# Do you let your cats go outside? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 9, 2009, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-let-your-cats-go-outside/513228 "2009-10-09T19:28:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![BleizDu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@BleizDu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BleizDu)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-let-your-cats-go-outside/513228/41 "2009-10-10T22:27:03Z")
> [@InvisibleWombat](#): > > I let my cats out during the day and bring them in at night (there are lots of critters around here that consider kitties a tasty snack). They do not, however, “roam the neighborhood and annoy the townsfolk,” as we live 4 miles from town. They visit our two closest neighbors from time to time, but I’ve spoken to them (the neighbors, that is) and they don’t have an issue with it. Yeah, I know my neighbors don’t have a single problem with our cats, they had even kinda “adopted” one of them during the period between the death of their old cat and the coming of their new kitty, so I just kinda figured it was tongue in cheek and voted that anyway, even if I didn’t quite like the formulation. (Now, if you replace cats by goats, I could tell a few stories…and how we spent a pricely sum on various flowers --and on an electrical fence–, to make up for the disapearance of some rose bushes) ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_fun_ball/32/17664_2.png) [@Happy\_Fun\_Ball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Fun_Ball)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-let-your-cats-go-outside/513228/42 "2009-10-10T23:17:29Z")
My cat is 17 years old and constantly grumpy. When she wants out, we let her out or she’ll bitch about it for hours. She only goes about 5-10 feet from the door and stays out for 1 hour tops and is not a threat to local wildlife. When she was younger, we would only let her out when we were outside also. This happened only ~10 times per year when we were gardening and the like. She always stayed right next to us. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-let-your-cats-go-outside/513228/43 "2009-10-10T23:33:41Z")
My cat is 20 years old and would probably walk into traffic. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-let-your-cats-go-outside/513228/44 "2009-10-10T23:42:45Z")
Both of our cats are seniors - one is 22 and one is 15. Also, neither of them have front claws. We don’t let them outside for the obvious reasons - they would get lost, eaten, attacked, etc. However, we do have a large balcony that they both like to relax on in the summer and warm days the rest of the year. Neither has ever made any attempt to get off the balcony so I guess they like it ok. Occasionally, they will wander out the front door into the hall of our condo complex when we’re brining in groceries or something, but both return right away if you poke your head out after them. ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-let-your-cats-go-outside/513228/45 "2009-10-10T23:56:39Z")
One cat stays inside and the other one has the call of the wild. There’s no keeping her indoors. Keeping her indoors would be like breaking her legs. If I get another cat some day, I’ll get a grownup that is content to live indoors. Or I’ll live somewhere where cats can roam in peace. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-let-your-cats-go-outside/513228/46 "2009-10-11T01:07:44Z")
> [@InvisibleWombat](#): > > This quite illustrates the problem with polls. **Skald** , you didn’t have an answer that describes my situation, so I didn’t respond to the poll. That’s not a flaw in the polls. There’s a reason they give you a chance to comment. Of course your exact answer may not be there. All polls are like that. Most of the time, people just “choose the most correct answer.” Fortunately, the polls feature lets you do more. As for me, I no longer have cats. And when I did, I let it go outside, as I can’t stand the smell of a litter box. Creating a cat proof fence was not remotely practical. But we live out of town, so there’s no way they could have annoyed the _town_sfolk. I still chose the last option, as the point of the poll seems to be to find out how many people keep their cat indoors. If you think I don’t qualify, subtract a vote, just like you would add a vote if you think IW’s counts. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-let-your-cats-go-outside/513228/47 "2009-10-11T01:24:07Z")
I only let my cats out in the yard while I’m out with them. We have a huge wooden fence with no way under. One has no interest in escaping. She only comes out every once in a while to eat grass and gets terrified if I close the door while she’s out. I have to leave it open to keep the poor thing from having a panic attack. The male is completely blind, but he fancies himself a great hunter. I have to keep an eye on him. If he ever found a hole he’d be gone and probably wouldn’t last long out there beyond the fence. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-let-your-cats-go-outside/513228/48 "2009-10-11T03:14:03Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > That’s not a flaw in the polls. There’s a reason they give you a chance to comment. No, it’s not a flaw in the polls–in the sense that it isn’t a problem with the polling _software_ or the polling _concept_. But there is definitely a problem with many polls because they force an answer, and piss off anyone who might otherwise give a different answer. Do you let your cat go outside? [1] No, because I’m a responsible pet owner who loves cats [2] Yes, because I’m a heartless, cruel, bad neighbor who secretly wants my cat dead [3] Not applicable, because I don’t own cats–I hate them The answers to polls like that (and like this one) aren’t meaningful. ---
**Author:** ![Gleena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b3f665/32.png) [@Gleena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gleena)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-let-your-cats-go-outside/513228/49 "2009-10-11T07:49:15Z")
No, because we have a very busy street very close by - friends who have indoor/outdoor kitties have gone through three in short succession. Also, because the neighbor cats, who are indoor/outdoor, crap in my yard and that irritates me to tears. (I almost said “shits me to tears”, heh.) Why would I let my cats do unto others what makes me want to scream when done to me? They are all six. Occasionally two of the three will poke their heads out, but the third one, nah. They like to lie in sunny windows and french doorways. And they are safer there. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-let-your-cats-go-outside/513228/50 "2009-10-11T10:18:03Z")
