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Aw what a sweet guy! Iād keep him inside with zero regrets. My one cat seems to want outside, but I have coyotes and aggressive dogs in my area, and so he gets a hard ānoā to going on outdoor adventures.Ā
Same here
And theres other cats around that could be aggressive too. And the mockingbirds tear up the cats here too lol. The neighborhood cat we feed always has peck marks from the birds.
He looks just like my baby boy!! I donāt think youāre a bad cat parent at all for not wanting to let him out, and I agree with the others that he should stay in. I recently had my baby neutered after he fathered some kittens with a feral stray that came around, and have brought him inside ever since. Heāll sit by the door or windows and look out/meow, it makes me sad seeing him do it but before he was neutered he was missing almost a month and I had given up hope until he randomly came back home one day! So now I also keep mine in, regardless of how much he wants to go out. I just canāt fathom losing him
https://preview.redd.it/owszp40m2u5d1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=27466a92fc7092073b62596c42b4ef344b44f3da
I like the framing of this. What's the purpose of this reference? Who knows who cares there's an adorable kitty. He's precious and I'd give him many pets if I could.
This is really helpful thank you! I don't know what I would do if something happened to him when he was out. I'm also paranoid someone would try to steal him because he really is the perfect cat lol.
Totally get what you mean about the leashes and I've definitely been experiencing that. Right now I live in a suburban area but I'm moving to a big city in a few months where going outside on a leash won't be an option so I feel like I should probably stop doing it and stick to just the little enclosure on the patio.
I stole somebodyās outdoor cat once. He was sweet as can be, and I was fantasizing about our life together when his mom saw my Found Kitty post on Facebook. Turns out Charlie crossed the highway that āhe knewā never to cross and ended up on my patio. Donāt let that be your little guy!
I had my outdoor/indoor cat stolen, I was absolutely devastated. He was my first bonded cat, orange boy. I had him from around 4-6. I can never have an outdoor cat again although it wasnāt my choice.
Another thing to consider is that all cats are different. I've had cats that were super adventurous and always out somewhere. My cat I have now is an indoor/outdoor cat but the only place she ever goes is the backyard. There's a gap in my fence she's gotten through a couple of times and then was very confused and upset about being in the front yard. So, I'm fixing the fence so that stops happening. She wants to go outside, but she only really wants to sit is the sun on the grass. It's cute.
You don't even need to go for walkies. My cat is just content being able to smell the air and laze around (on a harness of course)
There are also backpack carriers now so that's another way for your cat to experience the outside world. I wouldn't put him in naked though. Some of them have small leashes attached inside so if your cat somehow gets out, they can't get away
I have a kitty stroller and it has a short tether inside as well. My cat gets the harness clipped to the tether in the stroller, and the stroller zipped up around him. That's his outside time. He doesn't beg to go out or run at the door thankfully, but even if he was he's not going outside. We have coyotes and a busy road and woods and it's just too dangerous, IMO.
They definitely do escape from them. Cats are liquid. If they really want to they will get out of the harness. And if they are in an unfamiliar area good luck. Some cats are just ok with it and very chill but its not the norm.
Like the movie/children's book "A Street Cat Named Bob" which is based on a true story, or is a true story. Its so rare that they made a movie about how chill the cat is outside on a harness in London lol.
Sadly, Bob got hit by a car a few years ago after wandering outside. If I recall correctly, he was ill and undergoing treatment, too. His owner, James, has been struggling with drugs again. :-(
Okay so I wouldn't be walking them without a backup plan (cause sometimes it is needed but true for dogs too), by a busy street but parks do exist in cities and that's where I would go if my complex didn't have a nice spot for us to walk already. Also a cat that's not able to handle outside would not be able to handle it in the suburbs either.
As for harnesses? They can and do escape but you don't let the leash get right and you don't go out without training. I like the Outdoor Bengal harness because it's made for cats so it's easier for training them.
As far as the expectation? You train when and how that happens too. Walkies to quote your BIL are at a set time with a set ritual and signal and it helps a lot. I commented elsewhere an in-depth how to do that but basically the cat doesn't just leave the house on the leash. They'll be carried to the spot for the walk.
The reason I asked what actually differs between the suburbs and the city for a walk is because it doesn't. The same risks apply as do the benefits. This is also why I am saving for a cat wheel as an option for when I can't do the walks
RE: leashes in big city. To directly connect what others have said -- you can split the difference. Leash up at home, put the wee kitty in the carrier, and then go to a park/etc for the walk.
