Indoor V Outdoor Cats - Am I being careless?
By rainbow
@rainbow (6761)
June 16, 2009 6:21am CST
My Sunny kitten adorable little ginger moggy doesn't like to stay indoors, he was just a year old last week. We live down a lane but cars often pass through fairly quickly. At Easter he started going out without his lead and really loves his freedom.
In England many cats are still outdoor creatures, I keep Sunny in at night but have no intention of stopping him being a cat. My neighbours garden is a lot bigger and has far more trees and hidey holes for him and their kitten about the same age to play in.
If I keep Sunny in he bites and scratches, trying to escape constantly and has since he was tiny, if he gets to play out he is really loving. I do not want him to be an unhappy prisoner.
My opposite neighbour who has 2 cats trapped indoors (both rescued - one just cos he walked past) has just been over and told me off because Sunny crossed the lane and a car was coming. He made it across and was fine, he still has to make it back but I cannot see him and there is little I can do.
So Indoors or Outdoors, should cats be allowed to be catty as nature intended or should they be kept indoors and protected from enjoying their freedom?
3 people like this
5 responses
@Tiamjr (435)
•
17 Jun 09
In England, like you say, most cats are allowed outdoors. It is probably considered more strange if you did lock your cat up over here. I wouldn't let your neighbour make you feel like a bad owner for letting your cat out, it is natural for many cats to want to go out. I have a busy road near my home as well, so know the problem you face.
My cats are really frightened of the noises, especially if a motor bike is passing, so don't usually choose to go out. They like the safety of the indoors, but that is their choice so I let them stay in. They do go out in the back garden but like me to sit out with them and don't really stray into other gardens.
I wouldn't make someone feel bad if they did let their cat out though. Cats aren't dogs, they need some element of freedom. One of my neighbours has an old ginger cat that crosses the busy road every day. It is very good at crossing the road and seems to look both ways. It just depends on the cat basically.
@rainbow (6761)
•
17 Jun 09
Thanks Tiamjr, I really don't want to keep my kitten in, he's a year old now and should be allowed to be a cat doing catty things. He wears his collar, tag and bell to warn birdies of his appearance is mircochipped and insures so hopefully won't get lost and loves to be in and out all day. In an evening he comes home for tea and settles onto the sofa for the night. He doesn't go to people which I think isa good thing and doesn't like loud or sudden noises so I think as he has made it safely across the road a few times he should keep his freedom while I just have to hope that nothing bad ever happens during his adventures.
1 person likes this
@Tiamjr (435)
•
17 Jun 09
Well it seems you have taken all the precautions you can as an owner. Cats are very adaptive so he will probably be fine and soon get use to the idea of checking for cars before crossing the road:) I wouldn't let your neighbour make you feel like a bad owner. If he loves being out then it would probably be worse to try and lock him inside.
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
16 Jun 09
Most Cats are outdoor Cats they like to be outside and roam around
Some Cats will adjust to being kept indoors all the time but some do not my 4 used to be outside in the Day and in at Night, there is nothing you can do about that if anything it would be cruel to force him to stay indoors so just tell her to mind her own business as with some Cats it is in their Nature to be outside no matter what you try
1 person likes this
@rainbow (6761)
•
16 Jun 09
Thanks Gabs! I think she expected me to go hunting the garens and fetch him home, lol! Glad you agree with me.
When Sunny was little I used to keep him in or on his harness so he got used to our small garden. When he is in now he is usually sleeping and is not going to win any awards for most loving cat but will snuggle on his own terms when he feels like it - bit like me really.
I cannot bear it when he sits looking at he door or out of the window looking sad and I like to have to door open all day so it would be cruel to both of us.
I think she got the idea when I said I can't keep him in and that he is a cat and will do what he likes. Of course I do not want him to get run over but Polly lasted nearly 15 years and she used to cross the lane.
Sunny has his collar, tag, is micro-chipped, insured and fed the best food, he is a happy little cat and I'd rather he was happy and got his exercise even if it does mean he could have a shorter life than be a miserable prisoner.
