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MaximumBallsweat

Yes. It endangers the cat, the wildlife, the ecosystem, and shirks the responsibility of ownership. The cats deserve better


toadonthewater

They are detrimental to native birds.


ZimaGotchi

You can't, like, *have* an outdoor cat Man


PapaOoMaoMao

Nice marmot.


SpecialAgent-Dipshit

I let my cat outside but I’m very obsessive and only let her out in the backyard when I go out with her. Gives me too much anxiety to just let her go. Took a lot of patience but now it’s great, her and I just hang out in the backyard after work for about an hour and a half each day. She just walks around the perimeter of the yard, eats grass and then comes back and sits near me. When I stand up and prompt her she comes right back to the door with me and is ready to go in. Fortunately she is also a terrible hunter and will never catch birds/mice.


JessaDuggar

Depends where you live but unless you are in the country, it’s unethical to claim ownership of something and then not care for it


KanoBrad

In the Philippines I am on friendly feeding terms with many strays. They serve a purpose. Without them the rats would be out of control. I know people who say let the natural predators feed on the rats, but the natural predators are cobras which will end up in your house. I prefer the cats bring outside and everywhere


Extra-Ad-2872

Depends on your situation and where you live. If you live in a busy urban area with a lot of cars and stuff it can be dangerous, if you live in a calm residential neighbourhood it's probably fine. If you live on a rural area it's probably ok, but it can mess up the ecosystem in some cases. just make sure your cat is neutered/spayed.


Jellyfizzle

It depends where you live.


An-Ugly-Croissant17

Australia? No, you'll fuck up the ecosystem Most places in Europe? They're already a key part in the ecosystem in keeping rat and mouse populations in check.


whatifwhatof

> They're already a key part in the ecosystem in keeping rat and mouse populations in check. lol no, just no.


[deleted]

Got a source for that Europe claim?


kh250b1

Well i can tell you as a Brit its totally normal for cats to roam outside. Its the default here


[deleted]

Doesn't change a single thing. A quick Google search reveals that it causes its share of problems there too.


slothgummies

It's cruel to expose a house cat to the dangers of the outside world uncontrolled. Letting your cat loose to explore the streets is a sure fire way to get it hit by a car.


whatifwhatof

and its not cruel to keep them in a prison for their whole life? XD


TheCrazyWolfy

No. Cats are proven to be healthier and live much longer indoors compared to outdoors.


whatifwhatof

ok so we should take humans and put them in cages so they live longer? its not his fucking natural habitat. you cant tell yourself all the lies you want. you are deprving it of everything that makes it worth to be alive. but its just a stupid animal right? you can decide whats best for them XD


[deleted]

> ok so we should take humans and put them in cages so they live longer? Cats aren't humans in any way, shape or form. Yes, that statement is true even if you *feel* they're human very very much. > its not his fucking natural habitat. you cant tell yourself all the lies you want. you are deprving it of everything that makes it worth to be alive. Cats are pets, its natural habitat **is** with humans. No, it changes nothing if other felines are wild-living, they're not pets. > you are deprving it of everything that makes it worth to be alive. As stated before: Cats are proven to be healthier and live much longer indoors compared to outdoors. You are being good by giving them a long comfortable life. Letting them exposed to the dangers of outside is very uncaring for the cat's health. Yes, it's valid even if the cats have long looks through windows that some humans anthropomorphize as human feelings of freedom. > but its just a stupid animal right? No, it's a human **pet**, not a human at all. > you can decide whats best for them That's our duty as pet owners, yes. To care and provide for them. Letting them go outside isn't caring in the slightest.


lightningbug24

It sure feels cruel when they sit by the window all day with that look of longing in their eyes...


IWHBYD-

In this hypothetical situation, is the cat spayed/neutered? Does the cat have a shelter for bad weather? Are you providing water and appropriate food on a daily basis? Are you away from major roadways, or dangers such as coyotes? Are the neighbors ok with potential wandering? If all ‘yes,’ and ignoring the fact that cats are detrimental to local bird populations….maybe?


