How Many Cat Owners Do this?
- Thread starter SummerRiot
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Our cat is an indoor and outdoor cat. My husband found her in the garage and fed her outside for a while before he let her move in. So there's no keeping her in the house. She stays within about 5 houses of home. She's one of only 2 or 3 outdoor cats on our street so everyone knows where she lives.
If I every got another cat, I would not let it out. Indoor cats are healthier and live longer.
If I every got another cat, I would not let it out. Indoor cats are healthier and live longer.
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Well, we 'rehomed' a feral cat colony that was going to be exterminated, got them fixed and their shots. Some (nine) made it into the house as indoor only cats, the rest are barn cats. They generally stay around the barn and nearby pasture or head across the road to hunt in the neighbor's pasture. They do earn their keep by decimating the mouse population. (Our neighbor down the road had her truck engine blow up because of a mouse nest in the tailpipe. She didn't have any barncats.)
Yes, I know outdoor cats don't live as long (we have lost some over the years - had a stupid neighbor feeding! coyotes - he thought if he fed them, they wouldn't be tempted to snatch up his little dog when he let it loose to run around. So instead the coyotes stuck around and caught a couple of cats... grrrrr.)
I'd make all the cats indoor onlies if I could but it's just not feasible, our house isn't big enough. Our little barncat group is approaching the ten year mark though...
Yes, I know outdoor cats don't live as long (we have lost some over the years - had a stupid neighbor feeding! coyotes - he thought if he fed them, they wouldn't be tempted to snatch up his little dog when he let it loose to run around. So instead the coyotes stuck around and caught a couple of cats... grrrrr.)
I'd make all the cats indoor onlies if I could but it's just not feasible, our house isn't big enough. Our little barncat group is approaching the ten year mark though...
No way.
Jinx occassionally gets let out in our fenced in backyard, and only when someone else is out there. We do not just let him wander. And unless things have changed, it would be against the law for us to do that--cats have to be tied up if they're outside, in my city at least.
I don't see the purpose in letting them out...a cat that has never been outside won't want to go outside. I'd rather give them fun things to do inside, and not have to worry about whether or not they will pick up some illness, or if they'll even come home at all.
Jinx occassionally gets let out in our fenced in backyard, and only when someone else is out there. We do not just let him wander. And unless things have changed, it would be against the law for us to do that--cats have to be tied up if they're outside, in my city at least.
I don't see the purpose in letting them out...a cat that has never been outside won't want to go outside. I'd rather give them fun things to do inside, and not have to worry about whether or not they will pick up some illness, or if they'll even come home at all.
My 7 cats are indoors only. These are the reasons:
1)even though they're tattoed, an outdoor cat as easily mistook as a stray. Someone who thinks they're oding a good deed may take my cat and makeit an indoor cat at their place.
2)ANTIFREEZE. Cats LOVE the sweet taste, but it is deadly.
3)I'd rather not find my cat squished or dead on the side of the road.
4) Dogs, cougars, foxes, coyotes, birds of prey, bears, etc.
5) Bunchers.
6)People who think cats are good targets for target practice. Or other people with sick minds.
7)Other cats.
8)The list could go on and on and on of reasons it is unsafe for cats to be outside. I'd rather not risk the well-being of my babies.
1)even though they're tattoed, an outdoor cat as easily mistook as a stray. Someone who thinks they're oding a good deed may take my cat and makeit an indoor cat at their place.
2)ANTIFREEZE. Cats LOVE the sweet taste, but it is deadly.
3)I'd rather not find my cat squished or dead on the side of the road.
4) Dogs, cougars, foxes, coyotes, birds of prey, bears, etc.
5) Bunchers.
6)People who think cats are good targets for target practice. Or other people with sick minds.
7)Other cats.
8)The list could go on and on and on of reasons it is unsafe for cats to be outside. I'd rather not risk the well-being of my babies.
Most of the cat's I know are allowed outdoors. My cat's are allowed outside and alway's will be. I know there is alway's going to be a risk but I will willingly take that risk in order for them to have their freedom outdoor's. They love to play and explore and I couldn't take that from them. They would get so mad at me if I kept them indoor's all of the time.
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I agree... one of my cats was found outside as a kitten. She loves to lay by the window and "chase" birdies. I am sure she would have a great deal of fun outside, but I can not take the chance of anything happening to her. She has a million toys to keep her busy and we have compromised, any fly that makes its way inside is hers to try and catch.
She has so much fun inside... and I always know where she is... well almost always... she does try to hide in my armoir
There is a cat in my neighborhood who had a tick near its eye, another one that walks around with half a tail (the others half just fell off). It is really sad to see these things and I can not allow that to happen to my cats.
Elissa
She has so much fun inside... and I always know where she is... well almost always... she does try to hide in my armoir
There is a cat in my neighborhood who had a tick near its eye, another one that walks around with half a tail (the others half just fell off). It is really sad to see these things and I can not allow that to happen to my cats.
Elissa
Yeah....Took in a cat one time who's ears were frost bitten. The people across the street said she belonged to them....But "got rid of" her (Just stopped feeding her) Because they got a new dog.
Seen a cat yesterday...Was walking through the neighborhood....He had a huge wound on his lef hip, on his neck, on his back and on his leg.
I assume he got into a fight with another cat.
He was very friendly, let me pet him, I tried to pick him up as this poor cat really needed somewhere safe to recuperate from his wounds, however he scratched me and ran off when I tried that....I also wouldnt doubt that he has FeLV/Aids, the way he looked either. Though he must have someone that looks after him because he was very friendly, however he needed the vet and somewhere indoors to recuperate.....I'm very sad that I couldn't help him, unfortunately I didn't have a kennel handy and when I went back later I couldn't find him. Poor cat looked very ill.
Seen a cat yesterday...Was walking through the neighborhood....He had a huge wound on his lef hip, on his neck, on his back and on his leg.
I assume he got into a fight with another cat.
He was very friendly, let me pet him, I tried to pick him up as this poor cat really needed somewhere safe to recuperate from his wounds, however he scratched me and ran off when I tried that....I also wouldnt doubt that he has FeLV/Aids, the way he looked either. Though he must have someone that looks after him because he was very friendly, however he needed the vet and somewhere indoors to recuperate.....I'm very sad that I couldn't help him, unfortunately I didn't have a kennel handy and when I went back later I couldn't find him. Poor cat looked very ill.
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^ That was quite rude.
When we had to quarantine Apache she was absolutely miserable. She would howl at the door wanting to be let out, what kind of life is this if she is so unhappy?
And, we put ourselves and our animals at risk every day. When I take Buddy with my in the truck he's at risk, even though he's secured. When we go for walks-he's at risk. Apache's at risk when she's jumping up into her cat tree and seeking high adventures where the dog can't get her. What are we supposed to do? Treat them like they're in a prison?
The risks of vehicles and walks are alot less than a cat unsupervised outside.
Maybe it was rude....But very, very true.
Cats can be perfectly happy as long as they have things and quality time to keep them occupied; Some cats do want outdoors, like my 2 that used to be outdoors; So I bring them outside on harness and long leads. They are content with that. They can have the best of both worlds safely, like a dog can.
Maybe it was rude....But very, very true.
Cats can be perfectly happy as long as they have things and quality time to keep them occupied; Some cats do want outdoors, like my 2 that used to be outdoors; So I bring them outside on harness and long leads. They are content with that. They can have the best of both worlds safely, like a dog can.