Is it cruel?

~cleo~

i agree i guess it depends on how u think he would be, my cat loves to spend all day outside in the summer but in the winter its hard to prise him out the door so he can go to the toilet and he is a big fluff ball and can normally be found wrapped up in the lounge curtains or behind the tv asleep during the winter

- also do you have a litter tray inside i used to find my flat smelt of cat when the litter tray was there (even if it was clean) once my cat stopped using it i put it in the garage and no more smell

pboae

I was working in an unheated flat today. I had my thermals on, then two more layers with my work overalls on top of that. It was -3C when I started and never got higher than 0C. After a few hours I was so cold I could hardly grip a screwdriver anymore.

I appreciate that I am not a cat, but I was wrapped up in clothes that are far better than just a fur coat. That was in a well insulated flat, doing active/physical work. I can't imagine how cold I'd have been if I'd been in an outhouse, let alone outside.

I know it's possible for people to survive in colder conditions than that, but personally I wouldn't know where to start. I doubt most domestic pets would either, I've got a dog that was supposedly bred to survive in the snow, but he can't cope with this icy weather. So I definitley wouldn't leave a cat out in it.

nealallen

Awww he is so adorable, how could you even think of kicking out in weather like this

Tori_Bellatrix

Badger_Lady wrote: »

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

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

Adorable ... I would also suggest keeping him in during the colder weather ... My 2 cats (7 year old females) only like short visits outside in this weather ...

ailuro2

Catflaps are only about £15 and very easy to fit. If you are capable of posting a film on YouTube, then you're more than capable of fitting a cat flap. All it needs is a hole cut in the door and the cat flap fitted in from either side, then 4 screws tightened. You can also buy catflaps that are fitted to windows, so no need to change it when you change the door.

A cat of advancing years deserves to have access to somewhere warm,imho. Our 18 month old cat uses the catflap whenever she likes 24/7 and doesn't have a litter tray unless it's snowing or frosty outside- it's harder to dig up earth when it's frozen, we don't want her leaving any presents on top of the neighbours garden.:eek:

roddydogs

no cat should ever be left out at night-yes i know feral cats do, but so do some humans-they have no choice.
99% of the Lost cats dont return after the owner "left" them out at night.

Badger_Lady

Thanks all - I've gone out now and left him in the house with his autofeeder and all the doors open so he can wander up and down stairs etc... was sitting on the windowsill gazing out over the garden when I left, so I guess you can't win!

Ailuro, thanks for the tips on the catflap - trouble is, I'd have no idea where to start with cutting the hole (and presumably I'd need to buy a jigsaw etc too?)... it's definitely something I'll look into though.

Thanks again!

pboae

If you have a wood yard locally ask them if they know anyone who does small carpentry jobs, it would probably only cost £20 or so to have someone come and fit it for you. Or you might even be able to take the door round to the wood yard and have them cut the hole for you.

pennineman

Badger_Lady wrote: »

Thanks all - I've gone out now and left him in the house with his autofeeder and all the doors open so he can wander up and down stairs etc... was sitting on the windowsill gazing out over the garden when I left, so I guess you can't win!

Thanks again!

Glad you're leaving him in. We've had cats (or they've had us) for several zillion years now and they've always stayed in the house when they wanted to.

We have no cat flap so just have to get up when current cat wakes us and let him out anytime between 04:30 and 06:30 when we usually get up.

He has access to cat litter but has never used it except when we couldn't let him out after a big op he had.

Last winter he brought back another cat who comes for food most days but doesn't stay in except in this cold weather - but we're fairly certain he's got at least one other home if not many.

Meanwhile today our cat is curled up on the armchair leaving me to sit on the floor - well, he has me well-trained.

anniestar

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...

Well if it was me I would get rid of your very rude visitors. Personaly if anyone commented on my home smelling of cat(and we have 7) they would very quickly be ex friends, and IMHO no great loss. I am delighted that your faithful cat is now not being shut out in the cold. Give me a cat any day over picky and impertinant "friends." (DH fully agrees with me)