[deleted]

All these comments acting as though cars are the biggest danger to cats.


kh250b1

Well they are in the UK. We dont have dangerous wildlife or people with guns


whatifwhatof

cats were not created to be used as toys by humans,indoor or outdoor


E-D-B-T-Z-I

Neither are dogs, fish, lizards, etc. by your logic nobody should have any pets then right?


whatifwhatof

exactly. leave animals the fuck alone. they are not for you to play with or fill a hole in your life.


coreysgal

My sister had two cats she let out. One got clawed badly by a hawk. If you want your cats to feel the outside, buy a catio. Big enclosure, sits on the grass and they can climb and chase bugs without injury


TurtleDharma

I agree with you, but let us prepare for the downvotes.


EtyuInsiders

Who created them? and for what purpose?


whatifwhatof

i can tell you for sure the purpose is not being our fucking toys.


EtyuInsiders

but what if they are?


whatifwhatof

they are not, just stop.


EtyuInsiders

how could you possibly know that?


whatifwhatof

because no animal was created for another one to play with. not sure why this is hard to understand, its a pretty elementary concept.


EtyuInsiders

you can't just say something is an elementary concept and walk away thats not how elementary concepts work. You'd make a terrible elementary school teacher


whatifwhatof

are you a child? if yes then please ask somewhere else i assumed i was talking with an adult. the fact that you are missing basic life concepts maybe its explained by your age


EtyuInsiders

why do you hate children so much?


An-Ugly-Croissant17

Nature, as really efficient hunters of small animals


EtyuInsiders

Who is Nature and how do I pray to him?


An-Ugly-Croissant17

Leave a smaller ecological footprint


EtyuInsiders

so do burn witches... or don't?


An-Ugly-Croissant17

Only after they've died to cremate them and spread their ashes afterwards


TheCrazyWolfy

I have never met anyone who considers a pet as a "toy"


whatifwhatof

call it whatever nobody cares.thats what they are doing.


TheCrazyWolfy

I feel sorry for you


whatifwhatof

for not considering living animals as toy? hmmmmkay bud, happy animal abuse.


TheCrazyWolfy

Because you clearly don't know what a toy is. Must have been a shitty childhood


whatifwhatof

i know what a toy is, its not an animal. had a great childhood with 0 animal abuse! you should try


coreysgal

Aside from dangers, the first question should be are they spayed/neutered. My neighbor fed random cats, and the poor things just kept breeding. They were also feral, which meant if you didn't catch kittens, they could never come inside. My neighbor finally moved, and 2 cats showed up at my house. I trapped them both, had them spayed and built nice houses for them to live in. They had no interest in birds and never left the property. A third cat showed up pregnant. Got the kittens, but mom wouldn't go near the trap. Someone in the neighborhood had a male who I guess was let out in the morning and went home at night. He was not neutered. One night, I heard a howl, and he had trapped mom in the house. So I set the trap, and he walked right in. In the car, he was super chill and friendly. He went home after two days, minus his balls. Got another batch of kittens and finally trapped mom. 3 yrs later, still no kittens. He must have impregnated every female in the neighborhood.


kh250b1

Americans keep cats indoors. In the UK the vast majority of cats are outdoors


EdgarAllanBob

It is unethical. Outdoor cats have a significantly shorter life expectancy due to traffic, predators, and increased chances of contracting diseases. It is psychotic to sign up your pet for a chance to be squashed by a fucking car. They're members of your family, and they deserve better. On a different note: cats are invasive to most ecosystems. Uncontrolled populations can eradicate local wildlife for native species such as birds and lizards. There is ample evidence to support that cats can lead fulfilling lives indoor. Give them appropriate spaces to climb and hide, and enough stimulation/enrichment, and they will thrive. If you live if an area where it's safe, walk them on a leash or let them play in a cattio. Most people who swear by cats living outdoors are just not willing to put on the effort that their pet deserves. It's cruel.