How Many Cat Owners Do this?

[Gustav]

All of my cats have been allowed free access to the great outdoors, I am originally from the UK and as Dizzy said, it is unheard of to shut cats in. We had a very happy, healthy cat called Dudley that lived to the ripe old age of 22, before she had to be put to sleep due to liver failure, and she was NEVER shut in!
The cats I have now are semi feral, they are wild cats that choose to live with us, I have had them altered, they are wormed regularly and frontlined, and I generally see them everyday. But I believe it would be irresponsible of me to shut these essentially wild animals in my house for 24 hrs a day! They have a cat flap/kitty door, and they come and go as they please. Sadly one of them got run over just after christmas, and naturally I was heartbroken! But that is life! Would you shut your kids in 24/7 because a child got run over in your neighbourhood??
I can't ever imagine my cats being happy shut in, plus they would probably wreck my house! lol!

These cats don't "need" me to survive, they managed before I took them in. Where as my dog NEEDS me, he needs me to feed him, care for him and give him love and reassurance. To say that cats roaming is akin to dogs roaming is a little over exaggerated I think. After all, cats can climb trees to get themselves out of danger, most dogs that I know can't!

Saying that there are two sides to every coin, and I can understand people wanting to keep their cats indoors and therfore cutting down on the risks, but it just doesn't work for us!

Do I get the last word?? Hee hee!

 

[Juicy]

oh also here in florida people kill animals like rabbits, goats, and cats for religion purposes. i mean i see if you supervise or have a leash on the cat when s/he is outside is fine.

 

[mrose_s]

How many of you cat owners allow your cats to be outdoor cats?

If so, WHY? Is there a purpose behind it?

Do your cats have boundries that its not allowed to cross??

Has your cat ever come home with cuts?

Yes, my cat has complete freedom. I know he would be very depressed if I kept him inside all the time. So i don't. I let him out becasue it's healthier i think, mentally and physically. He is also allowed to wander wherever. I know he doesn't go far. never more than two houses away. Sometimes he goes over the road or next door but he isn't really a big problem I don't think. No one has ever complained.
Yes, he has come home with cuts. he got hurt once eriously when he was young but other than that, has never had more than a scratch in his ear (once) or on his nose. This is mainly because he fights so well. He can beat cats twice his size and will not let them in the yard. I can ell which cat he had a go at by the colour of the fur in his nails I don't like that he fights. and it isn't that he goes looking for trouble. But he really is the king cat in our street. he doesn't wear a colour either, i get too worried soemthing could go wrong and he will get caught on a tree. I couldn't handle finding my cat hung.

 

[vanillasugar]

My cats are indoor only, unless I take them out on their harness and leash. Buddy HATES the outdoors, he's terrified of it. I prefer it that way as it means he's not harassing me to get out and causing problems. I don't think Nya cares where she is. She'll lay happily indoors or out. But they would never EVER be allowed to roam free outdoors unsupervised. There are just too many dangers out there that I know they're not equipped to go up against.

But that is life! Would you shut your kids in 24/7 because a child got run over in your neighbourhood??

This is a comparison I hear a lot from people who want to justify letting their cats outdoors and it just doesn't make any sense to me. Of course I wouldn't keep children indoors, but I also wouldn't allow them to run around free! Children need to be looked out for and supervised to keep them out of trouble and from getting hurt! Cats are no smarter than a human toddler in many situations and need to be treated as such in my opinion.

 

[2BlackDogs]

My cat is 10 years old and has never been outside except for the 2 times we moved. I got him when I was 12 for my birthday and I treated him like a baby and spoiled him. I would save my sandwhich from my lunch and give it to him when I got home from school. In the spring when's it's nice outside we leave the doors and windows open and he's had plenty of chances to go outside but he just prefers not to. I've never intentionally kept him indoors, he would just rather be inside than outside. He's not scared of people but other animals scare him. Even Hampsters scare him! LOL

 

[katt12]

I have two cats, and they are both indoor and outdoor. They go as they please. I allow them to do that because otherwise they'd get gain weight. They've done that before. When one of my cats got an abscess she had to stay inside for a month, I think. Most of each day she sat at the closed dog door or a window and meowed forever. They'd don't ever stray far from home. We live on a cul-de-sac, and the farthest they ever go is to the top of the street. All the neighbors know whose cats they are and they're left alone. However, at my old house the above-mentioned cats tended to get into a lot of fights and very rarely came home with a cut. The worst was an abscess a few years ago, but we haven't had any trouble at our new house. And, there are many more cats in this neighborhood than the other. The only place I would recommend having an indoor cat is in a city.

 

[Rubylove]

No way.

Three cats all stay inside at all times.

Let a cat outside and you are asking for it to be hit by a car, eaten by an animal, poisoned by a neighbor (accidently or purposefully).

I have a 15, 14, and not quite 2 year old cat.

Cats would never live that long outside.

