Why do people insist on letting their cats outdoors. When they can be happy indoors.?

Question

Outdoor cats only live 5-7 years, compared to indoor cats that can live up to 20 years or more. Outdoors they get hit by cars, wander off and get lost, get sick and get into fights with other cats, not to mention the possibility of abuse. We dont let our dogs wander outside, why is it ok for cats.

Because they need fresh air. Hahahahahahahh.

Buzzards attitude, perfect example for keeping your cat indoors. He says he purposely tries to kill cats he sees on the road. Isnt he wonderful.

Buzzards attitude, perfect example for keeping your cat indoors. He says he purposely tries to kill cats he sees on the road. Isnt he wonderful.

Answer 1

I recently had to spend a week visiting my dog at the animal hospital (pancreatitus - he survived and is well now - most dogs die from it)
I saw many injured animals, cats and dogs hit by cars, injured in fights with other animals, even wild animals. Many of them did not survive. One woman came in with the scariest looking cat i have ever seen. One eye was sewn shut and it's mouth was wired open. The woman was laughing about how this was the third time this cat had gotten in a tussle with a dog.

Some people don't deserve to have pets.

My first personal cat was an indoor cat, an adoption. She lived to be twenty. My current cat, also an adoption, is 8, never goes outside, and the vet is amazed at how lively she is, and what "beautiful" conditionshe is in. he kepps telling me she is getting older, but she is still extremely active, and plays like a kitten all the time.

I attribute long life and good health to keeping my cats indoors. If they need more stimulation, most cats will be more than happy to have you provide it!

Answer 2

Good question. Most communities have the same restrictions on cats as dogs. Frankly I have no clue why people allow their kitties to roam free. Back in the day when I was a kid, our first simply went missing (after coming home many times with chewed up ears). One was killed by a car and another brought home a nasty upper respiratory infection. They all died very young. After I moved out, married and we got our own kitties, if we let them outside, it was on a leash with a harness. Keep a watch for fleas and ear mites! Never use a collar on a cat. So far, the house cats have done well. One lived to be 23, and he was diabetic. All have lived more than 17 years so far, and we've had a few. If you really love them, don't turn them loose. But the main thing is to spay or neuter, that way the urge to roam will be less. Letting them roam will also result in a less friendly cat... more ferrel. To directly answer your question, it isn't OK to let them loose. Give them lots of attention and they would rather stay inside with you.

Answer 3

I've had 3 cats that are Indoor/outdoor cats that lived to be 16 years old. I don't see why anyone wants to keep their cat from getting fresh air, sunshine, climbing trees, etc.

Would you be happy indoors all of your life? You can get in car wrecks, you can get sick, you can get in fights or robbed, you can even get kidnapped or murdered for no apparent reason. Do all these things that can happen keep you indoors all your life? I seriously doubt it.

Most people I know with dogs either take them outside for walks or keep them in a fence in their yard. THey still get to enjoy the outdoors. You're saying cats shouldn't get that joy. I don't agree with you at all.

Answer 4

I grew up in the country.We had like 4 or 5 cats living in the house with us(the male one used to go away for short periods of time,especially when in heat).All the cats had quick access to the outdoors,which I think is vital for the cat.Yes,I believe that a cat can be happy indoors,but I think that most cats would like it better if they got to go for a walk whenever they felt like it, and still get to sleep on your pillow!My 1st cat grew up like this,she died last year at the age of 21..

Answer 5

Who knows. This is has been brought up time and time again and you will get all kinds of excuses. People seem to think cats need to roam like a wild animal yet they forget that cats are not wild animals, they are pets. Some are just to lazy to clean a litter box. I suggest that if a person feels that their cat needs fresh air, open some windows.

Answer 6

my cat is 13 and has been an indoor/outdoor cat his entire life. when he can't go outside, he is absolutely miserable. he'll sit at the windows/doors meowing nonstop all day. rain, snow, sun, doesn't matter he thinks he wants to be out there in it all. he will follow you around the house meowing at you or come wake you up if you don't let him outside when he wants.

my cat is perfectly fine outdoors, when he was younger im sure he got in fights with other animals. occasionally he'd come home with a scratch or two but he'd be fine. we used to keep him on a 15-20 foot leash tied to a 12 lbs anchor. that was until he figured out how to slip out of his harness (not just a collar) and was also able to drag that 12 lbs anchor around the yard. a cat!

we now allow him to go out during the day as long as he wants, but no more at night because he's gotten to the point where he just doesn't win fights anymore. i see nothing wrong with letting cats out as long as you are responsible about it. when he was gone at night, we'd always made sure he was inside by the time we went to bed. all of our neighbors love him and dont mind him being outside sitting in the sun in their yards.

he also knows the yard boundries and how far he is allowed at certain times. he's perfectly content with sitting on the deck for hours and i see nothing wrong with this. i am a responsible cat owner and my cat has never bitten or attacked another person. he doesn't cause problems for anyone. he has never gotten sick from the time he spends outdoors. as long as an owner is responsible, i see no problem why cats can't be outdoors. its good for them to get the proper exercise as well as just "be a cat", lurking in the long grass or doing what they do. cats are also more cautious than dogs, which makes them safer to be let out because they'll often run from people and stick to places where they're hidden instead of wandering down the middle of the road like dogs.

Answer 7

have four cats one of which is 19 no she doesnt go out used to have one when i was a child who lived to 24 she came home for food she died naturally in her sleep have 3 others now which range in age from 12 to 3 all of which are outdoor cats but do come home to sleep at night ilet my outdoor cats out because that is where there happiest the indoor cat stays in because that is where shes happiest to keep a cat in when it wants to be out is cruel

Answer 8

Not all of my cats are happy indoors. I have both indoor and indoor/outdoor cats and all of them are spayed/neutered. Lots of outdoor cats live very long lives. Of course if you're in the city letting your cat wander the streets is just stupid. We are in the country and it's a different setting, there are outdoor dogs who wander their farm properties too.

Answer 9

Where I live it is ILLEGAL for cats to run wild and so it should be.
People still let there cats out to DISTROY other people's property.
They dig up and S#&t and P$S in my vegitable garden and kill everything in it.
These people are responsable for there pets actions and should be incarserated for there disrespect and distruction of other peoples property and should have there cats taken away.
If I came over to your house EVERY DAY and pissed on your garden would you not call the police??????
Get a brain transplant and start realising what you are doing by letting your cat run free.
I swerve to hit them not to miss them!!!
Put them on a teather or walk them on a leash just like I HAVE TO WALK MY DOG LEGALLY.

Answer 10

I do believe it has a lot to do with lack of eduction and stubbornly clinking to old wives tells. Cats really do not stand a chance outside. But like I said seems to be a lack of eduction. The same with the "one litter" ideal or that an animal will die if you don't breed it instead of altering it.