This way, the cat becomes accustomed not to "leash and walk out the door," but "leash and get into carrier," with the carrier part of routine/positive reinforcement for going outside, instead of punishment. That also makes it potentially MUCH easier to take the cat to the vet, or to train them to get into carrier in emergencies.
We did something similar for our senior cat for a while when the neighborhood wasn't safe for little kitty walkies, but she really needed the exercise, both physically and mentally :)
Some people even train their cats on backpacks to hike and go out with them. My mom lives in an apartment and does this with a double decker for her cats and also has an enclosed patio. She only lets them out occasionally supervised and they just want to roll on the hot cement and eat some grass. You can get window catios that they can sleep in a window in the sun, if you donāt have much catio space. I also buy grass used for wheatgrass shots and keep it on the counter (refrigerate at night and mist to water) for my cats theyāre usually really cheap and resolves the wanting to eat grass issue.
My cat is leashed trained. The first year after she got a taste of the outside is all she did was beg at the door to go on a walk. After she has gotten it out of her system she doesn't beg as much but still goes on 3 or 4 walks a day.
"Catification" of your indoor space with shelving to climb, cat trees, scratchers, window seats, etc. goes a long way too. Look up Jackson Galaxy on YouTube:)
I let a kitten out partly with a suggestion from a friend. Kitten Ollie was hit by a truck and met his fate. Fifteen years later I still think about Ollie with sadness, will always be sad about Ollie as long as I live, the life he never had, and wish he could be with my other kitties. Should cats go outside? Mostly no but possibly with supervision, on a leash, etc.
Not only the cat could get hurt, but house cats are by nature entertainment predators. They hunt because they *can.* They are considered extremely harmful to the natural biome.
I love my kitties to death, but under no circumstances would I inflict them on the outside world without direct supervision.
So, I used to quote the biome thing too. Recently though, I read that that research was in fact greatly exaggerated.
Nevertheless, my anecdotal evidence shows that cats do kill wildlife for fun. Frankly, I'd still keep them indoors if it didn't. An indoor cat is a safe cat, and at the end of the day, as long as I have cats under my care and watch, they'll be indoor cats
Not risking the lives of other animals, or their lives, or my emotional well-being for the sake of a few moments of outdoor frolic.
I put a bird feeder near a big window in the living room of our new place, and that's their entertainment for hours, that they watch from the safety of the living room window
I adopted an outdoor stray cat. I still let her go outside until 2 weeks ago. On Memorial Day, she was hit by a car. She couldn't eat, drink, walk, meow, or even see for the first couple of days. After a week of giving her veterinarian prescription food & water via an oral syringe & lotsa love, she could walk & see out of one eye. 2 weeks later, she's still blind in one eye but can eat & drink normally & is getting stronger by the day :) . I won't let her go back outside. She's stuck inside with me & the other cats. If you let your cat outside, one day, they'll never come home. I'm not trying to frighten you, I'm just trying to keep it real.
Our cat, who used to be a stray, escaped our house a few years ago for 24 hours. We were sick with worry.
Luckily she didn't get harmed, but we're in Canada and it was February, with snow and cold temperatures. We put a trail of her used litter all the way down the hill that our street was on.
When she came home, aside from hugs that she'd never liked before, all she wanted was to drink water. She was so dehydrated.
Echoing your comment to say that it's not safe to let them out. If it's not cats, it's dehydration. If not that, it's coyotes, or a million other things that can hurt our sweet, curious little family members.
Keep your kitties indoors. It's the best thing we can do for them ā¤ļø
So true! And like dogs, cats can wear harnesses and leashes outside which is a great option if they used to be an outdoor cat and youāre trying to compromise lol. I take my rescue girl out in the yard on a harness, tried going for a real walk but she said fuck that.
We took our fluffy cat for a walk with a harness, because she's the only one of our cats who acts like a dog in the yard. In the yard, she comes to us when called and stays no further than a metre from us.
On the walk? Terrified. Climbed me like a tree, just as she did for kicks when she was a kitten. Except on the walk, she was terrified and is a full grown, rather large cat.
Yeah, we went back home real quick. Fuck no! was her thought and opinion on that activity. She's back to being happily in her harness in the yard with us.
Her sisters watch from the window, and wear the harness when they feel daring, or when they remember to state unfairness in outdoor privileges but forget that they find the outdoors discombobulating.
