People who let their cats roam the neighborhood

[U2_rocks!]

Yes, I do remember your post about windows being open so cats really can't be kept indoors. But still, I'd have to believe it would be safer for them if you could. I was referring to the USA in my post, though.

But there are so many places where it's very dangerous for them. On Barbados, I imagine there are not so many predators like coyotes.

There are no predators - dogs are the only things here that can kill a cat, other than humans.

My main issue was the sentiment that cats are always happier indoors. I can't believe that, I've seen too many happy cats! They may be safer in most instances, but as I said before, it's a trade-off. In my case I don't really have much choice, but if you do have a choice, you have to decide whether safety is worth being locked up inside a house for life. I don't think I could do that to a cat, but my view of cats is that they are semi-wild, meaning they are domesticated, but they still have a fair amount of instincts and desire to be outdoors. I realize that many people view cats as being happy indoors and losing all of their cat instincts. In that case there is no trade-off - if you think your cat is happy indoors, then that's where they should be, as it is mostly safer. I just ouldn't do it myself, for various reasons. I guess I can sympathize with the people in the U.S. who do let their cats out - maybe they see their cats the way I do, and don't want to coop them up indoors forever. I don't know what the "right" answer is, but I think there are two valid viewpoints here that should be respected. I don't see this as a black and white issue.

 

[Laura]

There are no predators - dogs are the only things here that can kill a cat, other than humans.

My main issue was the sentiment that cats are always happier indoors. I can't believe that, I've seen too many happy cats! They may be safer in most instances, but as I said before, it's a trade-off. In my case I don't really have much choice, but if you do have a choice, you have to decide whether safety is worth being locked up inside a house for life. I don't think I could do that to a cat, but my view of cats is that they are semi-wild, meaning they are domesticated, but they still have a fair amount of instincts and desire to be outdoors. I realize that many people view cats as being happy indoors and losing all of their cat instincts. In that case there is no trade-off - if you think your cat is happy indoors, then that's where they should be, as it is mostly safer. I just ouldn't do it myself, for various reasons. I guess I can sympathize with the people in the U.S. who do let their cats out - maybe they see their cats the way I do, and don't want to coop them up indoors forever. I don't know what the "right" answer is, but I think there are two valid viewpoints here that should be respected. I don't see this as a black and white issue.

I never said cats were happier indoors (if I did, I definitely mistyped that post)! I think they're happy either way. They're safer indoors. Some breeds really don't belong outside, though. As a kid, I got a Persian cat and he never went outside. Can you imagine the mess he'd have been if I let him out? Especially here in the spring when it's all muddy; he'd have been covered in dirt and grass stains.

I definitely see it as a mostly black and white issue, however. Cats run into fewer problems indoors than out. Life is a terminal disease, of course, and there are risks any time, but I like to minimize them. There is such a thing as a barn cat, though, but their owners don't consider them pets, more as pest control. And I can understand that way of thinking.

The thing is, I've done it both ways, indoor and out. I see the advantage of keeping my kitties inside. And hey, if the only advantage is that I don't get dead birds on my doorstep, that's enough for me!

 

[TurboKitty]

*snip* I realize that many people view cats as being happy indoors and losing all of their cat instincts. In that case there is no trade-off - if you think your cat is happy indoors, then that's where they should be, as it is mostly safer. I just ouldn't do it myself, for various reasons. I guess I can sympathize with the people in the U.S. who do let their cats out - maybe they see their cats the way I do, and don't want to coop them up indoors forever. I don't know what the "right" answer is, but I think there are two valid viewpoints here that should be respected. I don't see this as a black and white issue.

 

[magicmato]

I doubt they would be able to hunt. They practice on the catnip mice, and they are the worst huntresses I've ever seen. Especially my older cat, who did have a stint outdoors before she was rescued--in bad shape, I might add.

Invasive species can decimate populations of endemic species and become pests. Ask Hawaiians about their cat population.
http://www.abcbirds.org/cats/states/hawaii_intro.htm

And I'm sorry you disagree, because being outdoors unsupervised is really no way for cats to live. I can't imagine anyone advocating for it, especially one who claims to know what they're talking about.

When did I advocate it? Perhaps you are only choosing to read what you wish to. I am stating that your stance that the only place a cat should be allowed to be is indoors is wrong. Cats can and do live happily in all sorts of environments and as long as they are well cared for, why would it bother you? Guess what? I have two cats and they live indoors. *gasp* Not because I feel that cats can only be safe and happy indoors, but because the area I live in is not safe for them to be outside. It gets too cold in the winter, we have bears and coyotes and we have feral cats. If all of those were not here, and I lived in an area that allowed cats to roam (which the town does here), I might consider allowing them to go outside... not *live* outside, but go outside when they wanted to.

Now, we have all these feral cats here. The town has given us two options on how to deal with them. We can pay for someone to come and round them all up and euthanize them or we can leave them alone and live with it. One of my neighbors and I have chosen option c, which is to catch them, spay or neuter them with our own money and release them. Why? Because by doing that we stop the population from growning due to each female having 2-3 litters of kittens every year and we keep the population stable, as otherwise new cats would just move in to take the place of the displaced cats. Am I happy having wild cats living around my house? No. But they are no different than the skunks, oppossum, raccoons, bears, coyotes, foxes, turtles, flying squirrels, etc. There is no way to get rid of all wild animals and I would not try. If a few become coyote meals, well... that is just the cycle of life and survival of the fittest.

 

[magicmato]

There are no predators - dogs are the only things here that can kill a cat, other than humans.

My main issue was the sentiment that cats are always happier indoors. I can't believe that, I've seen too many happy cats! They may be safer in most instances, but as I said before, it's a trade-off. In my case I don't really have much choice, but if you do have a choice, you have to decide whether safety is worth being locked up inside a house for life. I don't think I could do that to a cat, but my view of cats is that they are semi-wild, meaning they are domesticated, but they still have a fair amount of instincts and desire to be outdoors. I realize that many people view cats as being happy indoors and losing all of their cat instincts. In that case there is no trade-off - if you think your cat is happy indoors, then that's where they should be, as it is mostly safer. I just ouldn't do it myself, for various reasons. I guess I can sympathize with the people in the U.S. who do let their cats out - maybe they see their cats the way I do, and don't want to coop them up indoors forever. I don't know what the "right" answer is, but I think there are two valid viewpoints here that should be respected. I don't see this as a black and white issue.

Well said.

 

[Hercules10]

I don't care if a person has a dog, cat or a dinosaur as a pet. If you choose to have a pet then you have choosen to care for that pet. Which includes the responsability of keeping your pet from infringing on the rights of others.

If you choose not to contain your pet then legally it can be viewed as a nuisance which means it can be trapped or even killed. Don't blame your neighbors when they do this. It's the pet owners responsibility to keep their pets off of other's property.

Good night...time for a beer.

 

[Andy B]

A nuisance is a legal term for an infringement which has to be upheld by law. To trap or kill without going through a legal process if you suspect the pet is owned by a neighbor then you may be in error.