Indoor cats

BlueBelle

Yes Avaline I have lost twice, two much loved cats one to a traffic accident one to ….I ll never know she just never came home one day and yes I cried buckets and missed them to this day but I know they had as near normal life as any domesticated animal can during their time with me, they played, they explored, they pretend hunted (never got anything much) they socialised with other cats (maybe fought) they socialised on the wall with other people passing by they rambled and explored Yes they were domesticated but they had a normal as possible life using their natural instincts They were not my plaything
I totally understand if you inherit an indoor cat ot maybe a nervous illtreated cat I m not inhuman

And on the subject of dogs grandnana man’s inhumanity to dog breeding, knows no bounds, but still people spend copious amounts of money on the smallest, the cutest (pushed in nose) the one with the biggest eyes, the mongrel that’s is the ‘in name’ of the day, the one to carry in a handbag and these animal suffer thoughtout their life with a variety of health problems because of OUR wants, desires, need to design
I admire Norway for now banning the breeding of two badly damaged breeds The English bulldog and the King Charles

Yes Merylstreep I feel the same about birds in cages too utterly cruel

Oh yes BlueBelle, I absolutely agree with you about all the ghastly breeding deformities in dogs. How people think that a dog struggling to breathe, or with back or hip problems, isn't desperately cruel is beyond me.

Dogs evolved from wolves to their current status as pets. Similarly domestic cats have evolved to live in homes. They have far better lives than the lives of the poor, infested starving feral cats that can be seen scavenging around.
We've had cats that went out and now have cats that have never been outside on their own before.

I entirely agree re the overbreeding of dogs that lead to such suffering among them.

I lived in flats for years and had to keep my cats indoors.

However, I took them for walks on the lead, as often as possible, which means not every day, but on average every second day.

During my parents lifetimes my cats were all happy to live indoor lives in the city, but simply loved roaming free when on holiday at my parents' house in a small village.

The pair we had when we moved to the country, adapted swiftly to country life. Ironically, the young stray who had fended for himself before being accepted here, was killed by a car. The two old cats that started life as indoor cats both died of old age.

Indoor cats need not only toys and a scratching post but a hour or so playing with their human every day. I played a form of tag with mine - we called it wild cat as they ran and chased and caught me.

When they were kittens my beloved Trold would run from one end of a fairly large flat to the other seven times without stopping, while his brother sat and watched. I never saw Storm putting his stop watch back in his waistcoat pocket, or holding it like the White Rabbit, but I am sure he was timing his brother, who wanted to grow up to be a cheetah!

Our boys tend to have daft half hours then sleep soundly for hours. We have all sorts of beds for them around the flat as well as tubes and boxes and other toys. They seem perfectly well and happy.

We had half-siblings (same father). Daisy was a roamer and although we had a garden, she constantly tried to escape and explore. Doug wasn't interested in the slightest, he just used to watch her try to get over the fence. We tried everything to make the garden secure but she would always find a way out. She finally went over the wall and got hit by a car. Doug has never tried to jump over fences, he's just too lazy but it's nice not to have the worry of him escaping. He prefers to stay indoors or in the garage!

Aveline ''They have far better lives than the lives of the poor, infested starving feral cats that can be seen scavenging around.''

you are not comparing like for like surely. All our outdoor cats have had the best of both worlds- freedom to roam, climb trees, lie in the sun in the borders or in the shade under a tree- and the choice to come in, be well fed, loved and stroked and lie on laps or our bed ...

We can agree to disagree of course - but none of our cats have ever been poor, infested, starving or feral ... well Minou was, until we rescued him. He certainly is not now- but does what he wants, where he wants and when he wants. Suits him very well.

Cats and dogs have very different basic features and needs.

I guess it depends on the cat and how clever they are at avoiding danger. We had 2 farm kittens in France who grew up running through the fields and climbing trees. When we moved to a busy London street next to a tube line, we tried to turn them into indoor cats for theitr won safety, but they weren't having any of it. They used to wander off for two or three days at a time and, judging by their weight, they were clearly helping themselves to discarded takeaways by the station. They regularly took on the urban foxes, you could see that their claws all worn down with fox bristles between the pads! We just let them get on with it!
They both died together last year aged 17 years.