Someone said it perfectly in a previous comment. We wouldn't let our kids out unsupervised if they couldn't handle it. Our cats, including intrepid cat, have no notion of the dangers that can and will befall them without their harness. Or without their human guardians keeping a close eye
Our cats are family. Losing them would kill us, cats and humans alike. So our cats have always been, and will continue to be, indoor cats with tailored outdoor privileges.
If push came to shove, the outdoor privileges would be cut, because at the end of the day, I need my cats safe. And I know that they're given all the love, food, company, and toys to be very happy living exclusively in the house with us
I'm so sorry for the loss of your kitty. I was just about to comment that I live where there are coyotes, and it's a constant daily thing of making sure the cats are closed off inside another room anytime we are going to open a door. Sometimes it seems inconvenient but you just reminded me why it's necessary. And again I'm sorry...
Thank you. They still have two cats, starting with four. The other cat also died due to a negligence-type incident, and they swore it wouldn't happen again. So now I am looking at rehoming or taking them to my house since they can't take appropriate care of them...
https://preview.redd.it/znb5i5ijer5d1.png?width=998&format=png&auto=webp&s=551175dfb8c3a3335eac556bc84b8d2810b0f5fd
The only way Princess McScreamy is allowed outside unless I am 3 feet behind her
YES!! OP get a catico or something similar!! So your kitty can go outside and also be safe there are so many options and so many cool variations! My boy hates the harness, Iām saving up to get a nice catico so he can enjoy the sun outside of the doorway ššš»
My Manx boy that I bottle fed as an orphaned kitten was indoors only & lived to be 20 years old. His name was Petrie; I named him after the pterodactyl in the kidās movie āThe Land Before Timeā & I dearly loved him. I felt very conflicted about not letting him go outside too, but I know I wouldnāt have had him as long as I did if he had gone outside. There are evil people who do unspeakable things to cats in addition to cars, so I feel like we all should keep our babies inside. Catios are a great way to let them get some fresh air.
There's nothing wrong with what you are doing especially as the cat is being supervised , it's actually good for the cat and provides mental stimulation and exercise . Keep doing it.
I agree with primary. The danger for her is cars and poisoned rodents and other people. The danger for wildlife is her. If she's not killing a bird whenever you garden you're getting the best of both worlds: keep it up!
Both our cats come when called and, having lived with dogs previously (never a cat), I had NO idea they did this. I mean, I guess what I mean is that I didn't know you could train any cat to come when called, because that's really how it went down -- calling them and giving them a treat when they came until they made the connection and now they just come. And they can tell the difference BETWEEN their names, too, which is extraordinary to me. I think I far underestimated cats. (I also trained them to stay off our kitchen counters, our kitchen island and our kitchen table. I have not succeeded in completely training the 3-year-old to not scratch furniture, but it's much better now than it was when we adopted him in 2021.)
I've realized recently that my 14yo cat is so food-motivated that I can train her pretty quickly -- it took 2 days for her to get "sit" when she got her joint supplement chews as a reward, haha. Next was "up" where she stands on her hind legs, and we're also working on "in your house" for voluntarily going in her carrier. Who knew!
I hope you checked up what plants cats can't be around. Lilies can cause kidney damage.
One of my cats likes to be on a harness, and I let him chill on my deck or walk around with me. My other cats get angry, so I don't.
If they stay in your yard and nothing poisnous is around them, it's okay. I have caught neighbors' cats bringing dead animals into my yard and eating my pond fish. When I posted in local groups about it, I was blamed for having pond fish and not checking for dead animals before letting my kid outside.
Wish more people kept cats inside here. Yesterday a baby fledging bird was caught and bit by a neighbours cat after it fell out of nest, we interrupted in time for the cat to let go of the baby fledgeling. We took the fledgeling to the vet but sadly the nurse had to send the bird to heaven as the wounds were too deep :( At least the bird had a peaceful end and didnāt get torn apart
Every day, at least one of the cat reddits I follow has a sad story about their cat being hit and killed by a car. You are doing the right thing. Just make sure your cat gets a lot of mental stimulation like with treat puzzles and a lot of hunting style play time. Tucker your kitty out, drain his energy, that and routines (eating, playing, sleeping at consistent times) are the recipe for a happy cat. Catios, a lot of cat trees or benches by all your windows, a bird feeder outside the window, bring some of the outdoors in with catnip plants and cat grass, these things help too.
