This is the first thread I’ve started so please be kind. I got the idea from reading various cat threads, in and out of the pit, touching on this issue and the related one of declawing. There’s obviously a difference in the American and European experiences (to say nothing of Australians and everyone else) but I’ve also noticed a few misconceptions, for example concerning the longevity of indoor/outdoor cats. I sort of have the idea that for those used to keeping them indoors the way a responsible pet owner manages their free roaming cats needs some explanation.
I live in a house with garden in a quiet street, but close to main roads, in a UK city. I’ve lived with cats all my life and now have two six year olds. One of them came in just now with a live mouse :eek: I wasn’t pleased but on the other hand do we want a mouse infestation in the neighbourhood? I don’t think so. Until earlier this week I had a third cat, the incomparable Alex. He was 16 and had kidney failure. He reached the end of the line and was put to sleep on Tuesday. I wish to dedicate this thread to him.
Are you asking why people keep cats as indoor-only pets? I know we;ve had a few threads about that, and it can become a hot issue.
I keep my cats inside. For one thing, where I live, in the suburbs of a medium-sized American city, it’s against the law to let pets roam freely. That applies to both cats and dogs.
When I walk my dog, she must be on a leash. I can’t let my cats out to run free, either. That makes all the rest of my reasons pretty much moot, but I’ll list them anyway.
Second, I adopted my cats from a shelter, and when I did, one of the papers I signed was one saying I would keep them as Indoor-only cats, and that I would not let them roam free.
Third, I live on a fairly busy street. It’s the main road through the neighborhood, and used as a shortcut between two major roads. I’d be afraid that they’d get hit by a car.
Fourth, my cats have both been declawed (fronts only), and would not be able to defend themselves.
I bought leashes and harnesses a few years ago, but neither of my cats wanted anything to do with them. My neighbor walks his cat. I think it’s kind of funny-looking.
We had a couple of mice a few weeks ago (in the basement) and they each killed at least one of them. I think they bit their necks. They were able to play with them and bat them around just fine without their claws. Nicky carried them upstairs by their tails to show us what he’d found and then took them back downstairs and killed them. They didn’t eat them, though.
I’m so sorry about your dear Alex. I’m sure he was a wonderful companion.
Uh no, I wasn’t wanting to know why people keep indoor only cats, nor to start another argument about which is better. I was hoping/expecting to answer questions like “how do you introduce kittens to the outside world?” or what I think are the advantages of letting them out. You see I sometimes get the impression that some indoor cat owners think it’s neglectful in the extreme to allow cats outside and that in some parts of the world that would indeed be the case due to weather/predators etc so I wanted to talk about how it is in a safer environment for those of us who grew up with indor/outdoor cats.
Thanks for your kind words about Alex.