Keeping a cat indoors - cruel?

Pippin12

Hi, I would like to ask people's opinions on keeping a cat permanently indoors - a house cat.

My little kittycat goes outside rarely. She is content to spend the majority of her time relaxing in our flat, going out through her flap for just a few minutes every couple of days. When she does go out she just sits on the front doorstep getting some fresh air.

She is getting on a bit, and my thoughts are turning towards the future. Although no kitty could ever replace her, I've had cats all my life and would like to get another when she goes.

The only problem is that there is a busy dual carriageway a couple of minutes walk away, so i would not be comfortable allowing a cat to roam outside in case they were to have an accident on the road. I had a previous cat who got knocked down and it was devastating.

So my question to you is is it cruel to keep a cat indoors permanently? I have a two bedroomed flat with no garden and it is of a medium size - (ie not really small.)

What are your views?

kai666

Would you want to spend the next 14 years or so never leaving you flat ever?

calicocat

I had always had outside cats until my current one. Before rescuing her I had in-depth discussion with my vet about this as lived by busyish roads and work shifts so she wouldn't have a 'me'routine' as such.

He said they are fine indoors which i'm glad I went with. Mine funily enough never asked to go out, she was a pure house cat for the first 2 or 3 years, then began to come out and sit outside with the dog. To be honest I would do this again, she seems very happy, goes in and out as she pleases now if I am in...but like yours isn't that bothered about it unless baking in the sun...so she isn't a permenant house cat.

She has a back garden which so far has never left (only been a t new place 6 months)...but never left our land at old place either other than if she tried to come for a walk with the dog.

I had always said that if she was asking to be out I would rethink things, but it worked out great. It has made her much more of a house-bunny obviously, but I know she is always safe, and now has the choice to do what she wants.


It has made her quite defensive about her home when it comes to other animals....unless that was just her anyway.

The Dr. Mercola site (American vet)...totally advocates living indoors. but other people will feel a cat should be out and about.


I'm rambling now...but I would do as I have with the last one again with the next.


Edit, also just to add I had mountains of things for entertainment, plus she had the dog to hang out with so she just thought it was all normal. However it may be down to luck and the personality of the cat...had I ended up with one meowing to go out, I couldn't have done it, and would have had to go with what the cat wanted.

January20

My cat is an indoor cat for various reasons and she seems quite happy. She never asks or tries to go outside although she knows where the front door is!

Be warned though that some animal shelters will not let you adopt a cat if you are going to keep it as an indoor cat (I know from personal experience!)

dandelionclock30

I your situation due to the busy road, I would take the cat out on a harness or string. I did this when mine was a kitten.
Or get the garden completley enclosed. I would be too worried about it getting run over.

CaptainAmerica

I have three perfectly happy house cats, we do have a little wander in to my enclosed back garden but they show no inclination in wanting to get out at all.


More than happy to be indoors.

AbbieCadabra

2 happy indoor bengals in our house. lots of toys to play with & a floor to ceiling cat tree that they both swing from like monkey's (even though they are 11 & 14!).

~Chameleon~

calicocat wrote: »

The Dr. Mercola site (American vet)...totally advocates living indoors. but other people will feel a cat should be out and about.

Is he claiming to be a vet now?? That's a new one :rotfl:

He also claims to be a physician, an osteopath and a nutritionist. He's nothing but a quack!

calicocat

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

Is he claiming to be a vet now?? That's a new one :rotfl:

He also claims to be a physician, an osteopath and a nutritionist. He's nothing but a quack!

Is that a scam....lol. I keep getting emails about stuff from them...I got it wrong though..you are right he is physician...his side kick is the vet one...bercola I think.

Mankysteve

January20 wrote: »

My cat is an indoor cat for various reasons and she seems quite happy. She never asks or tries to go outside although she knows where the front door is!

Be warned though that some animal shelters will not let you adopt a cat if you are going to keep it as an indoor cat (I know from personal experience!)

I think personal it much better to allow a cat access to the outside world, if looking to keep an indoor cat then there are cats that need to kept indoors for certain medical reasons might be good option to look into.

gingin_2

Mine were intended to be indoor cats but were desperate to go out and explore so they have been doing so for the last 18 months. I live in a city and we have busy roads nearby but mine tend to stay in the bushes and borders around the house - we watched them for the first few weeks until we understood where they were going. I also tend to let them out when I know the work traffic has gone and at weekends.

I believe it would have been cruel to make mine stay in as they were so desperate to go out but they are my first cats so I have no experience of whether another cat would be different