it is just me or does anyone else think keeping a cat as a house cat is cruel?

Question

shouldn't they be allowed to leave whenever they want

i dont mean its cruel to keep them as pets just cruel to only keep them inside and not let them go outside

Answer 1

HI there...absolutely not! This website should provide you clear and cut reasons why the outdoors is not a good option:http://www.cathelp-online.com/health/indooronly.php

I just heard on the news recently that one Idaho family's cat tail was severed and left in their mailbox with a note by the perpetrator. An act of animal cruelty by someone who hates a free-roaming outdoor cat. If you are interested to read about the incident with video: http://www.ktvb.com/news/localnews/stories/ktvbn-dec1707-cat_abuse.26d0bc2c.html

If you would like to let your cat enjoy a little bit of the outdoors consider leash training them so they are always under your supervision. Here are a couple websites which shows you how to leash train a cat:
http://www.hdw-inc.com/leashtraining.htm
http://www.peoriahs.org/catleash.html

Answer 2

I understand your dilema because a life outside seems more fullfilling and interesting because they have trees, rodents to eat, grass to stalk prey in, etc. However the result is extreme danger. Cars, dogs, fleas, worms, rodents with deseases and attacks from other cats (which is the most common way feline aids is transmitted and that is fatal). You cat may have a "wild" life outdoors but it will be very short and likely deseased. It is up to you as an owner to protect the cat from what it can not protect itself (think of a child playing in the streets....they may want to do it, but you're not going to let them). Indoor cats are healthier and happier in the long run. Use a cat scratching post, get cat toys and a companion for your cat if you are away for many hours a day. Your cat won't know what she is missing out on and he/she will have all your love and attention for a decade or more to come.

Answer 3

Letting your cat go outside is what is cruel. To keep Kitty safe, he or she must stay indoors at all times. There are many ways to simulate the outdoors for an indoor cat. Scratching posts, Kitty jungle gyms, feline friendly plants, etc. Indoors you know your cat is safe, well fed, and taken care of. If you have a screened in area such as a porch or patio, that is a good way to give your cat fresh air.

There are plenty of ways to keep a cat entertained indoors, and I hate hearing when people have outdoor cats due to the short lifespan and the potential harms.

Answer 4

if you think that then you must think that a 3 year old should be allowed to play in the street, come and go as they please, without parental supervision..

The fact that no one can get around nomatter how hard they try is that the outside world is DANGEROUS for a cat. THere are cars, sick minded people, dogs, other wild animals, feral cats with rabies and other bad diseases.. Cats are smart.. so is my 3 year old niece.. VERY smart.. but, unlike my niece.. a cat's intelligence will never increase beyond that equivalent to a 3 year old child, at best...

Letting your cat outside PERIOD is a gamble.. If you chose to gamble, fine, that's your choice, but don't complain/be surprised if you lose.

My cats THINK they want outside simply because they are CATS, t hey are always on the wrong side of a shut door. BUt if they get out..they are back in less than 10 min.. wanting the security and comfort of their home.

The fact of it is that in America the average outdoor cat lives 2 years and the average indoor cat lives over 10 years.. IT's a fact.. Now you can say you know many outdoor cats that have lived over 15 years.. So do I.. but that means that (to come up with that average) MANY MANY More and higher percent of outdoor cats do not make their second birthday. (My brother's cat barely passed it's 1st).

Answer 5

That's ironic, my husband feels very strongly that keeping a cat outside is cruel. When they are outside, so many things can happen, get diseases, hit by a car, etc. We have 4 indoor cats and they are spoiled! I think either way is fine, as long as the cat is taken care of: fed, vacinated, loved etc.

Answer 6

Here's a list of things that happens to cats when they go outside..

Get hit by cars
Pick up diseases
Get in fights
People steal them
Other animals can kill them

Need I say more?.. Oh, and my cousins cat was attacked and got her ear bit off while being outside... Is that enough to convince you that your cat DOES NOT need to go outside?

There are plenty of things inside for a cat to do, there is absolutely NO reason for a cat to go out.

It is NOT cruel to keep your cat indoors

Answer 7

I used to think it was cruel too but my cat is indoor for the time being cos we live in a flat but when we move to a suitable place he will be outdoor, the way god intended, free to bring "presents" home and frolic in the sunshine!

He doesnt know any different so i dont see it as cruel

Answer 8

absolutely not. If you own a cat as a pet it is more like part of the family. Obviously you don't prevent the cat from going anywhere it wants to in the house, my 16 year old cat lived inside her whole life, lived the life of a princess, sleeping in lavish beds by the fireplace with a full belly all the time.

cats that live outside are known for a fact to live shorter lives, they might have diseases such as FIV and FELV, they suffer from fleas, mites, worms.

I've known indoor/outdoor cats who love being inside but are allowed outside in the backyard, as was my cat and she loved to lie in the sun on the deck.

its for the safety of the cat that it does remain within boundaries so it doesn't get attacked by a feral cat, get run over by a car, or just get lost and can't find his way home.

Answer 9

I rescued a cat that lived outside. My husband found her in an industrial area. She was living off of crackers. We tried adopting her out, but ended up keeping her. She is now part of the family with our two other cats and our new dog. She was an alley cat and now she lives the life of a house cat. She acts grateful to be living with us. Outside there is scary stuff! The cold, heat, cars, wild animals, bad humans, disease, fleas, lack of food and water, wind, rain, etc. A house cat has a warm bed, food, water, health, a warm lap anytime he pleases, toys, treats, and not a worry in the world. Hmmm....which life would you choose?

Answer 10

no its not cruel. i have two cats both inside and are happy and content. over the years ive had numerous cats and many outside ones ive taken care of and ive gone outside too many times to see them laying in the roadway killed by a car its the saddest thing having to remove them from the road. the cats ive fed and taken care of were not feral cats but neighbors that thought cats should be outside and left to roam. cats are safer inside where they are warm fed and safe