Do you think its cruel to keep cats as "house cats"?

CDaniels1987

I have 2 cats which I both keep in the house, one of my cats is just over 1 year old and the other is 10 months, we live near a factory so thats the main reason we don't let them out, but tbh by time we move I think we'll just end up keeping them as house cats, they have plenty of toys and plenty of room to run around the house and they love playing with each other!

I used to have cats as a child and I remember one of my cats got run over (although she was fine after) I would be scared to let my cats out I think but don't want to be cruel.

It seems more and more these days that people keep cats as house cats though, whats your opinions on this?

lilac_lady

I personally wouldn't keep any animal that couldn't be free outside.

mazy_m

Some cats might be quite content staying indoors but I think the option for them to go out should always be there....they need to have fresh air etc and most cats love wandering around exploring....

Mayflower10cat

I have quite a few US friends that have indoor-only cats and I'm sure they think I'm 'misguided' for having inside/outside cats. Ours are locked in overnight and allowed out again in the morning, which I feel is the best of both worlds. Having had a young cat killed on the road years ago, I can sympathise with owners who want to keep their cats safe by keeping them in. My feeling is, if you can provide a stimulating environment for an indoor cat, loads of cat trees, branches, play areas and also play with them as often as you can, it's a pretty nice life!

YorkiePud_3

Absolutely not ... I'd rather my cats were safe inside than have to scrape them up off the road or have them cause a car to swerve to miss them and cause an accident ...

I have three cats, all indoors, but I have a large cat run built onto the conservatory (wooden frames, heavy duty guage wire so they can see out in all directions) ... when the sun's out they like to wander through and sit outside (the floor of the run is paved for them) ... they get the best of both worlds, they can lay there sunbathing and watch the birds feeding and I know they are safe and that no cat-hating idiots are hurting them or trying to poison them ...

All three cats, incidentally, were outdoor cats.
Two I found badly injured, tried to find the owners with no luck so had to take them in to make sure they got the medical treatment they needed, the third was given to me.
They all took to being indoors well, didn't cry to go out at all, but I wanted them to be able to enjoy a taste of outdoors without any of the horrible dangers!

I think if you can let them enjoy being outside in that way and can provide them with plenty of toys and stimulation when they are inside, it's brilliant for them.
During Summer my lot are outside from early morning till around 8pm ish at night and they love it ... through the cooler months they won't even put their nose outside and prefer to lounge in the conservatory or indoors in the warmth!

spike7451

No,both my cats are indoor cats due to my circumstances.Orbit did try going outside & didn't like it & Daisy has always been a house cat since well before I got her.

Fridaycat

In my opinion it all depends on a variety of different factors and everyone's circumstances and views will be different.

I have 3 adult moggies who are all allowed unrestricted access outdoors during the day and are kept in at night. Mind you, I chose my house based largely on the cats and live in a rural area away from main roads.

I now also have two pedigree Bengal kittens. I have decided with these that they will not have unrestricted access outdoors and am currently researching outdoor pens for them. This is primarily due to the risk of theft, even in my "safe" area.

In the OP's circumstances, it sounds like there are very logical reasons for keeping cats indoors - the nearby factory. As long as there is plenty of stimulation inside, and perhaps access to the outdoors with some kind of enclosure if possible, then I don't see a problem with keeping them indoors, especially if they don't know any different.

CDaniels1987

YorkiePud Thats a really good idea actually and something I'd like in the future when we move house, that way they can be outside but knowing they are perfectly safe :j

StaffieTerrier

Ours are officially house cats but we let them out supervised. Our male was rehomed by the Cats Protection League specifically as a house cat, as he has no fear and was found on more than one occasion lying in the middle of a dual carriage way by his previous owner. We've got a ground spike in the garden with a 4.5m cable that we attach to a harness for him. Our female won't wander any farther than the garden and usually goes inside after a few minutes.

Before we had the garden they didn't seem phased that they weren't allowed out. I wouldn't want to keep one housecat on it's own though.

tanith

Personally I wouldn't own a cat if it had to be locked up to keep it safe. Cats love to hunt and climb its natural to them I'd rather my cats lived a normal life with all its risks than be shut away from the natural world for their whole lifetime.. I've owned cats all my life and all apart from one that was knocked down and killed have lived to over 20yrs . Wouldn't you rather they lived a full life with risks than live a less than half life?

chelle230

I have 4 cats, and all are housecats, we do live on a busy road, so best to be safe than sorry.
one does sneak out from time to time, and is home within half an hour, the others show no interest anyway if the door is open.
one is actually a ragdoll and it is recommended to keep them inside due to how soft and vulnerable the breed is.

they are all happy, have plenty of toys, litter trays, company, etc.
they spend most of the day asleep anyway!