if i bought 2 kittens, can i keep them as house cats and never let them outside? or do cats need to go outside

Answer 1

WOW - the first responses were horrible! They'll have a "better quality of life outdoors" - what??? "It's cruel" to keep them indoors - huh??? It's "not kind" to keep them indoors?!!

YES - you SHOULD keep them inside. The outdoors is very dangerous for cats and especially so, kittens. Please read this and be proud about wanting to keep them inside! And the rest of you - please read this as well and educate yourselves about how dangerous it is out there:

http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.php?action=library&act=show&item=indoorsoroutdoors

Answer 2

I had 2 cats that were always indoor cats. They were very happy to play with 1 another & with me. They lived to be 16 & 17.

My favorite cat toy is "Cat Dancer" . All my cats have loved it. It's simply little cardboard rolls attached to a wire and some come with a sticky thing that you can hang on a door. It's great especially if you're tired. lol You sit and jerk the wire around & they crouch & pounce on it. I keep cardboard boxes that have holes in it and the cats will play inside the box while you're outside for hours. It's hysterical to see paws or a nose coming out of the holes.

Enjoy!

Answer 3

It shouldn't matter if you keep them indoors out outdoors.
If they were older cats then yes, you would to have had consider their back ground as it would be unfair to keep a cat that has been used to being able to roam around outside suddenly home-bound all the time.
But as they're kittens they're not really going to know any different are they? They will adapt to their current enviroment.
Just provide them with plenty of stimulation, toys, comfy places to curl up and make sure anything worth of value is kept out of reach.
I've had my kitten now for 3 months and while my older cat goes outside, Mia is perfectly content to remain inside (i think the weather may be a small factor in this), but when she is a little bit older and she's had her op I'm going to be introducing her to going out. But as i said, I'm in no rush at the moment and nor is she. You may want to consider though when they are older to buy some cat grass which they LOVE. helps with their tummy and digestion.
Good luck and i hope you enjoy your kittens!

Answer 4

I think you are being very responsible.

You could also have a cattery outside so they could bask in the sun & get some fresh air.It would also get them from under your feet!

Cats do need to eat grass to help them bring up fur balls.
You can buy a kit from petstores to grow grass indoors for cats.

It's not safe to let cats out these days with so many cars about. My own cat has just been found dead on my neighbors driveway. We live along way from a road so I don't know what caused her death. It could have been poison,which is another hazard.

Don't take any notice of the answers that you are being cruel.
You wouldn't let a child or a dog out on it's own would you, so why should a cat be any different.

You enjoy your kittens & I am sure they will live a long & happy life.

Answer 5

An awful lot of unresearched and heated opinion here on this subject.
How about we consult the experts, research our information and quote our sources? Then we can just answer the questions objectively without our personal feelings coloring the issue.

Can I keep them inside? YES

Do cats need to go outside? NO (some like to)
(operative word here NEED)

In all the research I did, I checked with cat specific, veterinary supported, even bird societies and a military personnel with feline pets websites(please see those noted below), I found nothing that promoted cats being allowed to roam unsupervised. So go with the experts, or you can research it and make an informed decision for yourself. Hope this helps. Good luck and God bless.

Answer 6

Hi There, This is an argument that I guess is always going to go on. Let me tell you about my experiences, that might help you make your mind up. I lived in a flat for many years and had lots of cats, who NEVER went out side. When I got married and moved into a house, we got dogs, so once again I did not let the cats out. Then I decided to let them out for a while on Weekends for about an hour a day, and they loved it. I always stayed in the garden with them, and even the dogs got used to them. When I moved to my house that I am in now (6 Years ago ) I decided when I got home from work every day I would just open the door and leave them to roam around the garden by themselves, and then call them all in at a certain time. Well it has worked, because they were so used to staying inside even if the door was open they would go out for a short time then come back inside, they prefered to be inside. I still have Ce'Nedra who is 13 years old now. Any way some of the cats are gone now getting cancer or kidney failure due to age< so have got new ones, I decided to let the new ones come and go as they please. My one cat who I got from the spca wanders all the time, but she is always back within a couple of hours, another male cat of mine who has been neutered has been missing for two months something he never did. Anyway at 4:30 this morning he came back, it's been two months, I have been so stressed, but today I am sooooo happy. I guess what I'm trying to get at is it depends on the cat you have (personality ) and where about you live, keep them inside and let them out now and then for a treat if you can.

Answer 7

It is OK to keep them inside. They will have just as good a life as cats let outside. It is good if there is two of them as they will keep each other company, although single cats are fine indoors too. Ensure there are scratching posts around the house for them to sharpen claws and satisfy the need to mark territory and plenty toys around for excercise, there should be no problem.

If they were older cats who had been used to outdoors, then I wouldn't recommend keeping them as indoor cats, but if they are kittens, then there shouldn't be much problem with it.

I don't agree with people saying it is cruel to keep indoor cats, a problem I had to deal with when I had my cat - he was an indoor cat all his life much to a few critisisms from some people I knew. He was healthy and happy.

Yes, cats do like the great outdoors, but in a lot of cases this is not really feasable - busy roads, block of flats etc. They will enjoy life just as much indoors, in my opinion.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

Keep in till chipped and Spayed.Fit a cat flap and give them a life.To confine a cat to 15/20yrs of imprisonment because YOU decide to is inhumane,Unless the cat has a disability.Let it be the cats decision.if a flaps fitted its up to them.
Can you imagine yourself never going over your front door into the sunshine for 20 yrs !!!!!!!

Answer 10

Most people seem to be missing something here!!!!!!

Not one seems to ask where you live! In a rural village I'd say it was unnatural but not cruel to keep a cat indoors, in a house or flat in the middle of any large town I'd say it was dangerous not to!
I've kept cats over 50 years and even though all have been given access to the outdoors several have chosen to be indoor cats. At present I have one of each, though even the outdoor cat prefers to stay home out of the rain and cold! I live right on the edge of town though and my cat has access to fields and a small wood.
Cats tend to live longer healthier lives when kept in, and although they still retain the wild instincts to climb and hunt they were never meant to live in overcrowded conditions that we humans put them in. They are forced to live near roads with cars that no cat understands. In territories frequently invaded by other cats, who also see the area as theirs. They don't understand boundaries like garden fences and a Cat can have a territory ranging over a mile from it's 'den'. Think how many cats live in one street, and people wonder WHY they fight!!!
It's not cruel to keep a cat in as long as you meet it's needs. Toys and climbing areas allow them to follow their instincts and 2 cats living together stimulate each other by playing so exercise requirements are met too. Your kittens will be quite happy living indoors or out! It's not wrong either way.

Answer 11

I have worked for vets for 8 years and have 9 cats of my own

they never go outdoors and are very happy and healthy

outdoor cats run the risk of being killed by cars, poison, other animals, and diseases

cats DO NOT NEED to go outside - properly cared for they do just fine being indoor only cats and have a much longer life than an outdoor or even an indoor-outdoor cat. my oldest cat is almost 17 and she has never been outside except in a carrier to go to the vet for her annual physical.