Cat question

[Patty3]

My family has only had dogs, but I had a cat question. Neighbors of our have 3 cats and they are always out. I find them on my porch, under my car, in my yard, I do not understand why. I would not let my dog got out without me and on the leash, why do cat owners let their cats out to wander? I am not asking this to be negative towards cat owners, I just want to know why they do not keep them in their house.

 

[AStarOnMars]

Well, I'm not an animal expert but it could be b/c cats stay within their own territory ... you won't find a cat wondering off to the other side of town as to where a dog would ... that's just my guess.

I never let my cat outside though.

 

[Rajah]

I'm a cat owner, and wonder the same thing. Mine are all indoor-only cats and I can't imagine letting them out.

 

[zakatak]

Well, since I just posted about our cat not coming home for a bit, I'll answer your question in regards to my situation.

We let Nicholas out because he is almost 16 years old, dying of renal failure and HE LIKES IT. He usually just bats around a mouse or two, and lays on our porch or patio. He never goes over to the neighbors house. He is out at most for an hour or two in the morning each day. We tried to change that by not letting him out, but he is very vocal about it (he is a Balinese) and will sneak out anyways.

Our new cat, Kadek, is NOT allowed out at all. We don't want to start that with him so he is an inside cat forever.

That's my situation.

Karen

*edited to add: He likes going outside, not dying of renal failure. That was a bit confusing, eh?

 

[Beauty]

I have 8 indoor cats.

Two of them go out when we are outside. They are only allowed in the back yard or front yard while we are outside. They are not allowed outside alone!

I do know that cats are territorial animals. Our neighbor has Doodles who comes and goes and I have seen him at the end of another street which is about 1/2 mile away. It just scares me that he CROSSES a street.

 

[Patty3]

zakatak, I was sorry to hear about your cat's illness. I was just curious about cats since these cats seems to be out all day.

 

[zakatak]

Patty, don't worry about it. Nicholas has been the only cat we've ever had that goes outside. It's just the way he is. Like I've said, we did try to stop it, but he was very insistant that he went out. Lately, we just let him go because he doesn't have much time left and who I am to stop him from enjoying the sun and grass? It's a fine line right now, really... as I can see in the short future that I will have to make a decision that I don't want to make with him. So in the meantime, if it makes him happy to chase a mouse or two and lay on the patio, then so be it.

He will be my last cat that goes outside, though. Too nervewracking!

I know some people don't agree with it, but right now it's between Nicholas and me. And I'll do anything to make him happy right now.

Karen

 

[cats7494]

I have cats but they are indoor cats only. I do not feel they should be out and about roaming the neighborhood. Too many chances of getting hurt!

People who let their cats out without supervision probably feel they are safe and that the cats will not wander off too far.

 

[Danauk]

Our 2 cats are allowed outside whenever they want. We have 5 cats in our street and they are all allowed out. The 4 houses that have cats all have cat flaps in their doors so the cats can come and go as they please and can get to their food and water as they want to. My cats always stay around the house or on the field next to our house, they never just roam the neighbourhood. We live in a very quiet street so it is very safe. During the day if my cats choose to go out they usually sleep in either the back garden or front garden and then have a play on the field. If they stay out at night time they are always in the back garden in the morning ready for their breakfast and they always arrive back at about 5pm for their dinner!! My cats know their territory and are never far away. They would also hate to stay in all the time. I'm not sure if it is an English thing or not but all my friends who have cats (and I have a lot of friends with cats) allow them outside when they want to go out and have never had any problems. We are very responsible owners. My cats are spayed and have vets check ups every 3 months and are given worming, flea and felex and lukimia injections regularly. They are also micro chipped.

 

[AStarOnMars]

Originally posted by Danauk
The 4 houses that have cats all have cat flaps in their doors so the cats can come and go as they please and can get to their food and water as they want to.

Just curious ... do any of the cats bring their other cat friends into their homes?

My friend's doggy door is always used by her dog and a raccoon

This just reminds me of that commercial where some cats are having a party and their owners come home and one of the party cats is still there with a lamp shade over its head. I think the ad was for cat litter.

 

[IceQueen777]

Well, I have to say that I LIKE to see other people's cats outside in my neighborhood. I always see one or two laying outside in the driveway of their house. I think it is great that they get to go outside sometimes. It is the indoor only cats that I feel sorry for...never getting to feel the grass, lay in the sun, feel the fresh air. I can't imagine living like that, so I guess that is why I always feel sorry for them.

I feel just the opposite with dogs. I don't like to see dogs outside all of the time. I like to see dogs that get to go outside for a little while to play and run, but get to sleep inside and get plenty of human interaction.

