Is it cruel?

floyd

Usually when people refer to Tom cats, it means they still have their 'coin-purse' intact

Badger_Lady

floyd wrote: »

Usually when people refer to Tom cats, it means they still have their 'coin-purse' intact

My apologies... what should I call him???

This is him, by the way: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=A0fE-YKQ170

floyd

Awwwww he is lovely

LandyAndy

Badger_Lady wrote: »

Where'd you get that from . He's 10 years old, I've had him since he was 8, and he arrived neutured. What are you on about, Andy???

Sorry about that. As floyd said, I saw Tom and assumed, as most people connected to cats would, that he was unneutered. My SIL is high up in the CPL and she is always banging on about people getting their cats neutered. In the past we have rescued over a dozen abandoned cats and I know what pressure floods of unwanted kittens puts on rescue centres.

Anyway apologies again for grasping the wrong end of the stick so firmly.:rolleyes:

tanith

Badger_Lady wrote: »

I guess it's historical - we used to share a tiny 1-bed flat and all my visitors complained that it smelled of cat as soon as they opened the door (despite him being shut into the kitchen 90% of the time).

Now I've got the bigger house I could possibly get away with it, but he does stink and shed a lot of fur...

If he is neutered there really isn't any reason for him to smell.. there is absolutely nothing smelly about cats apart from an un-neutered male... and isn't he going to shed fur wether you are supervising him or not...

Please reconsider letting him live inside when its so cold... in answer to your original question . YES it is .... IMO....

LandyAndy

tanith wrote: »

If he is neutered there really isn't any reason for him to smell.. there is absolutely nothing smelly about cats apart from an un-neutered male... and isn't he going to shed fur wether you are supervising him or not...

Please reconsider letting him live inside when its so cold... in answer to your original question . YES it is .... IMO....

Every cat we had, male and female, was neutered and the house still smelled of cats even though they had 24 hour free access to the outside. People who have cats sometimes don't realise just how strong the smell is to a non owner.

Tracy_E_A

I agree that he should stay in where it is nice and warm and get him a litter tray. If he is old he will want to just sleep for most of the day and he probably doesnt feel as content in the outside toilet.

mattogier

Looks like he's got some burmese in him - if that's the case be warned about him upping stakes and moving out - be had a half burmese (Called Ratbag) and he up and moved out after one holiday (he went to a very nice cattery for a week) to a neighbour - we subsequently found out he had 5 other "permanent" residences in the area where he was fed and pampered!

katiekittykat

Tracy_E_A wrote: »

I agree that he should stay in where it is nice and warm and get him a litter tray. If he is old he will want to just sleep for most of the day and he probably doesnt feel as content in the outside toilet.

I agree with this!!!!

hex2

My eldest !!!!! would be more annoyed about being locked in than anything else. He has been known to remove swathes of wallpaper in protest. Leaves small smelly 'gifts' in exactly the right place for me to stand in as I come back in. Neutered before anyone asks.

Depends on the cat really - you know him best.