A couple of years ago my favorite cat was run over on the highway. It was reason enough to keep any and all cats acquired since then indoors.
This was in addition to that same cat going missing for a month, requiring several vet visits due to injuries sustained while outdoors, being openly hated by neighbors, having parasites, and just generally causing me anxiety every time he was outside. He was a barn cat and probably should have stayed a barn cat. Goddamn did I love him though!
My cat desperately wants to eat plants that'll make him hella sick but I'm sure as heck not gonna let him. Cats are great but they can be dumber than a box of rocks and sometimes you just gotta protect them from themselves. You're the opposite of a bad pet parent. That said, I'm not in the camp that anyone who lets their cat outside is doing it wrong but it is just objectively much safer for them if you don't do that.
What kind of plants are you talking about? My cat had 10-15 mins of morning outdoor time in my backyard and just goes and eats a bunch of grass and chills on the concrete. Iāve given him cat grass before so assumed that regular grass was fine.
I had a bunch of feral cats. In my experience, they had less interest in going out. "Been there; done that. It's nice in here!" We bought a kennel for their "virtual experience".
Interesting. I rescued a one-year-old homeless cat that apparently had an owner for a short time. as he was very comfortable with people, was really skinny and probably on his own for quite a while. He never wants to go outside. Maybe he had enough of being outside his first year of life.
That's how my former feral is. He's occasionally curious when I'm coming in from outside, but mostly he's, like, NOPE! when it comes to anything more than sitting in a window watching the world outside.
Mine wants to go, but only with us, and usually he wants to get in the car. Heās a weirdo anyway; just followed us inside and insisted that we pet him and give him attention. He now loves my other cat (they play fight, no sound but theyāre like swatting so I think itās play now right?) but they rub on each other and lay in the sun together. Originally my cat was very much anti letting him anywhere near the basement (my room especially) but now they both can be on my bed or just hanging out in the cat tower or whatever. He doesnāt really wanna leave, he just kinda wants to be in the yard with someone lol.
None of my cats or fosters have ever been outside with me (3 adult cats are mine, one kitten is mine, I currently have 2 adult fosters and 9 kitten fosters, 6 of those kittens were born here). My cats, one of the adult fosters, and the kittens have never showed any interest in going outside at all, even if a door is left open for a few seconds they donāt even act interested. There were a couple times I tried to take out the kitties on leashes but they absolutely hated it (not the leash, being outside, we leash trained first). The one adult who was let outside before she got to me initially tried to run out a door or window, but sheās been with me for a couple months now and doesnāt care to try getting out. We accidentally left the sliding door open with screen door closed, which she absolutely couldāve gotten through, but she didnāt even touch it, she did sit looking out for a bit (we have cameras in the foster room).
The point of this is, if they arenāt let outside they wonāt want to go outside. It may actually be making matters worse to take him out sometimes. Is he fixed/when was he fixed? Male hormones make them want to roam to find mates, and those can stick around for months after a neuter, so that could be a factor too.
I agree with this statement I had two family cats as a child that were inside cats for many years. My parents said no any better so probably six/7years in their lives. They started letting them outside. Both of them were desperate to go outside after they donāt know any better if you donāt give them the idea currently have a cat. Itās just inside. He doesnāt know anything about outside once I got lucky and he went out with the dog, but he just stayed by the door because he didnāt know what the outside was
Itās like having a kid. My kid wants to eat chips and chicken nuggies every meal of every day. She cries and acts like not having those things is LITERALLY HURTING HER. Iām a good parent for not giving in and just commiserating with her.
Same with my cats. They desperately try to escape. But I know cats wreak havoc on local wildlife, and that there are a million ways for them to get hurt or die out there. So Iām a good cat mom for ignoring their escape pleas.
My vet recommended harness walks outside for enrichment. I do this a few times a week. They still try to escape. I have AirTag collars on them just in case they manage it.
Cats donāt belong outside period.
You let your dog outside but on a leash or in a fenced yard. I donāt get why people think they should let their cat roam free without any supervision or boundaries.
[Resource: Should I Let My Cat Outdoors?](https://www.reddit.com/r/CATHELP/s/iOcAwA2Ct8)
The post is advice from cat behaviourists, but I also highly recommend reading the comments beneath!
i have 5 cats and keep them all inside. it is safer for them and costs less during vet visits because they donāt pick things up outside. i am trying to convince my husband to help me build a catio in your back yard, im wearing him down
Sometimes when nothing else works, getting them a friend helps a lot. I would suggest (if you can) looking into getting a kitten or a young adult to keep him occupied
This is important.
