told me it is cruel to keep her in but she seems happy, i am now worried because i would not want her sad.
2007-04-12 01:45:52 · 51 answers · asked by JOANNA A 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Just think of you cat being poisoned out there with antifreeze, or a raccoon that decides to lay down the law on his territory, or getting hit by a car, or horrible little children that are being raised these days abusing her with chemical burns and fire.
What do you really think is best for you kitty!!!
2007-04-12 01:50:04 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
Her nautral habitat is outside, not inside like a fluffy toy. It's like keeping YOU inside and saying it'sfor your own good.
Keep her shots up to date and a flea collar on your neck, she'll be thankfull for it. Teach her with you there what outside is like. Ask the rest of us millions of indoor/outdoor cats for hints, not those who can't be bothered to let a cat be a cat or teach them properly.
They can live JUST as long IF the owner knows how to innoculate and keep the cat up to date.
Think about this, if you were raised in a lab, you'd be happy, relatively so cause you don't have the outdoor experience, does that make it right? No. A cat should be a companion treated with respect, and that goes to it's natural habiat too. Let it be a cat, not merely a posession for those who just cannot let it be a cat. Respect the fact that it's a cat and let it outdoors. The fact that many people believe the moment a cat gets let out just confirms they have just taught it to be a fluffy toy, not a cat, and that's why so many run away.
And I love the comments about it being a PROBLEM when these cats get outside and actually ENJOY it, wonder why? Cause they want a posession, not an animal that they would need to treat with respect and not just enforce their will onto.
Cats enjoy the outside generally, try it, your cat will let you know, chances are best now that if you let her out, she'll go out but soon comne back and never stray far if you let her out. Let her be a cat the way it's intended, not the way others want it just cause they want it.
2007-04-15 20:55:28 · answer #2 · answered by Unicornrider 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I dont think it is cruel if they have always been indoor cats or have health problems demanding they always stay in. I do think it is cruel to make cats who have clearly enjoyed freedom suddenly become indoor cats as they would obviously miss the outdoors. I personally prefer to see cats neutered but free to go outside climbing trees, chasing leaves in the wind and exploring its natural life to the full with the option of coming indoors through a cat flap whenever they choose. Luckily I have never lived on a busy road or where my cats were not free or safe to do this. Over the years any cats I have owned have all spent a lot of time indoors but loved to go off exploring or skipping about when I am pottering in the garden in all weathers and they love snoozing in the sunny spots, they all lived to be very old my current two being very young 14 and 15yr olds. If I lived in an upstairs flat or near a road I would choose not to own a cat unless it had health problems preventing it going out but even then I would like to create an enclosed outdoor area for it if possible. I would never deliberately take on and condem a kitten to be confined indoors if it could get a responsible home offering some outdoor exsistance. This is my personal choice because I hate to see any animals resricted more than is absolutely necessary.
I DO THINK IT IS CRUEL TO have a cat on a lead and its BARBARIC to have it declawed, how would that owner (called 'sunidaze'? who posted about seventeenth) like her nails ripped out or feet mutilated in order to protect a piece of furniture - its disgusting dont have pets if you are that materialistic! However I do not think you are cruel keeping your cats indoors - good luck.
2007-04-12 06:34:03 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have 3 cats who are given the option to go out, i find they would rather stay in most of the time,i find that if the weather is lovely they will sit in the yard with me but never roam far. Cats love home comforts and you are not being cruel at all. She has a balcony to sit on and if she seems happy then she is happy. Please stop worrying your cat is not sad.
2007-04-12 02:22:29 · answer #4 · answered by pinkkittenliverpool 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't know who said it was cruel but they are dead wrong. I have three indoor cats and they are all happy. In fact my vet recommends to keep cats indoors. I believe the average lifespan for an outdoor cat is only 3-5 years. When you think about it, it makes sense. When you have an outdoor cat you have to worry about whether she will make it home or not. There are several factors that makes me keep my cats indoor. I think it is great that you are concerned about your cats happiness. If you want to give her a little taste of the outdoors you can buy her some organic grass from the pet store. My cats love it and it provides them with good nutrients that they need.
2007-04-12 02:10:05 · answer #5 · answered by sdeb7381 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I have an indoor cat who has tried outside but runs back in terrified as soon as she hears a noise. My other cat used to be outside but due to a neightbor complaining about her, I have tried keeping her in. She's 8 yrs old and she suddenly has to make such a drasitc change in her life; those people stole her freedom! I am too afraid that the neighbor will do something to her if I give in and let her back out. I feel like I'm being very cruel to her because she longs to be out. If your cat is not begging to go out, it's are happy where it is.
2007-04-12 01:57:55 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I don't think is cruel. I have had outdoor cats and currently have 2 indoor cats. They can access the balcony and enjoy the noises, and birds and everything. Spent couple of days in building a decent fence for the balcony, and they love it. I just leave them for couple of minutes, ( before going to work) going around my front door and smelling.
Personally I think that if since kitten, cats are used to be inside, then they are happy to be inside. The same applies for outdoor cats.
2007-04-12 02:26:29 · answer #7 · answered by siamese 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's not cruel to keep a cat indoors. It is cruel to allow your cat to get run over, mauled by a dog, pick up diseases, get in cat fights, or treated cruelly by someone she comes across. Cats make fantastic indoor pets, as long as they have toys and places to lay in the sun and a human who loves them they are happy. I have 3 cats who never go outside and one cat that was once a stray my grandmother found, he won't even go near a door they are all happy as clams. And the cat who was an outside cat proves every time he steers clear of a door that he would much rather be indoors than out. Your doing the right thing, keep it up.
2007-04-12 01:54:24 · answer #8 · answered by jjtrue 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
It is not cruel, there are loads of people who have indoor pets, including myself. At the end of the day if they've never been out, they don't know any different.
Our cat was found in a bin bag at the back of our gate, so he has been over-protected from the start. He is now 7 and has no road sense, therefore we would not let him out no matter what.
He has his own room which is as big as our spare bedroom to play and do his business and eat/drink and he gets plenty of exercise as we play with him on a daily basis.
Ignore everyone else, she's probably happier than you.
2007-04-12 02:06:38 · answer #9 · answered by dadn33 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Its not cruel at all, thats all i let my cat do even though he is up to date on his shots and all i dont want him to just roam the neighborhood for a few different reasons, and he seems to be completely content just sitting on the balcony (except when a bird flies by lol) he is loving his new found "freedom". The two cats i owned previous never even used to go near the door because they were scared of the outside...
2007-04-12 02:05:12 · answer #10 · answered by Julie S 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
As long as your cat is happy don't listen to what the other person has to say. It's not cruel to keep your cat indoors. I have two indoor cats myself and they are both happy cats. What is cruel is to let your cat out and expose her to the dangers of cars, disease, and other animals attacking, especially when she has been an indoor cat her entire life!
2007-04-12 03:06:29 · answer #11 · answered by Vic 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