Indoor cats

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

By being humans, unfortunately.

MissAdventure

Animals live longer in zoos, but I don't necessarily think that makes it the better option.

I saw an interview with someone on tv saying that we are dependent on zoos and their breeding programmes to ensure the survival of many species. It’s so heartbreaking to realise that we humans are destroying the planet for every other living creature . How did we let this happen?

Animals live longer in zoos, but I don't necessarily think that makes it the better option.

jaylucy

My own cat that we adopted just over a year ago is always indoors after dark and he seems to be quite happy as long as he can go out during daylight hours. It also gives me peace of mind after seeing how many cats seem to disappear after dark, never to be seen again as reported on our local Facebook community groups.
My niece has two cats that are totally indoors and have been since they were kittens. They seem happy, and have plenty of toys and are played with every day.
I don't know if it makes a difference that they are both females or not.

I agree. Accidents always happened if my cats went out again in the evening. They seem to develop a sort of road sense once they get past the ‘katten’ period of their lives.

Willow73

I had three rag doll cats, very laid back breed. I kept them as indoor cats, not as easy as it sounds. Constant worry when doors and windows left open in the summer, children running in and out trying to play chase with the cats. Workmen and knocks on the door, it would be quick where’s the cats put them away! They had a run but always wanted to be with people. I would never do it again, more worry than letting them out and learning about the outside themselves.

Same here. I don’t know how we managed to keep our indoor cats from escaping when the children were young, but our first Burmese was killed on the road the very first time she got out and we couldn’t bear the thought of that happening again. Prior to that I’d had moggies, several of which had either been killed or injured. For that reason I could never have another cat, much as I love them. I did read a theory that one of the reasons dogs seem to have so many health problems is that they’re deficient in VitD as they spend so much time indoors.

My own cat that we adopted just over a year ago is always indoors after dark and he seems to be quite happy as long as he can go out during daylight hours. It also gives me peace of mind after seeing how many cats seem to disappear after dark, never to be seen again as reported on our local Facebook community groups.
My niece has two cats that are totally indoors and have been since they were kittens. They seem happy, and have plenty of toys and are played with every day.
I don't know if it makes a difference that they are both females or not.

I take it you don’t agree with neutering animals, either, Bluebelle as that’s also altering their nature, nor with training dogs to obey humans nor with horses being used for leisure activities.

The key to keeping an indoor cat is to provide a rich, rewarding environment for them. It’s not difficult.

Over 50% of deaths in cats aged between 6 months and two are as the result of RTAs. A further proportion die as a result of infections they have picked up outside, dog fights etc.
That seems to me a much crueller waste of life than keeping your cat inside to protect it. The secret is to be consistent from birth, because they don’t miss what they’ve never had. It’s not like keeping them in a cage if they have free rein in the house and an enclosed run outside.
I knew the animal cruelty argument would be raised, however cats are domesticated, they wouldn’t survive in the wild, so wouldn’t exist in their present form if it wasn’t for humans.

I agree chardy and why I don’t eat animals the conditions they are kept in, the added anti biotics, the travelling the way they are sometimes killed, yes you are absolutely right the whole of the animal kingdom is often abused by humans add on to that all the various ‘sports’ including bull fighting cockfighting fox hunting big game shooting and more and more and more It’s all part of the big picture isn’t it

Urs very different to keep cats in than allowing dogs to roam as they did when I was a child. A photograph of our road in 1960 showed no cars at all. Now,cars are parked half on road, half pavement on both sides. Plus there’s heavy traffic all day. My dogs couldn’t roam but they are well exercised and their breed needs supported. Just back from doing retrieve and settle exercises with a teenage hooligan lab. Both muddy wet and happy.
As with everything it’s down to responsible owners

Some of our very elderly cats chose to be indoor at some point- their choice entirely. But personally, I would never have cats if they had to be indoor cats- as their nature is very strong and they need to go up trees and follow their instinct. I know many will disagree, that's OK.

We have a catflap, and Minou goes in and out as he pleases- he owns us, not t'other way round.

Grandnana

To those who say that it's cruel to keep cats in, I would suggest it's no different from the fact that most dogs aren't allowed to roam as they were 60 years ago. The are pack animals and their natural instincts aren't to be stuck indoors.

This 'it goes against nature' argument is a slippery slope. The fox biting my cat was natural. Farming animals and fish, keeping cows lactating, fattening pigs - none of that's natural.

Our elderly half-Siamese was bitten in the base of her tail by a fox 25 years ago, so never went out again. Subsequent cats have been indoors from kittenhood. Siamese are good at communicating their feelings - they don't care.

My British Blue Oliver the Great is such a lazy boy he will not venture outside at all when I open the back door he will run to his cosy fleece blanket for cover I have tried to get him outside many times but he is just not interested.

I think it depends on the cat - they find their own level according to their nature. I've had cats that prefer to be indoors, those that love the outdoors, and most, those that like both depending on the weather! One of my neighbours has a cat that has never even sniffed at the back door - must admit, I've never had one that uninterested in the outdoors.

I agree with BlueBelle that it's against their nature to keep them in all the time (and that it's more for the owner's benefit than the cat's). And, yes, it is heartbreaking to lose a much loved pet, whatever the reason.

I've had indoor cats for 20 years. My last outside cat never came home one day and we never found out what happened to him. It was heart breaking.

I then started keeping sphynx's which being hairless and needing to be kept warm are always house cats. They've always had a secure outside area to enjoy in good weather, and where we are now with a roof terrace is ideal.

They've never been out and have long happy lives.

My DD has an indoor rescue cat. She was told that the cat would not be happy going out.
One night she forgot to close a
window and the cat escaped. She was missing for 3 days and they searched for her every day.
They left the window open and were relieved when they were woken by a loud yowling and scratching on their bedroom door. The cat was obviously happy to be home and wouldn't leave my DDs side and would follow her everywhere. She will stand by an open door but always runs back inside. Her outside adventure seemed to have not been a happy time.

I had three rag doll cats, very laid back breed. I kept them as indoor cats, not as easy as it sounds. Constant worry when doors and windows left open in the summer, children running in and out trying to play chase with the cats. Workmen and knocks on the door, it would be quick where’s the cats put them away! They had a run but always wanted to be with people. I would never do it again, more worry than letting them out and learning about the outside themselves.

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

To those who say that it's cruel to keep cats in, I would suggest it's no different from the fact that most dogs aren't allowed to roam as they were 60 years ago. The are pack animals and their natural instincts aren't to be stuck indoors.