How Many Cat Owners Do this?
- Thread starter SummerRiot
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As for declawing a cat, IMO its a pretty wrong thing to do. But thats just my opinion. As for letting the cats outside, we dont let them outside, they let themselves outside. Whiskey figured out how to open the screen door on the patio door. If only he would learn to shut it behind him. We dont have any close neighbors at all. (Nearest one is a mile away) The only people that come down the road are the is the mail lady, garabage people, and about once a month, the person who farms around us. Needless to say, we're pretty isolated. They stay withen about a 2 acre radius around the house. So they pretty much stay on the property. They do go through the fields, but they know how to get back home. All are current on vaccinations, h.w. prevention, and deworming. (Which I have to do today). They are only allowed outside during the day, and if its not "perfect" they'd rather not even go out. (They are really quite the sissies) Except CJ, she was a wild cat before she came to us, and that wild is still in her. I think she'd rather spend more time outside then inside.
We do have one stray cat thats been hanging out in the barn, but amazingly, they all get along. We've seen him (we think its a him) and Felix laying under the same tree.
The 3 unspayed females are not allowed outside at all. (Only reason that they are unspayed is they would never handle a overnight trip to the vet. Somer barely comes up to us, and she's been with us since the day she was born! You sneeze and it freaks her out. It nearly gave them a heartattack to get rabies shots. It would give them some serious mental trauma.) It doesnt matter anyway, they dont care for the outside one bit. Only cats allowed outside are the ones that are fixed.
When we did live in town, the cats were not allowed outside at all, and they knew it. If they did manage to escape, they would run right back to the door. Once Whiskey did get out when we lived in town, and did get in a fight. One of his back claws got ripped off past the quick, and had some hair missing. We didnt see the other cat ever again....and no one else saw him either....makes you wonder....
We do have one stray cat thats been hanging out in the barn, but amazingly, they all get along. We've seen him (we think its a him) and Felix laying under the same tree.
The 3 unspayed females are not allowed outside at all. (Only reason that they are unspayed is they would never handle a overnight trip to the vet. Somer barely comes up to us, and she's been with us since the day she was born! You sneeze and it freaks her out. It nearly gave them a heartattack to get rabies shots. It would give them some serious mental trauma.) It doesnt matter anyway, they dont care for the outside one bit. Only cats allowed outside are the ones that are fixed.
When we did live in town, the cats were not allowed outside at all, and they knew it. If they did manage to escape, they would run right back to the door. Once Whiskey did get out when we lived in town, and did get in a fight. One of his back claws got ripped off past the quick, and had some hair missing. We didnt see the other cat ever again....and no one else saw him either....makes you wonder....
hey, i said that was my opinion, and NO I don't think cats change when they live inside, as a matter of fact I would think they would be more wild then outside cats because their kept inside all day. (thats why i'd think someone would declaw them, so they wouldn't tear you sofa and do kitty stuff like that.) I've seem many declawed cats and they live extreamly happily and are in not in pain at all! but like I said, thats my opinion and I wouldn't declaw my cat ever! (it ruins half the fun in owning one..lol
) but personally if you don't want the cat to tear up your stuff or scrath you then shouldn't get one..like if you don't want a dog that barks alot, don't get a breed that barks alot!
but I don't think it's cruel, just as long as it's done by a good vet and the owner is very willing to make sure it stays out of trouble!
again thats JMO (don't want to start a debate..)
) but personally if you don't want the cat to tear up your stuff or scrath you then shouldn't get one..like if you don't want a dog that barks alot, don't get a breed that barks alot! but I don't think it's cruel, just as long as it's done by a good vet and the owner is very willing to make sure it stays out of trouble!
again thats JMO
(don't want to start a debate..)
I always keep my kitties inside. They don't get to go outside and I never want them to know if they like the outdoors or not. They are 4 months old (too young to defend themselves) and even when they're older they'll still be very small; their family consists of tiny girls. We live in a bad place to have cats outside. Except for a single cat that's the exception, every outdoor cat I know out here has completely disappeared within a week. There are sooo many stray dogs, coyotes, and people who are aware of all the dangers and take cats home. It greatly depend on where you live, and my area is not ideal for wandering kitties. In short; no, I won't have outdoor cats again. I guess I'll have to be the boring, overprotective parent.