Yes, but only now and then. She sometimes brings home a dead rodent as a thank you. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-let-your-cats-go-outside/513228/51 "2009-10-11T11:08:54Z")
When we got our cats from the rescue groups, we agreed they’d remain indoors. But even if we hadn’t, they’d still be indoor cats. With Ziva, it’s not an issue - she’s a wuss, and she’d rather sit atop the hutch than anywhere. Taz, however, is an explorer, and I fear we’d never see him again. Plus he’s a Bengal, and we live in a heavily wooded area - he’d be over our heads in no time! I’m hoping we’ll have a screened in porch some day, and I’ll gladly give them access. They both seem to enjoy sitting on the sills when I have the windows open. But unless they get faster and sneakier, they’re not going out unless they’re in a carrier headed for the vet. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-let-your-cats-go-outside/513228/52 "2009-10-11T11:25:28Z")
Can’t really answer the poll since (a) our indoor cat was declawed before we adoped her, so she never goes outside, but (b) out outdoor cat adoped us (a neighbor died and his cat started hanging out w/us) so he stays outside, though with restricted indoor priviledges. ---
**Author:** ![rayman5321](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@rayman5321](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rayman5321)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-let-your-cats-go-outside/513228/53 "2009-10-11T13:52:52Z")
Siggy, the mama cat (a stray I adopted) likes to go outside from time to time. When it gets cold, she scratches on the patio window and I let her in. The kids always stay inside. ---
**Author:** ![Romola\_Des\_Loups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b2d939/32.png) [@Romola\_Des\_Loups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Romola_Des_Loups)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-let-your-cats-go-outside/513228/54 "2009-10-11T14:19:28Z")
I assumed the last option was tongue in cheek so opted for that. Mine comes and goes as she pleases, as would most cats in the UK. Her sister was a bit of a wanderer and eventually wandered and didn’t come back. From her previous adventures, I am sure that she adopted somebody and moved in with them. I still wouldn’t have any urge to keep a cat confined to the indoors, especially where I live now. Incidentally, even a long time indoor cat may relish a new freedom. I used to live near a very busy road and didn’t expect my 10 year old indoor cat to be too interested in the outside when we moved. She turned out to love it and was soon hunting mice and doing cat things outside. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-let-your-cats-go-outside/513228/55 "2009-10-11T14:24:35Z")
Where I live isn’t really safe for a cat to be out and about. That isn’t to say that there aren’t some, but it’s not a chance I want to take. The previous house was just as bad, if not worse, when it came to traffic and other animals. So kitty stays inside, looks out the windows, will go out if a door is carelessly left open but never makes it very far (I once accidentally left a back door open for 10 or 15 minutes and when I found the door open the cat had made it maybe 15 feet into the backyard), but I think is perfectly happy to stay inside after surviving the streets as a declawed, neutered stray. There are areas I could move to and be happy letting a cat be indoor/outdoor, but this is not one of them. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-let-your-cats-go-outside/513228/56 "2009-10-11T14:29:47Z")
I live in the woods, where thar be beast wot eats kitties, so I normally don’t let Buddy the World’s Friendliest Cat outside. When I do let him out, it is only under supervision, either by me or by the neighbourhood German shepherds while I am also at home. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-let-your-cats-go-outside/513228/57 "2009-10-11T19:33:59Z")
> [@InvisibleWombat](#): > > This quite illustrates the problem with polls. **Skald** , you didn’t have an answer that describes my situation, so I didn’t respond to the poll. Take your reasoned objections back to New Zealand where they belong. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-let-your-cats-go-outside/513228/58 "2009-10-11T20:49:07Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Take your reasoned objections back to New Zealand where they belong. Oooh. New Zealand is pretty. I’ve never been there. Do you have to bring your own sheep? ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-let-your-cats-go-outside/513228/59 "2009-10-11T21:41:59Z")
Marco goes out into the fenced in back yard wearing a harness and trailing a leash with a red rag tied on the end so I can always see where he is. We have a lot of big planters on the deck and a lot of bushes in the yard, so he tends to get lost to view. To my certain knowledge he’s never caught a bird or mouse, but he spends a LOT of time looking for mice and moles that scoot around out there. He spent most of the summer hunkered down under the charcoal grill because he almost caught a mole there. Almost. We also give him a once-a-month flea treatment from the vet in the warmer months. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2009, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-let-your-cats-go-outside/513228/60 "2009-10-12T00:45:17Z")
Mystery has always been an outdoor girl, from the moment we found her on our back porch. She doesn’t care about the weather- she wants to be out when she wants to be out. Should we have to keep her inside- say, there’s hurricane blizzard biblical plague of hail weather in the forecast- she will complain at an increasingly higher tone of voice about the injustice of it all. Ditto for if she decides at four in the morning that she’d be happier on the other side of the door. It’s amazing how loud a thin, high-pitched mew can be. Tikva, the scaredy cat, stays indoors. She does like it when I open the windows, but downstairs she regards the outdoors with a kind of horrified fascination. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-let-your-cats-go-outside/513228.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-let-your-cats-go-outside/513228.md?page=4)