# Tonka goes outside **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 6, 2015, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonka-goes-outside/721812 "2015-06-06T20:15:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2015, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonka-goes-outside/721812/1 "2015-06-06T20:15:14Z")
[Tonka](http://s107.photobucket.com/user/llaaksonen/media/DSCN0030.jpg.html?sort=3&o=12) has been an indoor cat since we got him from the shelter over a year ago. [Creamsicle](http://s107.photobucket.com/user/llaaksonen/media/PART_1432087526803.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0) has been an outdoor cat, and she wandered into our yard and home a while ago. The weather has been nice, and Tonka wants to go outside with his ‘sister’. He got out about a week ago, and he was so well behaved that we’re letting him outside now. (Note: I tried a harness earlier.) He generally stays in the back yard, though he wandered over to Scary Lady’s yard yesterday. The SO tells me not to worry about him, but I do. He seemed quite content to stay in the back yard today. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2015, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonka-goes-outside/721812/2 "2015-06-06T21:25:41Z")
I worry about him too :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2015, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonka-goes-outside/721812/3 "2015-06-06T22:02:23Z")
Tonka goes outside; Fisher Price goes inside. Doesn’t everyone know that? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2015, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonka-goes-outside/721812/4 "2015-06-08T20:27:34Z")
Inside what? My mind is putting Little People in places where they should probably never go. ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2015, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonka-goes-outside/721812/5 "2015-06-08T21:21:13Z")
**Johnny L.A.** , I’m sure you’re a wonderful pet owner, but you’re doing your cats a disservice by letting them go outside, not to mention the harm they do the native wildlife. Here’s more info from [the ASPCA](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/cat-behavior/preventing-your-cat-getting-outside). ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2015, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonka-goes-outside/721812/6 "2015-06-09T02:28:14Z")
Creamsicle is a stray, and she will _not_ stay inside. It would be cruel to keep her indoors. I’d prefer Tonka stay inside, but I’m outvoted. (Actually, he may well have been an outdoor cat before he was institutionalised.) ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2015, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonka-goes-outside/721812/7 "2015-06-09T05:00:47Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Creamsicle is a stray, and she will _not_ stay inside. It would be cruel to keep her indoors. This is a common misconception. Yes, it’s true that cats don’t like change in their environment. Moving from out to in is stressful and unpleasant for the cat - for a few days - but the result is a healthier, longer life for the cat, not to mention the 4-8 birds and 8-20 small mammals, that, on average, a single cat kills in a year. > **[Cat Care](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care)** > > Our veterinarians and behaviorists offer you a library of solutions to improve the health and lifestyle of your feline companion. I am not trying to pick on you, Johnny, just fighting ignorance.