We live in a bad place to have cats outside. Except for a single cat that's the exception, every outdoor cat I know out here has completely disappeared within a week. There are sooo many stray dogs, coyotes, and people who are aware of all the dangers and take cats home. It greatly depend on where you live, and my area is not ideal for wandering kitties. In short; no, I won't have outdoor cats again. I guess I'll have to be the boring, overprotective parent.
iheartsammy said:
hey, i said that was my opinion, and NO I don't think cats change when they live inside, as a matter of fact I would think they would be more wild then outside cats because their kept inside all day. (thats why i'd think someone would declaw them, so they wouldn't tear you sofa and do kitty stuff like that.) I've seem many declawed cats and they live extreamly happily and are in not in pain at all! but like I said, thats my opinion and I wouldn't declaw my cat ever! (it ruins half the fun in owning one..lol) but personally if you don't want the cat to tear up your stuff or scrath you then shouldn't get one..like if you don't want a dog that barks alot, don't get a breed that barks alot!
but I don't think it's cruel, just as long as it's done by a good vet and the owner is very willing to make sure it stays out of trouble!
again thats JMO (don't want to start a debate..)
) but personally if you don't want the cat to tear up your stuff or scrath you then shouldn't get one..like if you don't want a dog that barks alot, don't get a breed that barks alot! but I don't think it's cruel, just as long as it's done by a good vet and the owner is very willing to make sure it stays out of trouble!
again thats JMO
(don't want to start a debate..)
I am just curious as to your reasons for not thinking its cruel, that's all. I know you come into contact with declawed cats who seem to be happy and healthy, but again, these are really the exception, and if you looked into it and did some research I think you might change your mind! Seriously, it has long been considered a welfare issue and you seem open-minded enough to possibly change your opinion if you had a proper look into it and saw how the majority of declawed cats end up.
using the theory that because it is banned, it must be cruel is intrinsicly flawed -
using that theory would mean that pit bulls, dobermans, and rotties are truly bad breeds because they are banned in many countries and areas.
just because the law says something certainly doesnt make it true or right
using that theory would mean that pit bulls, dobermans, and rotties are truly bad breeds because they are banned in many countries and areas.
just because the law says something certainly doesnt make it true or right
My females run around outdoors and go on hunting adventures while my males are 100% indoor cats. The females don't usually come home with cuts, but there's been many a time that they came home with dead rodents which were left on my back deck. I'm guessing they wanted to give "mama" yep that's what I'm called to them as well, a gift...which I would rather NOT receive.
I'm guessing they wanted to give "mama" yep that's what I'm called to them as well, a gift...which I would rather NOT receive.
Before coming to Chaz and chatting to you people over seas I had NEVER heard of a cat being declawed! It seems such an alien concept to me!! Then again so does keeping a cat in the house 24/7. I tried keeping my cats in once... NEVER again! They got into the roof space and pulled out all the loft insulation!! I think they were trying to tell me something!
I think they were trying to tell me something! - Joined
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doberkim said:
using the theory that because it is banned, it must be cruel is intrinsicly flawed -
using that theory would mean that pit bulls, dobermans, and rotties are truly bad breeds because they are banned in many countries and areas.
just because the law says something certainly doesnt make it true or right
using that theory would mean that pit bulls, dobermans, and rotties are truly bad breeds because they are banned in many countries and areas.
just because the law says something certainly doesnt make it true or right
It has been deemed by veterinary and animal welfare professionals to be cruel and unjust and has therefore been banned under the RSPCA's Animal Cruelty Act. It is very specific. And I couldn't agree more about your last comment. Often just because the law says something doesn't make it true or right. However, these laws were made as a result of evidence to prove that declawing is inhumane, and its that simple!
In fact the exact law is called `The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (General) Regulation of 1996' which includes declawing of cats and debarking of dogs'.
The American Veterinary Medical Association also has an official position on declawing to say that it should only be undertaken with a valid medical reason and otherwise not at all.
So these are not just some government bodies deciding to ban a breed because it's been involved in a couple of attacks, these are registered veterinary and animal welfare associations who speak out against the practice. Now, that REALLY should be enough for people!
This debate reminds me of the one about smoking...`I know five people that smoked until they were 90 and never got sick from it!' - therefore smoking must not be bad for you... **shakes head**
=) I am just going to answer the original question.
IMO, allowing your cat free, unsupervised roam around a suburban/urban area is soooo rude. Not only that, but a sad & unsafe situation for any cat. There are way too many dangers in even moderately-populated areas, and there are lots of real dangers in areas with wildlife. I also know tons of people with dogs who have killed cats who wandered into their yard... which is horrible, for everyone involved. I would feel so, so bad if my dogs hurt one of the outdoor cats in my neighborhood. And I always have to check outside to be sure they aren't out there before letting the dogs out.
