my partner and i have 2 kittens, we live in between 2 main roads and then just off the main road is the m1! my mum keeps telling us we are cruel for not letting them go outdoors and she said they will get sore feet cos they wont toughen up from walkin on gravel, is she right? i worry too much to let them out but i dont want to be cruel by keeping them in!!
2007-03-20 03:02:17 · 35 answers · asked by steffibaby24 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
I wouldn't let them out. She is talking rubbish about their feet. they will be fine when walking on carpet!
i would not let mine out living near as busy roads as you.
If the cats are loved, well fed and warm then that is all they need.
If she keeps on tell her to keep her nose out. there is nothing worse than do gooders going on when they wont see the bigger picture.
2007-03-20 05:55:21 · answer #1 · answered by laplandfan 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I agree with some on you saying that cats naturally should be outside but considering the fact that their natural environment is slowly disappearing into more houses and more main roads where are they safe these days. Not only do you have the dangers of the roads you also have foxes, dogs and horrible humans to survive against. I myself got a kitten in December and i plan to keep her in at the moment, i will see how i feel later on but i cant see myself letting her out because of all the dangers there are. She goes in the back garden supervised but thats it. How can it be cruel if the cat has never been allowed out, how do they know what they are missing? And if it gives my cat another 10 or 12 years of life then i will happily keep her inside where i know she's safe.
2007-03-20 03:57:09 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
It is not CRUEL if you place any value on their lives at all. You describe the worst possible situation which will ensure that one or both kittens will be killed by cars. It is crueler to have one of the kittens lose its playmate and friend (when that happens you will surely keep the other one in forever). It's crueler by far to come home and find one of your kittens squashed in the roadway or if you just happen to be there, rushing the kitten to the vet to try to save its life or having to have it euthanized because its injuries as so severe.
It is crueler by far to cage a wild cat and make him live an unnatural life that way. Housecats are very well adapted to living their lives entirely within a house and you have provided a great life as you have given them a kitty companion to be with.
So your instincts are entirely right and your mother is wrong here. She would be raising quite a fuss if you let her grandchild be exposed to that kind of danger.
There is always the halter and leash deal which you can look into. You and your partner can train the kittens to use that and have fun "walking" them together in the great outdoors. Gets you both out too to enjoy the outdoors and have fun adventures with your kittens.
2007-03-20 03:31:59 · answer #3 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
You are doing the best thing for the welfare of your kittens. You must care very much! There are too many dangers for them outside and they will not live long if left outside to roam.
Indoor cats are much healthier and live longer!!!
If raised right they will be content to living indoors and will fear the outside which is a good thing. The feet thing is nothing but bull. It would be cruel to let them out and roam so do not listen to your mother. If you have plenty of toys and a scratching post to keep them entertained they will be fine.
I rescue cats and will not adopt to anyone that lets them roam because I want my cats to live a long and thriving life.
2007-03-20 03:35:03 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Don't let your cats out you live to close to the city and bad things can happen to them. I have had cats all my life and I never let them out and they are just fine. They don't need to toughen up there feet, I have no idea where your mother got that information from. The only way I would let me cats out of the house is if I had 100 acres out in the country. And even then I would second guess myself as I would still worry about them.
2007-03-20 03:13:23 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Hi - if your kittens are happy inside and not driving you crackers then I reckon keep them in. My 2 hate being outside, but I chuck them out for a few hours a day anyway as they tear the house up if they dont get fresh air! However, its not biggie to keep yours in, prob best being that near to main roads. Dont want to worst to happen. :0) xx
2007-03-20 05:21:58 · answer #6 · answered by Secret Squirrel 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As long as you provide a clean box them to do their business, food, fresh water and lots of toys...a place for them to scratch etc...they don't need to go outside. They will be purrfectly happy living indoors. If the cats show interest in the outdoors and insist on being let out, it's safer for them to be harnessed and with you at all times (they get used to the harness and some even enjoy it). Cats wander and you live very close to busy streets so this is your best bet..
2007-03-20 03:28:27 · answer #7 · answered by RanaBanana 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Get a small chain link dog run. Put a tarp on it to protect them from the sun, a box unpside down with one end open where they can hide for 'scary things', and a cat tree that they can climb on, or maybe a perch. Oh, some cat toys to bat around.
That way they can be outside safely, get their 'rays', and satisfy their curiosity about the world. Plus if they do get loose accidently they will know where they are because they are already familiar with the sights and sounds of their surroundings.
2007-03-20 03:21:08 · answer #8 · answered by Mama_Kat 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
It's more cruel to let them out. Pets should never be let out to wander around without containment or supervision. Your Mom is wrong...they dont need to toughen up their paws.
Many moons ago..before I realized the dangers for cats outside, my roommates cat was beaten to death by kids with a bat. An adopted cat (that was outdoors when I got her) was attacked by an animal and needed her tail amputated. My husbands cat was hit by a car before I met him. Since the one that got attacked, I have now kept all my cats indoors and the one without the tail lived happily indoors for 12 more years!
2007-03-20 04:08:05 · answer #9 · answered by KathyS 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
To quote Stephen King: "Cats are the gunslingers of the pet world." Any cat that we've allowed out on a regular basis has died early. I have an eight year old "inside" cat right now that is perfectly healthy and happy. I mean, I guess she's happy. Who can really tell with a cat?
2007-03-20 03:11:10 · answer #10 · answered by kurbet5000 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