Inside cats

I grew up with an indoor cat. Though she was deaf, she had to stay inside. The vet actually will say that keeping them indoors is better. My Dad has an outdoor cat but she stays close to the house. We have a calico cat now. She was a farm cat but someone threw her from a car when we found her. She refuses to go outside. She is perfectly fine now despite a small scar on her nose. Hense the name Scarlet. She is beautiful and healthy and safe in our house. She sees no need herself to go outside so I guess that makes it easier. She does chase mice and bugs inside the house. There is less chance of illness or injury keeping them inside. So don't listen to them ;)

Hmmmm.... let's make a list! Outside: weather, fighting, disease, being killed by dogs, becoming prey for a coyote, smashed by a car, sprayed by a skunk, infested with fleas and ticks, lost, abused/tortured/killed by the sick folks that do such things, life expectancy of under 10 years; Inside: warm, dry, safe from all predators and parasites, no cars, clean water to drink, comfy places to lay or hide, space to play, clean litter box, life expectancy of 14-20 years. Show this to your partner and let him do the math. Cats no longer have a place in the natural ecosystem. They do not belong roaming the streets, period. It would be mean to put the cat outside!

I let my cat out about a month ago and he came in with a bite mark and dust in his fur. He never leaves our yard but other cats had been hanging there and he must have gotten into a fight with one of them. His leg swelled up horribly a few days later and he had a fever. I had to take him to the vet for some penicillin and it cost $125. I think you are smart to keep your cat inside. My cat, Humphrey can only go out now if I'm out there with him. Maybe you could do that. Just let the cat out when you are doing outside stuff (gardening, washing the car etc.)

I have only had one cat in my life. She was found in the street and taken in by a friend of mine, but they couldn't keep her because they already had cats and so we took her in. She was deaf so she couldn't go outside since she had no way of defending herself, she was also declawed. I don't see a problem with keeping a cat indoors. I know that cats are good at staying out of danger, but I would worry about letting mine out if I had one!

Some cats get hit, some don't... I had about nine cats at one point and live right next to the road... I took the chance because they need the outdoors... they need to be free and sometimes it's just a risk you have to take!

No, I don't think you're mean at all. I am the same way with some of mine. I have alot of cats, as I take in strays, I just took in 3 more that were abandoned in a home, in the town where I work, and was called by some other animal rescuers and asked if I would take 3 of them. Someone moved off, and left 2 mommy cats and 2 litters of kittens, and several more cats, and the landlord of the house was going to kill them if they were still there, the next day. They were able to place all, but a couple that weren't able to catch. I worry about them. There are alot of bad things that happen to pets, especially outside.

I don't think your being mean at all. I have 4 cats currently and they are all indoor cats. My parents live on a farm and all their cats are indoor cats. There are to many things that cats can get into and hurt from. If you love your pets keep them safe. Don't feel bad about them being indoor cats you will enjoy them a lot longer that way then if they where out side.

My cats choose what they want to do. If they want to go outside, they go outside, if they want to stay in they stay in. They are very independent. My cats literally have a mind all their own.

You are not mean, he is. You are a caring and thoughtful person, understanding the responsablity of having a pet. Do not give in sugar. They get killed, poisened, and sick from going outside. It will cut their lifespan down. God bless you.

No, Cassy, I don't think that you're being mean at all! You are acting in the cats' best interests and are really saving their lives. All of my cats, including the one that I am babysitting for my sister, are indoor cats and seem to be perfectly happy and content. I have also seen too many of my beloved cats hit by cars when I used to live at home with my parents. My parents didn't believe in letting the cats stay inside all of the time. They only let kittens remain in the house, and as soon as those kittens became adult cats, out they went at night before bedtime. As a result of this, I went through a lot of anxiety and arguments and promised myself that once I got my own place, that I would keep my cats inside, permanently.

We don't let our cats go outside unless we are witht hem and holdin gonto their tails so they cannot run off. We are afraid of something happening to them. People in our neighborhood drive pretty quickly and the neighbor to one side had 2 large dogs that enjoy eating cats. That is one of the first things he told us when he moved in. So, unfortunately, our poor kitties don't spend much time outdoors, either. However, we do take them out once in awhile to nibble on the grass as long as we are with them and holding onto them. Maybe this is somethign you can consider doing with your cat.

I have two cats and neither one goes outside either. At first there was a problem in the neighborhood where a few cats were killed so I didn't let them out and after that I decided to keep them inside anyways. I don't think you are being mean at all, if they are used to be indoor cats, they are fine with it. It's a bit more complicated when you get a cat that was used to go outdoors, but if they grew up with you and were used to stay indoors, and have enough space to run and play than that's perfectly fine. WHat matters is that the cats are healthy and happy and they can be happy indoors as well.

I'm quite strict about not letting the cats go outside; my mom thinks otherwise, and doesn't really regulate if they accidentally run out the door. There's of course the danger of them getting hit by a car (especially since I live in a dense traffic neighborhood) but aside from that, there are various bugs, worms, and diseases they can catch from outside. Once my skinny cat was bitten by some variety of bug, or developed some fungus of some sort, resulting in her shedding hair in the area of the bite. We had to take her to the vet, and the doctor said that even 30 seconds per day outside leaves her susceptible to bug bites, worms, fungi, whatever. She was prescribed medication and had to have that plastic cone around her neck; cute as it was, it was such a waste of time and money (and probably suffering for her, not being able to lick herself for 2 weeks while she had the cone on). Anyway, I just don't want to take the risk.

My cat is a strictly indoor cat. I don't think it's mean at all. Usually... fixed indoor cats have a greater life expectancy than outdoor cats. Outdoor cats can have so many problems. I actually have wild animals in my backyard... more wild than just deer and bunnies. We have foxes and I'd be devastated if a fox ever got my cat! I think it's quite natural for your cat to remain indoors. Buy the cat some grass once in a while so it has a taste of the outside. otherwise... you're treating your cat fine!

Cats are intellingent, they know how to avoid danger. If they are runover by a vheicle there are reasons; she probably did not have right timing to cross the street, or the cat is deaf.

We run a cat rescue and the majority of our cats are found as strays and in poor poor condition due to being left outside. We do not adopt to people that will let the cats outside. The outside is too big for them and accidents can happen. No I do not think you are being mena, but a good momma to not let them go outside. If they need to so badly-- screen in a front or back porch. Harness and leash train them-- we have several that takes walks with us.

I tried to keep my cat inside my house...but it was impossible....he was so cute trying to climb in the walls of outside *0* Well now he came and goes to anywhere he wants ^^