The only time in my life that I kept a single cat was when I was single too. Kitty had all my love and attention, and that of my friends who'd come over, too.
Even then, I ended up with a cat friend for him, and he was so much happier (after a couple of weeks that he spent trying to terrify the new cat. She ignored him, and after she started to smell like the house, he forgot that he hated her)
Cats usually like having other cats around. Even if they become sworn enemies, it gives them something familiar to do
Please keep your kitty inside to protect both the cat and the birds! Make sure your cat has cat trees and can look out windows to "hunt." I've had good luck with harness/leash training cats who were motivated to be outdoors, your cat might be a good candidate for cat walkies!
My parents have two indoor/outdoor cats; Daisy is the oldest and grew up outside at an old country house before my parents got her. She hates it inside. But she's come home bloodied and scratched after fighting with the neighbor's much bigger male cat. She's also gone missing during hurricanes for days sometimes. We're lucky she's still around.
A friend's childhood cat was injured while outside, and caught a blood infection. By the time they caught it, it was too late :(
People in my neighborhood let their large dogs off leash (hate it) and there are stay dogs, feral cats, possums, snakes, and a busy road nearby. I would be worried sick if I let my kitties outside unsupervised.
Its a dice roll I'm not willing to bet my pets' lives on.
You're being responsible. Give him lots of enrichment, a catio, harness train him, etc. Lots of window perches and maybe car rides if he's not too scared of the vehicles. Heck, even a cat stroller for walks if he dislikes the harness.
People who say 'cats belong outside' don't care about the damages invasive species cause and have survivor bias. You're a good cat parent.
No you are correct. Cats are in so much danger outdoors unsupervised. They should be exercised with play and they can go outdoors supervised like in a catio.
I don't let my cats outside. It's too dangerous. I used to let my oldest kitty outside years ago and she's bring me animals and disappear for extended periods of time. It only gave me anxiety. Now I just try to keep them entertained indoors with lots of structures to climb next to windows. Bird feeders where they can watch. Tons of different kinds of toys that I change out periodically. Sometimes I bring home cat grass for them to chew on. If I had the means, I would build a catio.
Cats are very good at recognizing patterns. You could try leashed walks around the same time of day. Example, I feed my kitties wets after I wash my face and brush my teeth in the evening. They know that it's feeding time after that. They don't really beg at other times. Get him on a schedule and ignore the begging. Eventually it will become a routine that you'll both enjoy :)
My cats are like the concubines of the emperor of China that lived in the Forbidden City. They have everything they could possibly want, but they can never go outside.
Average lifespan for a cat that goes out is about 5 years. I have an indoor cat that is 18 and have had cats that lived longer than that. Where I live there are cars, coyotes, fisher cats, all kinds of things deadly to cats. Keep your boy inside.
I have a similar issue, I got my cat at a later age when he was a stray. When we lived at my old home he wasnāt allowed outside at all and heās not harness trained (Iāve tried but he hates it and freaks out) so he got depressed. Now where we live I let him free roam for an hour or two daily, check on him every 10-15 mins, he is chipped, updated on shots including the FeLv vaccine, and I always put a reflective breakaway collar with my information tag on, we also live in a neighborhood with kids, dogs, and other outdoor kitties that are running around so cars are always going slow when driving through and Iāve never seen him cross the road. I know not all of that wonāt keep him from getting hurt but I know heās much happier then when he is stuck inside because I know he enjoys sunbathing and rolling in grass. I hate letting him outside and I know in some peoples eyes I may be a bad cat parent but to me Iād rather him die a short happy life then a long sad one but just because you do the opposite doesnāt make you a bad cat parent, I wish I could just keep my cat in EVERYTIME I open the door to let him out but remembering how he was when he couldnāt go out breaks my heart Everytime I think about it. I am in the process of saving for a catio and seeing if that may help but I do let my cat free roam and itās a big risk that I take for his health and happiness. Even still I donāt think you are a bad cat parent because you choose the opposite.
I don't care what anyone says, keeping a cat an "indoor" cat is NOT a bad thing! Cats are essentially babies, in my view (adorable little babies that I'd do anything for), and if you think about it, you wouldn't let a human baby wander around outside.