Cats kill many birds and are responsible for the decimation.

Why not watch TV Channel 40 at 0800 “My Cat From Hell.” It’s on all this week, The channel is called Quest Red.
There’s lots of fantastic information to learn from Jackson (the presenter ) about how to keep cats happy, indoors!
Lots of toys, playtimes until they’re breathless, hunt, catch & kill exercises, equipment tips & how to catify your home,
Personally I think it’s cruel to keep a cat indoors but hey ho, each to their own,

Beanutz2115

Cats kill many birds and are responsible for the decimation.

The only reason I would hesitate to get a cat again. But Minou was badly injured and in massive pain and infection, and I just had to do something. And he is a great hunter- very very rare for him to get a bird, maybe twice a year. But what a mouser. In this old farmhouse in the country, he does an amazing job.

I belong to a cat rescue- and so many of the cats we get are indoor cats who one day manage to escape and just don't want to go back, but don't have a clue.

I loved the story of Minou.
Better than any thriller I've read.

How do you know they don't want to go back Kali? Have you managed to track down their owners, taken them back and seen them put up a fight so they don't have to stay?

Of course owners are tracked and cats returned- but once they know there is an 'out there' many become obsessed with it all. Some are just happy to go back and stay.

One problem we have is that most outdoor cats are chipped or tatooed, indoor cats are generally not.

But that's not what you posted is it. You said "who one day manage to escape and just don't want to go back".

In all likelihood, a house cat that's got out is unlikely to be able to find it's way back home or be comfortable being outside.

In 20 years, none of my cats have ever tried to 'escape'. They are well cared for, dearly loved members of our family and are treated as such, as well as always being micro chipped in the unlikely event they were to get lost.

Of course indoor cats are chipped! They're fully vaccinated too. Belt and braces. Whatever keeps our cats safe and well we'll do it.

Exactly Aveline.

I meant in general Aveline, not yours in particular. This is our experience 'on the ground'.

Why are indoor cats vaccinated if they don't go out to come into contact with other animals please?

All our cats have been vaxxed and chipped (when that became a thing) irrespective of whether they were outdoor or indoor cats.

All cats need to be vaxxed because they may need to go to the vet or to a cattery even if they don’t go outside your home. Other cats can also get into your home.

We can only speak from our own experience, but I think keeping your cats inside is an indication that you love them, and want to protect them so you will get them vaccinated and chipped as part of your care for them. Mine didn’t try to escape, if we took them out in the garden they would stay with us, but I guess that like people, all cats are different.

There are a number of rescues in my area which now only adopting to 'indoor only homes'.
I think mainly due to a number of horrendous incidents with cats in particular.

If a cat has been used to being an indoor one that is what it knows and expects. I have had some experience of indoor cats after my best friends cat was literally ripped apart by a greyhound and died and the remaining two became indoor cats with a run from the back door with branches and ladders and all sorts of play things and they loved it. They were like little lions lying on the branches and tearing up and down the run. They were safe and happy.

Aveline - such beautiful cats, they are stunning.

It's horses (or cats) for courses. Some love indoors. Others like the outside. And some change: I recall two British indoor cats who moved with their owners to rural France and became indoor/outdoor cats - they quickly adapted to catching mice!

oh gosh this is the best thread for me. I have had cats and dogs all my long life, never kept a cat as an indoor cat.
now I have one, but she is in at night.. during the day she can go out if she wants to , which seems to be only when the weather is acceptable to her, ie good weather! there is a cat door, but I cannot get her to use it.. all my previous cats have been allowed to be in or out by access with a cat door.

she is sleeping a lot, and that has worried me, now it seems that is what cats do! thank you for that.

I have bought her toys and scratching posts, (she is 5 years old now , a rescue cat, found as a very small kitten born in a field! from a feral cat)
but she doesn`t play with toys or use the scratching post.. she does, however love my chair! I don`t mind so much as due to my age, it can easily just be discarded when I am gone

I love the idea of catio.. anyone give links please? and as for the cat litter tray,, she always manages to do "it" on the side!

and I have the largest try sold by Amazon. again any links?