I am an owner of one dog and one cat...and they both go outside for short periods of time, but they can come inside whenever they feel like it and they sleep inside.

 

[chrissyk]

Originally posted by AStarOnMars
Just curious ... do any of the cats bring their other cat friends into their homes?

This actually happened to my in-laws. They found a cat in their bedroom that wasn't theirs! The story was SO funny

 

[FreshTressa]

Originally posted by IceQueen777
Well, I have to say that I LIKE to see other people's cats outside in my neighborhood. I always see one or two laying outside in the driveway of their house. I think it is great that they get to go outside sometimes. It is the indoor only cats that I feel sorry for...never getting to feel the grass, lay in the sun, feel the fresh air. I can't imagine living like that, so I guess that is why I always feel sorry for them.

I feel just the opposite with dogs. I don't like to see dogs outside all of the time. I like to see dogs that get to go outside for a little while to play and run, but get to sleep inside and get plenty of human interaction.

I am an owner of one dog and one cat...and they both go outside for short periods of time, but they can come inside whenever they feel like it and they sleep inside.

These are my thoughts too. We have an indoor cat, and I feel like he is in prison sometimes....he mewls so longingly at the door. Sometimes we let him in the backyard to play when we are out there...he always comes back in with us.

I am pretty torn on this issue...on one hand, I can see that for the cats safety, he is better at home, but how would you like it if someone told you you could not leave the house due to safety? I would almost rather they had a short, happy life, than a long boring one.

All that, and my cat is indoors 99.9% of the time and has never left the yard.

 

[Beauty]

LOL! I've tried to let my other cats outside while we are outside and they FREAK! They've been inside since birth. They won't come outside. I would have no problem letting them all out in the backyard. We have a huge fence and we are always outside. All 8 of them could play and sun in our backyard......its huge.

But only 2 of them will come outside.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

We currently have 2 cats, both only indoors. I think that a lot of people let cats outside because that's how they've always done it. We let our cats out growing up and lost several--some we knew they got killed and others turned up missing. It still didn't dawn on me that cats could be indoor only pets until we got cats and lived in married student housing, where cats were not allowed. We kept them inside (duh, like you can hide a cat) and then got used to having indoor cats. Those cats eventually got old and we don't have them anymore, but will always keep our cats in. I'm not the type that can let cats out and not worry sick.

Tigger&Belle (the names of our kitties)

 

[AlexandNessa]

My cats are only allowed outside supervised. Meaning we stop them from going onto neighbors' lawns and wandering off.

That said, I do have a screened-in porch where they are allowed unsupervised. That was until Alex managed to create a hole in one of the screens and let himself out! I heard this crying one night, and found him outside the porch (the porch door was closed). He had worked his way out, but couldn't find out how to get back in! I was trying to figure out how in the world he wound up on the wrong side of the door, and then I found the self-created doggie door! So, true apologies if Alex terrorized your neighborhood one night last week. Purely unintentional.

Needless to say, it was a priority one getting that screen fixed!

They are now allowed back on the porch unsupervised, but we do have a neighborhood cat that comes around and likes to bug Alex through the screen. I wish I knew where the cat lived so I could talk to its owner. (The cat does have a collar so I'm sure it's not a stray. Unfortunately, I can never get close enough to the cat to see if it has a tag.) Alex gets too upset and just does not like that cat!

 

[MomofKatie]

IMHO, a lot of people that let their cats outside are under the mistaken impression that, because cats act independant and aloof, that they want to be out on their own. Cats who go outside are exposed to illnesses, accidents, fights with other cats, and getting lost. Outdoor cats have dramatically shortened lifespans. Would you let your young child outside unsupervised just because he felt like it? Would you let your dog? Please don't be fooled- just because they SEEM like they can take care of themselves, these are domesticated animals we are talking about. Don't make them fend for themselves out in the cold, cruel world. They depend on us for food and shelter.

Cats are much happier, healthier, and live longer lives indoors. I'd much rather have my precious furbaby live a long indoor life than a short one outside.

 

[Carl]

We haven't (intentionally) let a cat outside in over 50 years. We are just too worried about something happening and lately the vet has warned us of several diseases that only outside cats get. Sounds like a lot of cats, huh? But, in 50 years we've only had 4 cats. We've always had them for 15 + years each.

 

[katerkat]

We used to let one cat out all the time. When he lived with me, he stayed close to home, but when he got to my parents, he WANDERED! And went straight up the roof. He no longer goes outside, and now we don't let any cats "wander." Wedge and Tycho do go outside, and they love it, but only under supervision. And only in our fenced backyard (though the dogs on either side ensure that anyway! )

 

[GailT]

My cat is an indoor cat, she does go out on the front steps sitting on my lap, that is where I comb all her fur to leave the mess outside.