Current Events > How are people comfortable with having outdoor cats?

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Yeah I couldn't handle letting my cat go outside so I don't, especially not in my neighborhood. It's not a safe area for a cat but even in an area that isn't unsafe as this one is, I still wouldn't want to let her out.

I had a cat that was outside most of his life and thankfully he always came back until he died of diabetes but the shit that happened to him out there, shot at by BB guns, fights with other cats and all kind of other shit. It's not great for them.

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Lol at the defenses to letting your cats roam wild itt. That's negligent on your part and if your cat gets killed by someone's dogs in someone's back yard, still your fault. Walk your cat on a leash if you really think keeping them inside is bad. Cats are neighborhood pests due to negligent pet owners. I wouldn't be surprised, especially since they transmit covid, if we see more cat leash laws within our lifetimes.

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monkmith posted...

MarqueeSeries posted...

All of my cats have been exposed to feline leukemia, so they're not going outside

you're like the opposite of my former neighbor, who owned a cat that acted as the local reservoir for the disease...

Yeah, it's pretty irresponsible when you have no idea what diseases cats are running around with outside. All our cats get tested, vaccinated, and stay indoors.

Beveren_Rabbit posted...

Jabodie posted...

My neighbor's cat likes to roam outside. When it's cold it sometimes comes meowing at my door so I let it in to warm up for a bit before it asks to go.

There's also this. You let a cat out and you don't know what neighbors are doing to it or what kids are doing with it. What if other people are feeding your cat and giving your cat water? You could be overfeeding your cat without realizing it. Or your neighbors could be feeding your cat things it's not supposed toe at.

Definitely. There are certain things people may not realize are pretty deadly for cats, like onions and garlic, so I wouldn't trust neighbors to feed my cats
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Just let our cat outside

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s0nicfan posted...

Outdoor cats aren't really pets. They're like nosy neighbors that you chat with over snacks when you're lonely.

Now I want a cat

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I grew up with inside/outside cats, and for a long time thought that was the only way you could own a cat. Now my cats are inside only and I'd never go back to letting them outside. I no longer have to worry if they going to come home alive, and no unnecessary birds or lizards being killed or brought inside. And I've found that they are much more affectionate and friendly when they are kept inside.

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p-m posted...

It's cruel to keep cats inside

Where does this mentality come from?

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Keeping cats indoors is like keeping them in a prison all their life. It's pretty inhumane. You're robbing them of being able to live true to their nature.

Sunhawk posted...

Wtf are you talking about? Generally speaking, it's cruel to keep cats in. And most are fine. They just wonder in circles around their neighbourhood.

No, its not. Thats declawing. But you should open the windows and let them get some real sun/air. In a big house, a cat has plenty of room. Plus if you let them outside, theyll kill random wildlife for fun. And possibly get fleas.

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I'd be terrified of my little guy getting snatched up by a big bird.
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I ran over a cat once, actually because I swerved to try and miss the cat I ended up catching it under my tires if I didnt panic and just brakes or continued straight. Heard the jingle of the collar and in loop around my wheel

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After growing up with my grandma having outdoor cats I learned I would never do the same. Out of a good portion of cats only one of them died of old age.

Every other one either got hit by a car or disappeared. And this is ignoring those that would come home with BBs in them or fucking ears cut off. Lots of sick fucks out there.

So between wild animals, sick fucks and cars it's a bad idea to let your cats roam free. Not to mention the impact they have on native bird populations.

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DDirtyDastard posted...

Keeping cats indoors is like keeping them in a prison all their life. It's pretty inhumane. You're robbing them of being able to live true to their nature.

You realize the same applies to every animal, right?

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BettyWhite posted...

And this is ignoring those that would come home with BBs in them or fucking ears cut off. Lots of sick fucks out there.

i fucking hate this world god dammit

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Choco posted...

i fucking hate this world god dammit

For real, it's absolutely sickening. I would pay good money to beat the living shit out of the kind of people that would be so sadistic to do such a thing.

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DDirtyDastard posted...

Keeping cats indoors is like keeping them in a prison all their life. It's pretty inhumane. You're robbing them of being able to live true to their nature.

And being negligent, letting them roam wildly, catch diseases, fuck under your neighbors windows, fight with wild animals, is by far more negligent and careless. Don't get any pets if your best answer is "cats will be cats lol" because even in open range areas you're expected to keep your animals under control and safe, it's the humane and neighborly thing to do.

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P4wn4g3 posted...

And being negligent, letting them roam wildly, catch diseases, fuck under your neighbors windows, fight with wild animals, is by far more negligent and careless. Don't get any pets if your best answer is "cats will be cats lol" because even in open range areas you're expected to keep your animals under control and safe, it's the humane and neighborly thing to do.

Wow. This board is so ridiculous and out of touch with reality when it comes to pets

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We had outdoor cats for a lot of my childhood. Their average lifespan was about a year because they just couldn't stay away from the road
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Aeriis posted...

what did he say that was incorrect?

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Captain_Qwark posted...

I wonder if people who say it's cruel to keep cats indoors let their dogs just run around the neighborhood on their own

eeehh how much sense does this comparison really make when you take into account how different their natures are? cats' vs dogs' natures i mean

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My cat wanted to go out when he was like 5 months old. Felt cruel to deny him freedom and happiness, he's a damn animal. Most animals want to be out in nature. I'm not clingy or neurotic enough to keep him locked up.

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Seen an outdoor cat roaming the streets in my apartment complex. Came to a break while driving to let it pass. I would not trust other people if I had a cat like that.
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They need to hunt & explore.

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Beveren_Rabbit posted...