I'm sure my dogs would have a b l a s t running around the nieghborhood, and coming home at night, to hang with me, and to eat. Does that make it ok, because they'd enjoy it? (I am not comparing dogs & cats, but they are all pets that w e are responsible for at all times, and I cannot think of *any* other pet that is allowed to wander through everyone's and their Mother's property with no boundaries.) I'm sure my nieghbors with outdoor cats would shvt a brick if I openly allowed my dogs to crap all over their garden & kids sandboxes! But with cats, it is somehow acceptable? I really don't get it. And I despise double standards, which I feel the "outdoor cat" thing is.
My kitty hangs out with us when we are in the backyard, and has never left it. She was a stray, always outside, before we adopted her! And she's very happy, because we exercise her through out the day & she gets tons of attention.
IMO, allowing your cat free, unsupervised roam around a suburban/urban area is soooo rude. Not only that, but a sad & unsafe situation for any cat. There are way too many dangers in even moderately-populated areas, and there are lots of real dangers in areas with wildlife. I also know tons of people with dogs who have killed cats who wandered into their yard... which is horrible, for everyone involved. I would feel so, so bad if my dogs hurt one of the outdoor cats in my neighborhood. And I always have to check outside to be sure they aren't out there before letting the dogs out.
I'm sure my dogs would have a b l a s t running around the nieghborhood, and coming home at night, to hang with me, and to eat. Does that make it ok, because they'd enjoy it? (I am not comparing dogs & cats, but they are all pets that w e are responsible for at all times, and I cannot think of *any* other pet that is allowed to wander through everyone's and their Mother's property with no boundaries.) I'm sure my nieghbors with outdoor cats would shvt a brick if I openly allowed my dogs to crap all over their garden & kids sandboxes! But with cats, it is somehow acceptable? I really don't get it. And I despise double standards, which I feel the "outdoor cat" thing is.
My kitty hangs out with us when we are in the backyard, and has never left it. She was a stray, always outside, before we adopted her! And she's very happy, because we exercise her through out the day & she gets tons of attention.
Wow how bizarre. I never thought of it that way but, well, that is a really good argument! I guess not everyone is a cat person and wants strange cats wandering around their property - and it sure would solve a lot of the late night yowling and fighting that seems to go on in neighbourhoods with outside cats.
My cats and my neighbour's cats used to get into tussles all the time and we both hated it. But we never kept our cats in! D'oh!
My cats and my neighbour's cats used to get into tussles all the time and we both hated it. But we never kept our cats in! D'oh!
My two cats are indoor cats, but my parents' cat Phantom is an indoor/outdoor cat. She stays in the yard, so she's not in any danger of being run over (or annoying the neighbors. ) Most of the day she just sits under the old playhouse or the small shrub by the back gate.
Muffy, the cat of my childhood, also stayed in the yard. She found us as a stray after being dumped . . . she was about six months old and her stomach was so bloated with hunger that at first we thought she was pregnant. Apparently she decided she had a good thing after we fed her and never went off our property again.
The other cat I knew as a child, Dr. Who, was not so conscious of boundaries. In fact, several years after his death we learned that he had previously belonged to neighbors several blocks away! (We knew he had belonged to SOMEONE because he was neutered when he arrived. But we never knew who.) Dr. Who would wander here and there and liked to visit our cat loving neighbor, Ellie Lee, who lived a few blocks down and loved, rescued, and fed cats. Dr. Who also got into fights, despite being neutered, and unfortunately lost sight in one eye because of it. We kept him inside for two months after that as he healed and he spent a miserable two months sitting by the door all day, trying to escape outside. When he got old and his vision began to go, he started to get lost . . . we'd find him a few blocks away, just wandering. In the end we had to put him to sleep. So sadly he suffered many common trials of outdoor cats. In his case, he could never have been happy as an indoor cat, though.
If only more cats could be like Muffy and Phantom.
My own cats are indoor only, but I take them out on leash sometimes. Even with the risks outdoor cats face, I can understand why people allow it . . . My cats love going out and are clearly much happier outside sniffing the grass and trying to eat bugs than they are inside, where they spend most of their time staring out the window and boredly ignoring their kitty toys. But I won't risk my sweeties . . . they stay inside.