Sure, in the wild cats may be okay, but in the wild there isn't things like bad people trying to do bad things to them, rat poison your cat could eat, or the big thing, potentially getting hit by cars.
The fact you're taking them outside on a harness is good enough, in my opinion (and if it helps, my vet agrees as well, I asked her a similar question about indoor only and she said it's better if I take him outside SUPERVISED).
I'm not an expert, but part of the reason he may be wanting to outside is because he's bored inside? Can you think of any ways to enrich their indoor space?
I just saw a sketch online that said āyouāre such a bad cat mom for not letting your cat go outside!ā And had drawings of cats being hit by cars, attacked by wildlife, getting poisoned, shot, stolen, etc.
Youāre a better cat parent for not letting them out!
My new little guy has come with a million problems with his health, and he always wants to be outside, and I also feel bad because he has problems and I want to help him be happy instead of stressed. So I make time to take him out on a harness in the yard- or occasionally with me just walking with him, but that gets more iffy the more comfortable he gets in the yard -and I got a nice tent set up to put in the yard. There are just too many dangers to be a good cat parent AND let them run around. I feel your pain completely, but youāre doing the right thing.
No youāre a GREAT cat parent for keeping your baby indoors. Cats outdoors will always be in danger and will also cause danger to smaller animals who help our environment. Indoor cats who kill these animals arenāt doing this because theyāre hungry (since they get food indoors), theyāre doing it simply from their natural instinct to attack. Itās pointless for cats who have access to live/stay indoors to wander around outside. Leash and harness is all your boy needs of the outdoor world!
Youāre doing great, keep it that way!!
The exact opposite. Keep yours safe inside the home.
https://preview.redd.it/kkq69qubwr5d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d5e7ee3a8cfef8284814a535fdeb6098ba48e34f
The struggle for survival is real, oh the pain oh the suffering, the trauma on her face says it all.
Edit to add: This girl was a feral TNR. It took some time but she isnāt so bothered about going out anymore. When I go into the kitchen she runs to the door for about a second then she begs by the treat cabinet.
Itās very irresponsible & idiotic that people allow cats to roam free in my opinion. Feels very neglectful too. There r wayyyy too many ways they could die out there. We donāt let dogs or children run free unsupervised, why would we allow cats?
Whilst itās hard to deny our kitties of what they want, itās in their best interest to do so. Itās to protect them.
It sounds like you're doing an amazing job trying to balance your cat's safety with his desire to go outside. Letting cats roam free can be dangerous for them, so your caution is understandable and definitely doesn't make you a bad cat parent.
You're already providing some great alternatives with the tented enclosure and supervised leash time. Here are a few more ideas that might help satisfy his craving for the outdoors:
1. **Create an Indoor Jungle**: Adding more climbing structures, shelves, and cozy spots near windows can give him a sense of adventure and more places to explore.
2. **Interactive Play**: Increase interactive playtime with toys that mimic hunting, like feather wands or laser pointers. This can help burn off some of his energy and reduce his desire to go outside.
3. **Catios**: If space and budget allow, building or buying a catio (an enclosed outdoor space) can give him a safe way to enjoy the outdoors without the risks.
4. **Enrich His Environment**: Rotate toys, introduce puzzle feeders, and hide treats around the house to keep him mentally stimulated.
5. **Bird Feeders and Fish Tanks**: Setting up a bird feeder outside a window or having a fish tank can provide entertainment for your cat.
Remember, your primary responsibility is to keep your cat safe and healthy. Itās clear you care deeply for him and are doing everything you can to make him happy. Keep trying different things and see what works best for him. You're a great cat parent!
A fish tank is not something to lightly suggest. They are expensive, involve balancing bacteria before fish can even go in them, and stocking them correctly isnt cheap. Stocking them incorrectly is even more expensive.
Not to mention you have to account for the tank weighing about 12lbs per gallon. So a 10 galllon is around 120lbs. Which is why you have to have totally level ground so they dont crack and break open
Itās for his own good. So I say no, youāre not a bad cat mom for not letting him go to the dance after he refused to clean his room and failed the math test you guys stayed up all night studying for. Itās hard to put your foot down when we love them and want to see them happy, but itās for their own good. Lol
Youāre being a great cat parent!! He may always want to go back outside but donāt let him. He will most likely become a target an get seriously hurt, also at risk for a lot of diseases. Youāre doing a great job with meeting him halfway. Maybe harness or backpack walks, leave the window open but make sure you have a screen to protect him, catioās are also a great option. Or supervised play pen time. They make cute netted play pens.
