Is it so bad to keep a cat in an apartment and never let it roam the outdoors?

Question

Flick, you mean normal grass? what's "cat grass" ? catnip?

Answer 1

I wouldn't like to, unless you had it from a kitten. If it's an adult it will be used to being outside, and escape and then fall when it's trying to explore, and it could get hurt. If you have it from a breeder/shelter/store as a kitten, it miht not be used to being outside and it could be an exclusively indoor cat. This is not rare, some people's cats never go outside. I agree with flick about the cat grass, have a high tray, plant some catnip grass, and make sure the cat has something like these:

http://www.freewebs.com/comfortcreations...      That's a must have, so it can use levels and scratch, without wrecking your furniture.

http://www.zooplus.ie/bilder/trixie/hang...      It gives it a nice high-up bed, just as if it were outside in a tree.

http://www.felinesnoozers.com/images/tow...    This, again, is good if your cat is rarely going to be outside.

http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpres...    This one is really cute, and it's a nice den.

http://www.pjpawprints.com/members/77515...        This simulates hiding under a bush or tree, because it's a cat's natural instinct. One of my cats sometimes lies down under a bush in my garden.

Get it used to being on a lead from a kitten, so you can take it on a walk occasionally and you'll still have it in control so it doesn't run off, but it will get to experiene the outside world.

Give it plenty of levels to explore, so f it were to escape, it would be experienced in balance, jumping, etc, and it would be less likely to get hurt.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/images/Cat...   I love this =p.

Generally give them lots of levels, perhaps you should consider getting another cat if you only have one. Then they shouldn't mind being inside, as long as you give them LOADS to do, and feed them Applaws cat food. My cats adore it.

http://www.zooplus.de/bilder/applaws/kat...    And yes, it really does look like that! I've been told you can feed the cat ones to dogs and the dog ones to cats as well, because it's a "pure food". It's delicious looking, if it was for humans I would probably eat it! The gourmet of the cat food world.

http://www.luxuryhousingtrends.com/hangi...

http://www.petplanet.co.uk/shop_dev/asse...

A 3-5 year life expectancy for outdoor cats? What the heck? Where did you get that from? Our cats are 14. They are outside most of the summer and inside a lot of the winter. It doesn't matter either way.

By the way, I live in the countryside, so I suppose if you live in the city there are different dangers. I'd still put it on a lea and walk it like someone else said and like I said before.

Answer 2

Depends on the species and age of cat but I think most cats should be allowed outside sometime. It is unnatural and mean. But a meek, old inside sort of cat is ok. The best way to answer is to ask yourself - does the cat show signs of wanting to go outside? then she should be allowed if not then ok!

Check this out - you will not regret it

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Answer 3

Its ok to let your cat stay indoors its also much safer too. You just need to play with your cat for a few minutes a day and provide it with some cat toys and a scratching post or you could consider a playmate for your cat. Cat grass is sold in some pet stores in the form of seeds that you grow at home but I find ripping up some normal grass from outside is just as good, just rinse it under the tap to clean off any germs. I found it hard to keep home grown grass alive for long as it needed lots of sun to thrive and I ended up having to throw it away before long.

Answer 4

It is terrible. Let it go outside for once. If he dosen't want to open a window or something. That is like you never going outside ever.

Answer 5

I was also worried about this before getting my little kitten.

I asked many people and 'experts', including my veterinarian and local pet shop.

The majority concluded that it is always better to be an indoor cat who is loved and cared for, than an outdoor cat who is neglected.

Also, according to my veterinarian, kittens are not allowed outside until they are six months old anyway, which would infer that they can live happily indoors.

Outdoor cats definitely lead a more adventurous life but they also are faced with the harsh difficulties of outside life, such as disease, traffic, other aggressive cats and horrible ignorant people.

A happy solution may be to take your cat to the park. I know it may seem silly to walk your cat on a leash, but they are widely available, and it depends whether you care more about your cats welfare or a few snickers.

This is what I intend to do as soon as my kitten hits six months. The thought of him never feeling the sun or rain or wind on his skin upsets me. I will be taking him to the park on a lovely long leash.

I have also ensured that he has as stimulating a home as possible, more stimulating perhaps than outside!

He has so many toys now that he no longer has time to sit at the window looking out!