Elissa

Well, that's not true. When I was growing up all of our cats were indoor/outdoor cats (bit different in Australia - its pretty common here and considered the norm) and one lived until she was 22 and other until she was 16 and she only died because she broke her leg badly (inside, I might add) and the vet said she was too old to survive the surgery for an amputation or metal rod so we had to put her down (RIP Coco). Indoor/outdoor cats live that long all the time, but regardless I don't do it anymore. My cats are all indoor only.

All of my cats have been allowed free access to the great outdoors, I am originally from the UK and as Dizzy said, it is unheard of to shut cats in.

Really? On the cat forum that I am on many of the very avid `indoor-only' advocates are from the UK. I think, as it is in Australia, its probably just not as well-known about as in the States.

 

[Rubylove]

Well - my cats were sunbathing all yesterday, then one ventured next door to talk to me in my neighbours garden, were he was was fussed over. It's a hard life

I have a WHOLE other gobsmacking issue which is arising from this thread, and it's a whole new can of worms.

Why on earth would you declaw a cat????? Shock and horror does not describe it.

Because in America and many other countries it is, unfortunately, just considered the norm. It often comes in a `package' with a spay/neuter - get your cat declawed at the same time. And in fact, is very much of a mentality - get a cat, declaw it. Ta da!!

It is actually illegal in Australia (part of the Cruelty to Animals Act and legislated against - as is de-barking dogs) and also is banned in many other countries. There are some cats, yes, who don't show adverse effects of declawing, but these are absolutely the exception and not the rule.

Declawing is not actually removing the claws, but amputating the first part of each toe of the cat. Many cats have their back toes amputated also, which is much worse when combined with the front paws. The cat is unable to recover and spends the rest of its life walking very much on `stubs' of paws, aside from all the other dreadful physical and psychological problems it creates.

A cat's paws and claws are very much a part of its natural defence and natural behaviour mechanisms. Scratching (trees, scratching posts, lounges ) is an instinctive and natural behaviour for a cat, and apart from shedding the outer shell of the claw, is also used for leaving scent and territorial markings, aside from the obvious defence and hunting purposes.

It's pointless to say that having an indoor cat make it ok because it's still a behaviour that indoor cats exhibit. It is very distressing to have the outlet for this natural behaviour violated and amputated. Cats often become more aggressive after declawing, and lash out the only way they can - by biting - when perhaps they wouldn't have been biters before.

It also exposes nerve endings causing incredible pain, makes it more difficult to dig and use litter, jump and climb, it interrupts balance and robs a cat of its security. They are animals whose lives very much revolve around the use of their paws and claws - it is much, much more than just `trimming' claws, so to speak.

Again, there are some cats who don't show these effects after the initial recovery from surgery, and go on to live happy, healthy lives. But these cats are the vast minority, and it is widely considered to be an act of extreme cruelty. And this is not just the conjecture of crazy cat people, it is an actual animal welfare issue and has been recognised as such for many years.

So, `save a paw, don't declaw!'

 

[casablanca1]

Because in America and many other countries it is, unfortunately, just considered the norm. It often comes in a `package' with a spay/neuter - get your cat declawed at the same time. And in fact, is very much of a mentality - get a cat, declaw it.

Declawing is hugely controversial in the US, although it's true that it was considered very acceptable at one time. I get the impression that the people who are in favor of it aren't exactly fans of the procedure, just trying to be practical about the situation - declawing an aggressive or destructive cat might save its life by keeping it in it's home.

Personally, I've only owned one cat, a tomcat who was never neutered and who once came home missing an ear. He was a scary, tough cat who once put out a Lab's eye, and who could be found sleeping under the snow in the winter rather than come inside. He died at around 10, after dragging himself home from one last fight. That was years ago. I'd do it differently today, though I think if I lived in the country, I'd probably let the cat be indoor/outdoor.

 

[Rubylove]

Declawing is hugely controversial in the US, although it's true that it was considered very acceptable at one time. I get the impression that the people who are in favor of it aren't exactly fans of the procedure, just trying to be practical about the situation - declawing an aggressive or destructive cat might save its life by keeping it in it's home.

Personally, I've only owned one cat, a tomcat who was never neutered and who once came home missing an ear. He was a scary, tough cat who once put out a Lab's eye, and who could be found sleeping under the snow in the winter rather than come inside. He died at around 10, after dragging himself home from one last fight. That was years ago. I'd do it differently today, though I think if I lived in the country, I'd probably let the cat be indoor/outdoor.

True - it is definitely much more of a talked-about issue now.

The thing is, if you had an aggressive or destructive dog, you would get its behaviour looked at by a specialist (well, most responsible dog owners would) but with a cat its like, well, we'll just declaw it. You would never do that to a dog or another animal. Its become too much the easy way out.

Declawing is literally almost unheard of in Australia. Vets will look at you as though you just took a dump on the floor of their clinic if you suggested it...lol. And most people would be like, `declawing - what's that?'. That's how it should be!

 

[Buddy'sParents]

Because in America and many other countries it is, unfortunately, just considered the norm.