It's only cruel to keep your cat indoors if your house is small and doesn't provide enough for your cat to play, explore, and feel safe. When your cat is out you're letting an invasive species interact with the natural environment. Cats are terrible predators. They kill native species for fun and they don't even kill efficiently. You're exposing them to disease and parasites. You're risking them getting attacked from another animal. There are people that are very protective of their homes and won't mind hosing down your cat, throwing rocks at it, poisoning it, or shooting it. You have to be in denial to think that it's never okay to keep a cat as an indoor cat.

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Sunhawk posted...

They just wonder in circles around their neighbourhood.

And this is why people hate cats and their owners

I have a friend who is a responsible cat owner, but yeah I don't like irresponsible cat owners. There are plenty of irresponsible dog owners too.

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Everyone that doesn't live on a farm and lets their cat roam outside is a humongous selfish idiot.

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P4wn4g3 posted...

I have a friend who is a responsible cat owner, but yeah I don't like irresponsible cat owners. There are plenty of irresponsible dog owners too.

My neighbor down the street has 3 dogs that ALWAYS get out and roam around. I'm talking like, every fucking day for the last 2 months. And it's because they refuse to replace the latch on their gate. It's not even an expensive issue or anything.

Thank god they're friendly but one day they're going to get hit by one of these assholes flying down residential streets like they're a the Fast and the Furious movie.

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Zurkon posted...

He goes outside and doesnt do any of that stuff.

Oh so you stand there and watch him the entire time he's outside?

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Zurkon posted...

Why? No ones going to go in my back yard. I have a doggy door that he goes in and out of so hes never locked out. I have two dogs so no other cats are going to go back there. If he wants to go out and sleep why cant he? Anytime something has scared him like fireworks he immediately goes inside and either goes to me or hides under my bed. In the seven or so years Ive had him hes never left my yard.

If hes just in your yard I wouldnt really call that roaming. I think what people are talking about is letting your cat out to just wander wherever it wants and also potentially run into aggressive animals, predators, cruel people, traffic, disease, etc.

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BettyWhite posted...

My neighbor down the street has 3 dogs that ALWAYS get out and roam around. I'm talking like, every fucking day for the last 2 months. And it's because they refuse to replace the latch on their gate. It's not even an expensive issue or anything.

Thank god they're friendly but one day they're going to get hit by one of these assholes flying down residential streets like they're a the Fast and the Furious movie.

I'd call animal control if it were dogs.

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Zurkon posted...

My cat was a stray that used to wander the neighborhood before I got him to warm up to me and then adopted him. Hes neutered, has all of his vaccinations, and is microchipped. He goes outside and doesnt do any of that stuff. You probably arent aware because you never see them, but some cats are perfectly fine just going out and chilling in the yard before they come back in.

Exactly. Our cat is neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. I've seen him outside and he just wanders around from the front of the house to the back or runs around on the green communal area for the houses on the street. We live in a village and all the neighbours are elderly. It's totally safe. It's very rare he'll bring in dead birds, the only time it's happened since I've been living with him and my fiancee is with a bird that flew straight into one of our windows.


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p-m posted...

Exactly. Our cat is neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. I've seen him outside and he just wanders around from the front of the house to the back or runs around on the green communal area for the houses on the street. We live in a village and all the neighbours are elderly. It's totally safe. It's very rare he'll bring in dead birds, the only time it's happened since I've been living with him and my fiancee is with a bird that flew straight into one of our windows.

... So you go watch him the entire time he's outside?

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P4wn4g3 posted...

... So you go watch him the entire time he's outside?

No but I don't have to, I'm still a responsible cat owner. It's normal and widely encouraged. I know some people prefer keeping their cats indoors but I've never encountered people who are strongly against letting them out.

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p-m posted...

No but I don't have to, I'm still a responsible cat owner.

See that's where you're wrong. You don't know what he's doing. No sane person would agree with you on this and you'd be wrong in court too. Just because there isn't a leash law for your animal doesn't hold you harmless for letting it roam wild.

Anyway we're done.

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P4wn4g3 posted...

See that's where you're wrong. You don't know what he's doing. No sane person would agree with you on this and you'd be wrong in court too. Just because there isn't a leash law for your animal doesn't hold you harmless for letting it roam wild.

Anyway we're done.

Done because you're being ridiculous.

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Zurkon posted...

I dont need to. He sleeps in the same spot every time and comes right back in. I can even see him through the window. He doesnt leave the yard. I know his personality and I know he doesnt like exploring and he hasnt done that ever since he got neutered.

Again it's an animal. Sounds like you at least understand his temperament, but if he ever gets primal and something bad happens it's on you.

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We always used to let our cats go outside. They liked it and where very happy, definitely preferred to be outdoors as apposed to indoors. They lived long lives too, guess we just got lucky.

Zurkon posted...

It sound more like you think all cats are the same when they can have different personalities and traits.

Mostly I paint negligent pet owners with a broad brush. I don't go around blaming animals for their lack of adherence to our society lol.

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Calling cat owners negligent for letting their cats outside is nuts.

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guys, this isn't even debatable

cats kept indoors are much safer, healthier, and live longer

every pro-cat organization and expert stands by this

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arguing otherwise is like being pro-declawing of which i don't doubt that some of you are, unfortunately

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cavalierking posted...

arguing otherwise is like being pro-declawing of which i don't doubt that some of you are, unfortunately

Its the indoor cat brigade that are usually pro-declawing

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Indoor cats is borderline animal cruelty imo. Unless you live in a busy city area. Let them live.

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cavalierking posted...

guys, this isn't even debatable

Careful, you might get modded for that last part.

Oh. People always forget about the damage the cats bring to ecosystems, too. So on top of endangering your pet, you're causing ridiculous damage to the environment.

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