Answer 6

It is okay to have a indoor cat as long as you love & take care of it

Answer 7

get a collar and leash and take her out for a little while-when there are no other animals around..

Answer 8

It is not bad whatsoever. These people above me have absolutely nothing better to do with their time but to complain about something they have no clue about. Anyways, keeping a cat inside an apartment is not bad AT ALL. Provide the cat with enough stimulation & he/she should be completely fine. I've had a cat now inside of my condo (which is basically the same size as a normal apartment) for 8yrs. He is perfectly healthy & happy with his life.  

Answer 9

No, Its not bad. There are two different kinds of pet cats, indoor cats and outdoor cats. In my experience indoor cats are a lot healthier and live longer. They stay in the kitten stage a lot longer and actually seem to be scared to go outside. Although they might want to go outside to cat the bug that they've been trying to get on the other side of the screen door; once they get out there they get very scared.

Out door cats can catch diseases from other cats and animals. They can also get injured by larger wild animals. Sometimes outdoor cats wont come back at night time to sleep inside because they just want to try and catch things like field mice or something. It's a lot more dangerous for a cat at night time out doors; even though they can see fine, there are other animals that come out and would love to feast on your cat.

Also, it doesn't matter what kind of cat you have to allow it to go out doors. It just depends if they've been a house cat all they're lives or an outdoors cat all they're lives and now have to live indoors. Ones that have once been outdoor cats will probably feel like they're being tortured for not being allowed outside. Indoor cats that have never been outside alone would probably freak out and run away or run up a tree or run some place where you can't get them [they'll freak, and do something stupid]

Each cat is different, it depends on how it was raised. It doesn't matter if it's breed is categorized to be a high maintenance cat. If you don't know how it was raised, its your choice to let it be an inside cat or an outside cat. Being an inside cat wont hurt it. I sometimes take my cats for walks in the yard and let them catch grasshoppers. I taught them how to be on a leash at an early age, some cats will absolutely hate being on a leash. But even though they go outside with me, they still freak out at the slightest noise from outside, because they've been indoor cats.  

Answer 10

yes, its unfair on the animal, also its unhealthy a cat needs exercise, unless you have a rag doll cat (a type of high maintenance cat) i think they are not allowed out at all

xx

Answer 11

Absolutely not. Two of my cats were rescued from the big bad outside world. One was starving to death (9 months old and only weighed 3 1/2 pounds and had already had a litter of kittens!) All 3 of my "kids" are indoor only. They are protected from cat fights, dogs, CARS!! diseases, fleas, ticks, sadistic people who like to torture small animals, the list goes on and on...Indoor cats have a life expectancy of 12-15 years. Outdoor cats have a life expectancy of 3-5 years. Our cats have a cat tree, scratching posts, a screened porch (so they can watch the birdies, squirrels, bunnies), healthy diets, TONS of toys and most importantly lots and lots of love. As for the cat grass, that's usually oat grass and can be bought in kit form. It's just a small plastic bowl of potting soil with seeds and you grow it for your cats to nibble on. It adds fiber to their diet to aid in digestion. It's not a necessity but some cats do enjoy it. Mine had the unfortunate habit of grabbing the grass shoots and dragging the bowl around the house causing a huge mess so now I keep it up high where they can't reach it on their own. Once a day I take it down to let them graze and monitor them so I'm not cleaning up muddy messes.  lol My cats actually prefer catnip and they get that daily as well.

Answer 12

It is NOT "bad".   Outdoor cats are exposed to all sorts of nasty things; disease, predators, accidental injuries and noxious foods.  While I've always been lucky enough to live rurally where there are fewer dangers, and have been able to allow my cats the freedom to go outside...I've never fooled myself that it's "safe" for them.  Many,many cats lead contented, happy lives with caring human companions without going outside. As an aside...all my cats were harnessed and leashed and walked and played for years that way when we lived in the city.

Answer 13

Not if you provide it with lots of stimulation and some cat grass.

It would have to be a cat that has always been an indoor cat though. You cannot expect a cat who has had outside access to suddenly live inside all the time.

If you get a kitten, then it is fine and indeed very common to have indoor cats. I repeat, you must provide them with lots of things to play with and lots of things to interest and challenge them.

EDIT - See link for cat grass.

http://paws-on-floors.co.uk/catgrass.htm...

BTW - Meh - what do you mean - these people above me! I have not said that it is bad!