I'm not sure where you get your info from, but declawing is not the "norm" here. It is hugely debated and really quite controversial!!

 

[iheartsammy]

i don't think declawing is cruel, there is no need for it, but it isn't cruel. If you had an inside only cat I could see why someone whould get it declawed, but an outside cat should never ever get declawed! thats JMO though..

 

[Rubylove]

i don't think declawing is cruel, there is no need for it, but it isn't cruel. If you had an inside only cat I could see why someone whould get it declawed, but an outside cat should never ever get declawed! thats JMO though..

Have you actually looked into it or researched it? If it is not cruel, why is it banned in some countries under their `Cruelty To Animals' legislation? Actual government legislation. And why do you consider it ok for an inside-only cat? Do you think that their scratching instincts disappear when they live inside? Or that they don't need their toes because they live inside?

And Buddy, sorry - I should have said used to be the norm. I get my information from a cat forum much like this one! That has hundreds of US members - but you're right, it is hotly debated now!

 

[~Tucker&Me~]

Sammy,
The other thing to think about would be what if the cat escaped? It would have NO chance.

~Tucker

 

[Buddy'sParents]

Have you actually looked into it or researched it? If it is not cruel, why is it banned in some countries under their `Cruelty To Animals' legislation? Actual government legislation. And why do you consider it ok for an inside-only cat? Do you think that their scratching instincts disappear when they live inside? Or that they don't need their toes because they live inside?

And Buddy, sorry - I should have said used to be the norm. I get my information from a cat forum much like this one! That has hundreds of US members - but you're right, it is hotly debated now!

I guess I just can't believe that people would do that to their cats. We had a huge orange tabby back in the day and his claws were accidentaly declawed! It was AWFUL! You can imagine our rage...the wonderful thing is that he was still the bad@$$ of the neighborhood if you know what I mean! He continued to chase dogs out of our yard on the 4th of July and he made sure that no other animal came into our yard that was not supposed to be there. He was King and every cat knew it. He never had a scratch on him, bless him.

But, yes, it is hotly debated these days and considered cruel in many a book, but it is a debate such asthe crop/dock that will never settle... people will always differ, sadly.

I'd also be interested to learn why it's okay for an "inside cat" only? Cats still have the urge to scratch, I can't imagine what they feel when they want to do something and they can't because their nails are gone.

Sammy,
The other thing to think about would be what if the cat escaped? It would have NO chance.

~Tucker

What do you mean by "no chance"?

 

[Kay]

Buddy, if a declawed cat as outside and another cat decided to start a fight with it....The only defence the declawed cat would have is teeth, hence no chance. This is also true if that cat was cornered by a dog, fox, etc.

-I think I've already posted this link to information on declawing, but I guess I'll post it again since the topic is still going...........

http://community-2.webtv.net/zuzu22/STOPDECLAWCOM/

There's a cat under anesthetic on that page with bandages on and its claws/toes laying beside it. Under the picture is a link that says enter. Lots of information.

 

[Buddy'sParents]

Buddy, if a declawed cat as outside and another cat decided to start a fight with it....The only defence the declawed cat would have is teeth, hence no chance. This is also true if that cat was cornered by a dog, fox, etc.

Not true at all.

Our old Tabby was declawed and he was King of the neighborhood.... he chased dogs out of our backyard (with NO claws) he chased a possum away from the cats food dish (with NO claws).

Cats have chances, my cat was a fighter to the very end (with NO claws)!

I just don't see why people CHOSE to have their cats declawed.

 

[Squidbert]

Not true at all.

Our old Tabby was declawed and he was King of the neighborhood.... he chased dogs out of our backyard (with NO claws) he chased a possum away from the cats food dish (with NO claws).

Cats have chances, my cat was a fighter to the very end (with NO claws)!

I just don't see why people CHOSE to have their cats declawed.

I have to agree with that.. my friend had a declawed cat.. and she could destroy EVERYTHING.. she found ways to rip out all the screens even metal cat screens!) destroy furniture, etc.. they COULD NOT physically keep that cat indoors.. hah..

 

[Kay]

Not true at all.

Our old Tabby was declawed and he was King of the neighborhood.... he chased dogs out of our backyard (with NO claws) he chased a possum away from the cats food dish (with NO claws).

Cats have chances, my cat was a fighter to the very end (with NO claws)!

I just don't see why people CHOSE to have their cats declawed.

You're lucky, then. A cats' claws are their main defense, cats that can "fight" Without them are the exception.

 

[whatszmatter]

my parents just put a 17 year old declawed cat to sleep. She got really bad, really fast, but oh well. She was a scrappin kitten her whole life except for the last week she was alive. They also couldn't keep her in. They even had metal "screens" put on the inside of the regular screens and she'd get by those too. But they lived in semi rural neighborhood. Anyway, declawed and all, she brough back so many animals till the day she died, mostly mice moles and a few birds that ended up flying around in our house. She kept other cats out of our yard, as we witnessed a couple times. She was one crazy cat.