) Most of the day she just sits under the old playhouse or the small shrub by the back gate.Muffy, the cat of my childhood, also stayed in the yard. She found us as a stray after being dumped . . . she was about six months old and her stomach was so bloated with hunger that at first we thought she was pregnant. Apparently she decided she had a good thing after we fed her and never went off our property again.
The other cat I knew as a child, Dr. Who, was not so conscious of boundaries. In fact, several years after his death we learned that he had previously belonged to neighbors several blocks away! (We knew he had belonged to SOMEONE because he was neutered when he arrived. But we never knew who.) Dr. Who would wander here and there and liked to visit our cat loving neighbor, Ellie Lee, who lived a few blocks down and loved, rescued, and fed cats. Dr. Who also got into fights, despite being neutered, and unfortunately lost sight in one eye because of it.
We kept him inside for two months after that as he healed and he spent a miserable two months sitting by the door all day, trying to escape outside. When he got old and his vision began to go, he started to get lost . . . we'd find him a few blocks away, just wandering. In the end we had to put him to sleep. So sadly he suffered many common trials of outdoor cats. In his case, he could never have been happy as an indoor cat, though.If only more cats could be like Muffy and Phantom.
My own cats are indoor only, but I take them out on leash sometimes. Even with the risks outdoor cats face, I can understand why people allow it . . . My cats love going out and are clearly much happier outside sniffing the grass and trying to eat bugs than they are inside, where they spend most of their time staring out the window and boredly ignoring their kitty toys. But I won't risk my sweeties . . . they stay inside.
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Actually, yes you are, that whole paragraph was about comparing them...
Anyways, I respect people who do keep their cats inside and are able to do so and have a happy, healthy, cat.
I would prefer my cat to be inside, but she is not happy inside nor will I force her be an inside cat. If neighbors have problems with her they know where we live and both of our phone numbers are listed on her tag.
I know and fully understand the risks of her being an outside cat. I know that something could happen to her (she's already had one incident which required her to be in quarantine for nearly a month, she was miserable and I honestly did not think should would make it (and it was not because of her injuries).
Taking all of this in stride, the fact remains, that she will die anyway. I would much prefer her to die a happy cat enjoying the things she loves to do than being locked up inside with nothing to do.
It will kill a part of me... the day that she leaves us... but I know with all of my heart that she has lived and will continue to live the best life possible as an outdoor cat because we ensure that for her and always will.
Anyways, I respect people who do keep their cats inside and are able to do so and have a happy, healthy, cat.
I would prefer my cat to be inside, but she is not happy inside nor will I force her be an inside cat. If neighbors have problems with her they know where we live and both of our phone numbers are listed on her tag.
I know and fully understand the risks of her being an outside cat. I know that something could happen to her (she's already had one incident which required her to be in quarantine for nearly a month, she was miserable and I honestly did not think should would make it (and it was not because of her injuries).
Taking all of this in stride, the fact remains, that she will die anyway. I would much prefer her to die a happy cat enjoying the things she loves to do than being locked up inside with nothing to do.
It will kill a part of me... the day that she leaves us... but I know with all of my heart that she has lived and will continue to live the best life possible as an outdoor cat because we ensure that for her and always will.
No way! My cats stay indoors. I lost a 21 year old this year and have two 18 year olds right now. Cats live longer, healthier lives indoors and with good vet care. As for the argument that we are stifling them, I can open all the doors and windows in my home and none of my cats will leave the house. They are no fools. To me, allowing a cat to roam is tantamount to expecting them to not live as long as they could. Some live a long time, but they are not the rule. All you have to do is spend some time working in cat rescue to confirm that. There are just too many dangers and too many illnesses available to outdoor cats that can endanger their health.
The real reason declawing is cruel is because it is horribly painful, in order to declaw, you have to remove more than just nails on the cat. Secondly if the cat gets outside, it has no means of defense and cannot even climb a tree to save itself.
I know also that some cats fight the indoor-only rule, but the idea is to retrain them about it. I have a tom I rescued and it took six months for him to get it. Now he is doing very well as an indoor only cat and doesn't try to leave the house any longer. It's a battle of the wills for sure, but it can be achieved.
I know also that some cats fight the indoor-only rule, but the idea is to retrain them about it. I have a tom I rescued and it took six months for him to get it. Now he is doing very well as an indoor only cat and doesn't try to leave the house any longer. It's a battle of the wills for sure, but it can be achieved.