When will people learn that outdoor cats will come home injured or not come back at all?

Question

For people who let their cats outside, do you have money for vet care if your cat comes home injured? I've seen so many questions about injured cats and people who don't have money to get the cat to the vet! It is your responsibility to treat your injured pet or let your cat stay inside where it will be safe!

Answer 1

I have 3 cats of my own, I foster a ton. ONE of my cats was a feral kitten and he is just impossible to keep inside. When he wants out he will get out. Though we let him in our fenced back yard he doesn't stray past that often though he is able to and does on very rare occasions. He is fully vaccinated every time he needs it, he has a microchip, and I am able to afford it if he comes home injured. I have the mental mind set that it could happen. I worry when he gets out but some cats are just impossible to confine especially if thats where they had been for a better part of there kitten hood. My other 2 are strictly house cats and my fosters NEVER go outside. Just Menace.

EDIT: I also think its how your raised and what you feel about animals and there place in the family. I am 32 I was raised on a farm where we had both indoor cats that were family pets, and strictly outdoor barn cats that were semi wild. Though with my love of all animals those outdoor cats soon became pets to me also and it was hard to lose them. Though after a few times you understand that its a given with outdoor cats, there life expectancy is drastically lowered, and its just natures way of keeping there numbers in check. Though that didnt mean I loved or grieved for them any less. It was heartbreaking to find cats that got laid on by the cows in the winter, since they thought it was so warm in there, even though they had a great warm area in the milking barns with food and boxes of warm quilts and blankets.

Answer 2

So true and so sad.

My parents' first cat was killed because someone drove their car off the road to hit him.

Pets are pets, not wild animals.  Wild animals live rough lives. Who wants their pet to struggle?  

It's great if there's a safe place for cats to go outside but it actually has to be safe.  I helped my mother build a cat fence when I was younger and it safely held in all the cats.  The dogs loved them and kept anything else from jumping into the fence and the cats were never allowed out there at night.  It's not that tough or expensive to build a fence.  We just looked at pictures online and made our own.  Letting them out on a leash isn't a big challenge either and it's good bonding time.

Mine have a nice big cat tree we built that leads up to a high window, that seems to provide lots of entertainment.  But what they love most is the time with us and time with each other.  There's no reason for an indoor cat to get bored.

My cats are all indoor only because this area is not safe for them and there's no way I can make it safe.  Three of them came from out there and I would never let them go back, not even for a few minutes.  They are family members, so I treat them like family members.  I won't willingly put them in danger.  Even if they wanted out, I wouldn't let them.  It's not good to let a kid have chocolate cake three meals a day, so why do people think it's fine to let cats do whatever they want?  They don't always know what's best for them.  I wish people wouldn't assume it was better for cats to be out around cars, dogs, dangerous people... That's not natural.  None of it is really natural.  They're domestic cats, they need and deserve proper care.

If I were you I don't think I'd forgive my father either.  Not unless he learned to understand exactly what he did, apologized to me, and made a significant donation to cat charity.

Answer 3

amen.

yes i saw someone on here all upset her outdoor cat was got trapped and killed and blaming the traps... um, you let your cat outside!  people need to learn what "responsibility" means... you don't have a child and then not take care of it or pay for it to go to doctors or whatever else... so don't adopt a pet unless you can handle all aspects of being responsible for it!  my friend is obsessed with getting a puppy... i'm trying to drill into her head that they're not just stuffed animals... it needs flea treatment, grooming, shots, etc. along with what if there is an emergency!  it could pee on the floor and it could be wild... you need to be prepared to take care of your pet before you get one.

and people that let them outside.... sure go ahead, just be ready for them to turn up dead or not at all.  my friends fam didn't learn til 3 cats turned up dead- drowning, poison, car crash i think.... our environment is not the "wild" that cats can live in... we've adjusted the "wild" quite a bit.

Answer 4

its true very true!! i guess they just have to learn it the hard way... or be for get a pet to  save lots of money to be able to treat your pet in the future!!

Answer 5

I agree with you but sometimes it's not safe for the kitty to live inside. Too wild and gets into things that can harm them. I suggest making sure kitty is fixed to curb these actions on the cats part. All my kitties are indoors now. Have had both in and outdoor cats in the past, but the 4 current monsters that I have stay indoors where it is safer. Had to put a lock on the cabinet under the sink since they like to get in there and that's where I keep the cleaning supplies.

Answer 6

Thank you!!! I always say,if ya can't afford an animal,don;t get one!!!

Answer 7

I've never quite figured out the outside cat concept.  Yes, I'm sure cats love to run around outside and chase animals.  Kids like to eat candy and would probably choose to eat nothing else, would you let them?  As the caregiver for an animal you are the one to make the decisions for what will be healthiest and safest for the pet.

I worked at a vet clinic for years and have helped patch up so many outdoor cats.  Those were the lucky  ones, I've also helped euthanize many outdoor cats that were too badly injured (or had owner's who couldn't/wouldn't pay for care).  Hit by care, attacked by other animal and poisoned are always favourites.

Answer 8

as your point is true ( dont get a cat unless you can afford all the bills that come with it) cats like to go outside and roam around and be cats! I have 1 indoor cat and 8 outside cats. the reason the one cat stays inside is because he is deff. and i am afraid of letting him outside. my other cats can go in and out whenever they want (they are mainly outside though) and they love it. They like coming in for a few hours every now and then, or when its storming or gets cold, but they hate being cooped up and not getting to climb up trees and chase lizards and be free!

I dont think its bad if you have an outside cat, b/c i know my cats LOVE being outside and actually being able to act like an animal and not like a house pet all the time! but i do agree that if your going to get an animal, make sure you can afford to take care of it!