Indoor cats

Ooh. I have written the A to Z of cat breeds, owned a boarding cattery and can only say they all have different needs. As for being let outdoors, I want to keep them safe indoors, but my heart says let them free.

I do wish they would all be kept indoors, then people wouldn't have to constantly clean cat poo up in their gardens, or pay to have plants replaced that cats dig up.

I dont know how you all feel but I always feel that you own a dog but a cat owns you! They do as they want and are self sufficient in the main. If you have not already read it , there is a lovely book by Paul Gallico - who wrote the Snow Goose, and it is called the Silent Miaow . Those of us who have been owned by a cat will recognise much that happens!

If an animal wants to live its life indoors then I have no issue, but if it is forced to because its owner is afraid of letting it out then I am not in favour of it no matter how good an environment you provide. A cage is still a cage even if it is made of gold. Many years ago we found a kitten who had been dumped and terrorised by dogs, she chose to remain indoors for her first year then chose to go outdoors . She then chose to live on our roof, hence her name “ roof cat” . After many many years she again chose to be a predominately indoor cat. All her choice.
We now live in town and have no animals because the thought of having to restrict their movements bothers me so much.

Sorry. Couldn't resist now I've found the cat emojis. I'm just shocked at the wilful cruelty of some people.

???

Awful, Maybee. That’s the world some people think cats should live in - running the risk of maltreatment, poisoning etc.

We had a series of cat poisonings in our village years ago. And only today someone from the next village posted that someone had thrown rat poison into their garden. I don’t know what’s wrong with some people.

No, they never did get caught. This was in the 70’s. We’d searched for our cat and contacted the RSPCA & PDSA etc. An RSPCA inspector came to the door one day and asked us to describe her again. He then told us that it fitted the description of one of the cats they’d found but that we couldn’t have her back because her condition was too distressing.

We’d bought a new-build house and when the builders finally finished the site they removed all their sheds etc and that’s when they found all the bodies. It must have been pretty awful for them, too.

*SueDonim" how appalling about your poor cat. I hope they caught the twisted individual who'd do such a thing.

We had our first pedigrees after we saw a beautiful colourpoint, way back in the 70’s, and wanted one for ourselves. We got her after two of our three rescue cats had died - one having been killed by some vile person and her body stashed beneath a shed, along with a number of other missing cats who’d all been tortured. (Maybe that’s why I’m not keen on keen on letting cats outside.)

The two Russian Blues are also rescue cats, from Cats Protection League. They needed a home as much as any moggie does.

We’ve had plenty of moggies over the years, tabby, tortoiseshell, black, black & white, tabby & white. Oddly, we’ve never had a ginger cat but my dd has one instead, who was abandoned by his owner.

We have never had a 'breed' of cats- all mongrel moggies- all rescues. They usually find us, not t'other way round. Although Minou is apparently quite a posh ragdoll- no idea where he came from- perhaps nearby France?

Same for our dogs- apart from one we had to adopt from one daughter, a rescue dachshund.

Our colourpoints were so affectionate, too, but my goodness also very dim. The Russian Blues we’ve had are even less well endowed in the brain box area. Such gorgeous personalities though.

I’ve googled re the RB’s having lived in caves and found nothing to to support that. It seems they were seagoing cats rather than cave-dwellers, which is how they ended up in the UK and US at an early stage.

SueDomin, they are seal torties. So affectionate, and often to be found on my knee, but can be right little madams!

Sorry Giulia, Russian Blues do not have to be kept indoors. They are perfectly happy indoors, unlike some cats, but they also like to explore the garden if given the chance. Our cats, brother and sister, Russian Blues, lived happy indoor/ outdoor lives for 17 + years. Six foot garden fences were no problem for them. They came in when called, or their food plate was tapped. We never let them out at night.
Research cat breeds before buying, some cats are happy indoors some are not and will become unhappy and destructive.

My cat lived with me for two years in a flat with a large balcony. She loved the balcony and understood she was quite high and never took risks. I’ve recently moved to a house as she’s now delighted to go into the garden in and out of a cat flap. I think perhaps cats are good at adapting

They’re lovely, Bluesapphire. Are they tortoiseshell Birmans? We had Tortie colourpoints at one time. ❤️

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202202/medium-549052-pxl-20220130-172301189.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202202/medium-618805-pxl-20211230-141759941.jpg

My two Birman girls!

After having a string of much loved (but not affectionate) moggies, I hankered after having a Birman who are known for their loving nature. We eventually ended up with two!

They are indoor cats in winter, but love nothing better than being out in the garden with me in summer. They do little apart from sit in the sun watching the world go by and are not inclined to explore. More often than not they have had enough after half an hour or so and wait by the back door to be let back in. I would not let them out unsupervised, they are too daft!

They have lots of toys and climbing platforms indoors, and love boxes to hide in.

All cats should be kept indoors with access to a catio. Maybe they could be taken out on a harness.

giulia

Russian Blues MUST be kept indoors. They hate to be outside. Apparently, this is because the original race were cave-dwelling creatures. My daughter chose this breed specifically as she livesw in a flat with no terrace. They are perfectly happy.

Bit of misinformation there. Of course they can go out, but they adapt well to indoors - if indeed any animal should be kept fully indoors which is a different discussion for another time.

I do agree with you BlueBelle. We’ve had a succession of ginger toms - Monty our last one, was half Abyssian - very handsome and didn’t he know it! He was spayed - and a very determined character. He lived to the grand old age of 21 and absolutely loved roaming about. All the neighbours knew him - he enjoyed protecting his own territory however. One evening he followed us to our friends house - about half a mile away- waited outside until we came out quite late- and came home with us- he would have hated being stuck indoors.

SueDonim

Do you also think it’s unnatural to neuter cats, Greciangirl?

No, I don't. Because of the massive numbers of stray cats who do end up in all sorts of trouble, hunger, disease, etc. That is the responsible thing to do. Sterilising females too.

Mind you, I shall always remember the horror I felt in Colorado years ago. We were invited for dinner and the cat jumped on my lap and started to 'pedal'- and then I realised, he had no claws. I asked if he had been injured 'oh no' they replied 'he is an indoor cat and we don't want him to scratch furniture, so we had him de-clawed'. I felt truly sick and had to make excuses and go home. Thank goodness this is illegal in Europe and UK.

And we don't want them spraying our home to mark their territory, of course.
Because tom cats are smelly, if left to their own devices.

It is unnatural to remove bits from animals to stop them behaving like animals, of course.
A tom cat will roam miles, fighting and getting injured in the process, looking for female cats to mate with, and protecting its territory.
We neuter them to stop that behaviour.