To outdoor cat owners??

Question

This is a question for outdoor cat owners! Being on this site, surely you do know about the dangers lurking outside for cats? Don't you know that cats are domestic animals? Please explain to me why, knowing what can happen to your cats, do you still let them be outdoor cats? I really do not understand. This is really beyond me! I could never forgive myself if something happened to my cats by my fault!

Owner of 3 beautiful INDOOR cats!

Answer 1

My girlfriend and I take our 2 cats and dog outside every day for walks around our backyard and neighborhood on a harness/leash.

Why??

1. Because I want them to get some sun and fresh air.

2. Because they become super bored inside even though they have toys, scratching posts, a cat tree and 2 cat tunnels.

They are very safe when they're out with us. I  have been taking them for walks outside for 8 years now and they are very happy and healthy cats.

  

Answer 2

My cat just likes sitting outside of the garage look at cars passing by. She's not dumb enough to go into the street. She also likes stalking birds outside(which she never catches). She comes into the garage to eat,sleep and,use her litter box, and when we are doing stuff like watching TV we let her wander around the family room. She's an indoor/outdoor/garage cat and I've never had a problem. Stuff like strings keep her happy for a second then she gets bored and walks away. She truly likes lurking outside.

Yes cat's are domesticated,but they have a personality and look almost exactly like african wild cats which they evolved from(not lions)

Most shelter cats were strays before getting caught.

Answer 3

We have an indoor cat, that wold love to get outside and tries every chance he can.  We have several outdoor cats that have adopted us.  At times they come in for a minute or two but then they are ready to return outside. They sleep on our porch. They would not be happy staying inside.  

Answer 4

To each his own. Be careful with what you ask as it may come across as harsh and judgemental.

Answer 5

I have two wonderful indoor cats, that I rescued from the outside.  However, when I moved into my house out in the country, there was a ferel cat or stray however you want to put it, I started feeding her, and she still wouldn't come around me for about the first 6 months of staying there, so after a while she just became our outside cat, she sleeps on the bench in the summer, and in the barns in the winter, she is a great hunter, always bringing me surprises.  I have tried to get her to come in the house and she wants nothing to do with it.  

Technically, she's just a stray, but in my heart she's mine, and if I ever move, she'll go with us.  

Answer 6

they have only been domesticated for just over 6000 years, which isn't enough for them to be complete indoor cats. most cats still love the outdoors and are prepared to fight for their lives if necessary. accidents happen but that's the way of life. everyone has their preferences, and some feel its right to allow their cat freedom, and a chance to explore and do what their used to. its in their blood.

Answer 7

because it is not only cruel, but sad to have a strictly indoors cat. i see how much fun and joy my cats get from being outside and i couldnt imagine them being cooped up 24/7 for the rest of their lives. sure indoor cats usually live much longer lives than cats who get to go outside, but atleast the cats that get to go out enjoy their lives and get to live full lives, rather than sit around and stare at the same thing everyday. sure things happen, my cat just recently injured its tail from who knows what outside, but once he visits the vet and gets all better, i will let him back out. i dont want to deprive him. i think people who have strictly indoor cats are just doing it for their own selfish reasons, like wanting a cat to live until its 15 or something.  

Answer 8

out door cats are fun, and they go to the bathroom outside too. LOL.  But there are dangers, but its not likely for them to get hurt, because how fast they are and there climbing abbilities, I have 2 outdoor cats, and one just recently got a gash on its cheek, i  feel sorry for him, but i know he likes the freedom.

Answer 9

Well i live in a very quiet area away from the main road. My cat is an outdoor cat but spends most of her time in our own garden and house. She is relatively timid and so would be unlikely to get into too many situations. Originally cats would have been wild, and so would naturally face dangers anyway.

Answer 10

I live in the UK and Id say 90% of cat owners let their cats go outside.

My house backs onto greenbelt and my cats love the gardens and the fields and chasing rats/mice, watching them jump at the butterflies. I wouldnt dream of imprisoning them in my boring home. I bought them toys but they get ignored..because they would much rather be outside.

I let my cats outside because thats what they want, they are not forced outside, we have catflaps and they could stay in if they wanted but they rather go out...their decision..not mine!

Answer 11

I see your point and your right.  But sometimes they are simply strays that have lived outside for years

. I've trapped many wild cats who are happy living in my yard.  They get food and love and get fixed.  It's the best we can do for some of them.  

I have 3 indoor cats. and two out door/indoor, they come in to sleep.  I also feed 20 or more who live outside in alleys near my house. Not much else we can do for them.

I lost my beautiful boy  Fuzz-ball, a few months ago (ran over)  he was wild and I simply could not get him to go inside.  He had been a stray or wild, for years before I found him.

What else could I have done for him?  I at least was able to enjoy his company for 7 wonderful years. He was fed the best and was king of our neighborhood.

Answer 12

I have a cat and she gets let out side everyday unless its too cold or rainy. We live in the country and she likes to lay around in the sun or go and walk around. I understand that there are things outside that can harm her but she always stays close to home when its almost dart 800-900 pm I go and call for her and she comes home. She understands and she love it outside.

Also why dont you try staying indoors for a week not going anywere... just sit by a window and look outside and wish you were there. That is how your cats feel.  

Answer 13

I certainly understand your concern and agree.  But I have a cat that adopted us after we found it surviving on it's own in a campground.  After asking the seasonal campers and the management we found out that he had no home and perhaps was either lost or discarded in the campground.  We took this cat home and to the vet and got him his shots etc.  (he was already neutered)  This cat was unhappy being confined to the house.  We live in the country with hardly any cars on our rural road and a big barn he could explore.  So to this day, we let him go outside during the day and he always comes back to the house to enjoy our company and our attention.  He sleeps in the house and we would never let him stay out past dark.  Also, this cat always came when we called him.  (until he recently became deaf)  He's getting older now (about 12 yrs. old) and he asks to be let out less and less.  He also spends more time on the front porch watching the world go by.  But since he was an outside cat when we found him, he is unhappy being confined to the house.  This certainly would not have been the case if we lived in a busy area, but this is rural farmland.  So far, our boy has had a good life.  By the way, a second cat was abandoned by our home about 3 yrs. ago.  Once we had her to the vet, spayed etc. she refused to go near an open door.  To this day....she wants to stay strickly inside.  She has not been outside since the day we decided she could stay.  So you see, sometimes circumstances determine what you do.  We have one cat that would be terribly depressed if he could not go outside and one that would be frightened to death if we put her out.  We do what is best for each of our two cats.   They are both loved.