indoor cat it is important to provide them with grass growing in a pot so they can eat it as they need it for digestion. Cats do enjoy gong outside, especially if they have grass or fields to run around in, but it can be dangerous if there is traffic.

Answer 5

Hi,

Currently, I have three indoor cats and will remain so as were my previous cats. I have read the pros and cons and have talked to friends who own cats who are left outside.

Draco, the cat I got as a kitten was outdoors twice. The first time was when I got him and he was in a blanketed box, so that does not count. The second was when I was trying to leash train him and he was afraid of the outdoors. So much for leash training....

Minx, my one shelter cat, to my knowledge was never out of doors. Before she was in the shelter, she was a very young kitten who had a foster home with the shelter's director before she was put into the shelter for adoption.

Lynx, my tailess cat (due to inhuman abuse), at some point in time was most likely a stray. She was in the shelter for a year and a half before I gave her a home.

Indoor cats, especially when given toys and play time, do not miss the outdoors. Allowing cats outdoors can be dangerous to the animals. A dog roaming loose might attack them. Cats are not social animals, so it is highly unlikely they will play with a strange cat. Only the lions who live in prides and the feral cats who live in colonies have a social group. The rest are solitary animals, meeting only to procreate.

Outdoor run the risk of humans hurting or kidnapping them. They can be hit by cars. They can get into fights with other cats. They can ingest toxic substances. The list goes on....

I have read the comments to your post and it appears to me that people are writing that you are irresponsible for not getting your cat spayed, not for letting her out.

Is her bro neutered?

All of my cats are spayed or neutered because it is best for the animals.

My next questions are how do you know that she did not get out of the yard or another cat or cats get in? Were you watching the cats all of the time? Cats mating is a noisy process. Didm't you hear their caterwauling?

It is not cruel or selfish to keep cats indoors. It is in the best interest of the cats to do this.

If someone would tell me I am cruel and slefish to keep my cats indoors, I would tell him or her that it is his or her opinion, then change the subject.

Answer 6

We have 5 cats, 1 of which is indoors all the time. If your cats are healthy, have their shots, their claws , and are fixed then letting them out is not too terrible. Our cats roam the nieghborhood and know where to go and where not to go. The only worry we have is dogs and traffic. People don't give cats enough credit. As for my indoor cat, she, literally has no desire to go outside. Keeping them in is niether cruel or irresponsible, or else they wouldn't be considered "domestic pets" people don't keep their dogs inside all day! You just have to realize that letting them out does have it's dangers, and leaving them in just means you need some windows and a clean litterbox.

Answer 7

OK easy
DO you want to know that your cat is safe and healthy, knowing what it's been in ?
OR Do you want to wonder where your cat is when it hasn't came home or seen it all day, what its been eating, if its been into anything bad or if someone poisoned it or if it has been attacked or stolen..

Just tell them to shut up and that its your cat to raise and you know whats best for it. You can buy a outdoor play area for them on-line or at certain pet shops. So You have the cat in a safe contained area and you know where its been.

It playing with other cats outside as in strays, then don't do it, they can be caring something that can get yours sick, or give it something way worse to where it will need forever medical care.

Answer 8

I have inside cats and a outdoor cat. My outdoor cat loves it outside, he plays and cross the road to go hunting, but at night, he comes in the garage. My inside cats always want out, they like to eat grass, so for like five minutes I let them out everyday in the summer. They stay right by my porch, but never leave my side. It depends on the cat.
Having a cat outside is completely fine. They will enjoy it better than a coooked up house, but being inside is fine too.
Do what you feel is right
GOOD LUCK

Answer 9

Ok - it depends upon where you live. If your cats cannot get run over then I'd say let them out. But, if there is a reasonable risk of car vs cat then I'd keep them inside. Cats do very well living indoors all their lives. And, there is no risk of pregnancy (oops - too late).

Answer 10

Keeping your cats inside or outside is not making you selfish or irresponsible. What made you irresponsible is not getting them fixed. Just get all you pets fixed in the future.