Am I cruel to lock my cat up?

Question

My female cat is now 5 and since a kitten she has had freedom to go out into the garden. However she is pretty lazy and homeloving so does not go out a lot. Due to financial reasons I have to sell and move to a 3rd flat where she will not be able to go outside at all. I am retired so I will be with her all day but am I being cruel? I am so worried so would really appreciate any advice - or if anyone has had a similar experience. Thank you

Answer 1

Cruel?  Absolutely not!  You're moving from a place that had a safe garden to a place that doesn't have one.  The outdoors is VERY dangerous so you're being a responsible - not cruel in the least bit.  Cruel would be if you were like so many others - that you'd let her run around outdoors and encounter cars, loose dogs, wild animals, poisons, cruel children who think torturing a cat is fun - so many other hazards.  You should instead applaud yourself for being a caring pet owner! :)

I recently did an educational seminar at a cat show on the dangers of the outdoors and how to keep cats entertained indoors.  Here's some of the tips I gave - get bird and squirrel feeders and put them outside windows so your cat can "hunt" from safely indoors.  Plant some cat grass in a container so your kitty can nibble on her own fresh grass.  PLAY with your cat.  There's loads of great interactive toys on the market - tinsel/feather wands, "Da Bird", the "Cat Catcher".  Cats LOVE to chase things that move and it bonds your cat to you for you to be the one making things move.   Your cat will be happy, safe and warm indoors and she'll live a long, safe, healthy life - she won't be missing a thing.

Answer 2

She might be unhappy about it at first, but chances are, she'd rather be with you (you are her world) and stuck in an apartment, than with some strange people who have a yard for her.

My cat had always been indoor/outdoor until I moved to a more populated area. I was lucky enough to find a place with a small backyard but my cat has more or less decided to become almost an exclusively indoor cat and rather than go in the backyard, he really just wants to sit inside and look out into it. Sometimes I even have to shove him out there just because I want to close the door. I've let him in the front with supervision but he hovers near the door and runs in at the slightest thing.

Answer 3

You have to do what you have to do, right? If you are still giving it the same attention you usually give, and you treat her the same, except for letting her outside, that's not cruel. but, and this is serious, I have seen cat collars and these really thin leashes, which may sound cruel to you, but really, it is a safe precaution, and the cat gets out more often. Do what you think is right!

Answer 4

I have two cats and am in a simular situation to yourself, I believe it is safer for them indoors anyway with all the roads and other possible threats outside, I just make sure they have plenty of things that can jump on and play with and they seem happy enough. Cats are lazy creatures anyway.

an option could always be to get a lead and walk the cat ?  

Answer 5

Ye you are you should let it out at night and it will come back in the morning when it is hungry

Answer 6

i went through a similar situation. my 15 year old female went from being outide constantly(whener she wanted), to never...we moved to an extremely busy street. i started feeding her indoor formula cat food, and she's happy as ever. you might try growing cat grass or catnip, give her a little taste of the out doors. give her time to adjust and all should be fine. its not cruel at all, it'll be safer than letting her out, and if she's anything like my girl, she just wants to be with who she loves

Answer 7

Oh bless you!!  My advice is to take the cat with you and try it out at least - don't give her away before you move because you never know she might just settle.  I've been the owner of various cats over the years, and some were outdoor cats and some were indoor cats who just never really bothered going out (even though I've always had a cat flap!!), so you never know she might just take to indoor life and you won't know until you try it!  If she's lazy now and doesn't go out that much she may want go out even less as she gets older anyway!!!  Good luck and I hope it works out for you!! xx  

Answer 8

No. a lot ot of cats don't bother going out at the best of times, in the winter my cat hardly ever goes out and even in the summer he Only goes out to get fed by our neighbours .

As long as she has a litter box and comfy bed (or your best jumper) she will probably enjoy the time she saves not having exit her home to visit the toilet.

Answer 9

no yuu are not cruel  but it may take a while for your cat to settle in completly  aslong as you give her plenty of toys and keep her busy she will be fine  

Answer 10

No you are not cruel to keep her in, she will protest at first and may meow for you to let her out but she will soon become accustomed to being indoors. As long as you give her plenty of attention and some toys to play with she will be ok. She probably wont be too keen to go out in a strange new environment anyway and will want your company more for comfort, cats find house moves stressful. Best of luck

Answer 11

my grandfather used to have lots of cats in a flat he used to lower them down in a basket and brought them back up again.if you have a litter box and everything you need for an indoor cat she might not leave.but let her still look outside.your not being cruel

Answer 12

It's a shame because a lot of cats love to explore, but cats are adaptable!

If you're there all day long I think that will counteract any negative effects : )

We lock our cats up at night.

Answer 13

my siamese is a house cat and she drives me mad wanting to get out so i take her on a lead round  our garden for 5 mins,if yours doesnt bother about going out thats fine, i wish my other 3 cats didnt want to go out,its safer inside for them!

Answer 14

Its Not Cruel if you play , feed , and give her attention.Just make sure you take her for a walk in the fresh air every 2 days!

Answer 15

As she tends not go outside much by choice, the transition to permanently living indoors may not be too difficult for her.  The reason that cats like spending time outside is because the garden is an ever changing environment - there's always something new to see or smell.  Ideally you need to make her indoor environment equally stimulating to keep her both mentally and physically active.  Regular play sessions every day, a window seat with a view of somewhere busy, food treats hidden inside treat balls are all ways to keep her occupied.  The web site below has an article on ways to keep an indoor cat happy which you may find helpful.

http://www.celiahaddon.co.uk/pet%20probl...

Hope everything works out well in your new home for both of you.  Good luck.

Answer 16

no itsnot cruel i live in a second floor flat and i have 5 cats until 2 months ago i had a cat that chose to live indoors she ws 20 years old when she died one of the others might go outside once a month when i walk the dogs but other than that she is in all the time if she doesnt bother to go outside now an awful lot she is not likelyto worry too much when you move