I agree with collars, bells and keeping him in overnight for the sake of the wildlife and to stop him being bitten by the local foxes and badgers but I still think that cats should be as free as possible.
It does upset me that i know she just cares but she seems to think that her way is better, far too many people like that in the world, I wish people would just relax a little, lol!
luvs ya
***
1 person likes this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
17 Jun 09
I live in Chicago. Street are always busy day and night. Small cats are victims if cars, coyotes and people. People are steeling cats for many reasons. As a bait for dogs fight and for sale (laboratory)...
If lost, often cute cats are kept by strangers...
I would say that most cats don't have much chance to survive in city like Chicago.
My cat is very small and she has 3 levels of my house to play and run...and this is where she is safe...
It all depends an location....
1 person likes this
@rainbow (6761)
•
17 Jun 09
Thank you for your honest answer, I agree with you and if I lived on a main road I would feel that I had to keep my kitten in and you are totally right to keep yours indoors living in a city. Chicago doesn't sound a good place to be a cat outside. I think if they have never been outside it is not so hard for them but Sunny was born out in a garden shed and lived between the shed and house for his first 7 weeks until he came to live with me. I kept him in or on a harness until he was 10 months old so he got to know where he was meant to be.
We live at the seaside, down a lane with a nature reserve, caravan site and farm at the bottom. There is traffic but we back onto fields both sides.
This elderly lady has made me feel that I am not looking after Sunny properly. He has the best food care love and freedom and is never really very far from home. i know roads even little lanes are dangerous but I cannot see how I can keep him safe and allow him the freedom he craves so much. I prefer him to be happy.
@tinam13 (839)
• United States
16 Jun 09
That's a sad question. I have a cat around one year too, and I couldn't imagine having her outside fending for herself. But, if you think your cat is that unhappy staying inside, then maybe outside is where he should be. You don't want to take what he loves the most away from him.
My cat is timid, and I take her outside a lot, I keep the patio door open though, and whenever she gets scared she goes back inside. If my cat preferred to be outside it would hurt my feelings to keep him/her inside. I would rather them be outside even if it weren't for my benefit.
Who knows, maybe if you let him go he'll come back a pay you a visit every now and then.
@rainbow (6761)
•
16 Jun 09
Thank-you so much for that I feel a bit better now!
Sunny always comes home for meals or if my dog barks from the front garden, he sleeps in at night and is very loving unless he's been trapped in all day when he just sits looking out of the window or looking at the door. His dad was a big old stray and his mummy had freedom so it seems to matter to him although he's been with me from 7 weeks old.
My front or back door is usually open if I am in and if he is in when I go out he stays in as I like to know where he is I would never go out for hours and leave him out. I just think it is sad to make them stay indoors if they are unhappy.
Sometimes it takes them a while to feel brave and your little cat being nervous of outdoors is lovely as hopefully she will stay near you or in the garden. My old cat was happy just following me around and rarely crossed the lane, especially as she got older.
@cynddvs (2948)
• United States
17 Jun 09
I think it really depends on your cat. If your cat is happy outside I say let him run and play for a bit. Just be sure to put a collar and tag on him. And to keep pet population down and possibly calm him down a bit have him neutered. Domesticated or not cats are still animals and most like their freedom to be outdoors from time to time.
Good luck with your decision!
1 person likes this
@rainbow (6761)
•
17 Jun 09
Sunny is micro-chipped and has a collar and tag too. We live on a country lane near the seaside and all the neighbours know him. He has been neutered and often just plays in next doors larger wildlife garden with their female kitten about the same age. He likes to play out and never seems to far away most often coming when I call him. I don't really want to keep him in, none of my families other cats have ever been indoor cats except for my stepmums pedigree bengals and that is only due to being on a main road. I think Sunny will hold his freedom and I will just have to hope he learns to cross the road safely as it seems a shame to keep him in when there is so much more fun to be had outside.