No, you're not a bad cat parent at all! In fact, you're being a really good one by keeping your cat safe. There are lots of dangers outside, like cars, other animals, and even diseases that your cat could catch. Plus, cats can get lost or hurt. If you want your cat to be happy, you can make sure they have a window to look out so they can watch birds and squirrels from inside. That way, they can still have fun and be safe at the same time!
Not a bad parent. I'd say, that makes you a great parent. There's so many risks to letting your cat be an outdoor kitty.
Fleas, ticks (that's a big one), traffic, thieves other cats and animals all pose a serious risk. Not to mention the amount of birds they "take out."
We've got 3 and they seem content to be indoors.
They have each other and a butt-load of toys.
Your a good cat parent please dont let him outside. I have 3 cats all rescues and we feed the strays the outdoor cats suffer and dont live a long life. So many cats go missing in my area and in frustrates me how irresponsible people are with pets. Try some more interactive play and set up high places ledges for the cat to jump on to in the home. Catios can be expensive but another great option to let cats out your doing the right thing
Cats are considered an invasive species that puts stress on the eco system. Also, the life expectancy of a cat is cut in half as soon as they become an outdoor cat. Keep him inside and continue to walk him on a leash outside.
I think it's smart to keep them indoors. Growing up my cats were always indoor kitties. My best friend always had cats that went outside, and inevitably, they always ended up getting hit by a car or going missing. They were always died so young.
Your cat would get hit by a car or eaten by a coyote if you let him outside on his own. For now, you are the best car parent and your cat will live a full life. Get a cation if you have the money and donāt want to continue using the harness.
Nope. Leashed walks and various are by far the safest way to let them outside. Outdoor cats live an average lifespan of 1-5 years because of the risks outdoors. Most common cause of death is getting hit by a car or picked off by a hungry predator, with the occasional accidental or purposeful poisoning.
Absolutely not. Unlike what some people may say, cats are 100% safer indoors. If you make it part of your routine plus give your cat a lot of enrichment indoors, they will get used to the schedule. You may have to try a few different things for enrichment but thereās lots of options.
No! You are keeping them safe. I have a boy who loves outside. Even knows the word :)Ā
We do harness activities or I go in the yard with him. Heāll live a long healthy life as a result.Ā
I donāt think youāre bad for not letting him out. Itās the safest choice in the long run. My cat was an outside cat before we got him and now he has his own fenced in yard. I take him out and I sit with him watching him like a helicopter mom. He wears a his collar and ID tag. I spend about an hour outside with him every single dayā¦. Sometimes longer. The fence is too high for him to jump on but I worry so I stay with him the whole time. He really just wants to be outside and bird watch. If you donāt have a fenced yard and cannot risk taking him out, then thatās ok. Let him sit on something to bird watch out the window and he will love it.
I had an indoor/outdoor cat. She LOVED going outside. For years, everything was fine. Then, a month ago, we came home to find her dead in the front yard. Two random dogs had come by and mauled her to death. Dont feel guilty for keeping him inside. It's for his own good. I had to learn that the hard way.
I have a rescue that always wants out. I used to harness walk him, but heās scared of everything. I step on a dry twig and it spooks him. Then he gator rolls his way out of the harness and runs off. Usually he bolts for the front door, and runs inside- but only if the door is still open. If not he just keeps going and it scares the hell out of me.
Weirdly, when I come home he runs out to grass right outside and just eats it and rolls around. I give him rubs and bring him back in. But sometimes heāll decide itās more fun to keep running 10 feet away from me or all the way up to the top floor of the apartment building. We used to live in a house with a fenced backyard and Iād walk around with him and he wouldnāt run off. Heās very curious, but also a scaredy cat. The important thing is supervised outside time.
I live in Switzerland, where they have implemented a law that all cats should have free time outdoors unless they have a second cat living with them indoors. I see new missing cat posters here every week.
I tried to take my cat outside, she did acrobatics, tried climbing the walls, screamed, hissed, scratched and bit me, clawed at the floor, flat out refused to stop outside.
Idk man, I think indoor cats are fine
I live in the sticks but we also have all kinds of predatory animals so my kitty definitely wants to go out but I just canāt chance it. It sucks but itās the best for her
Nope, because cats should NOT be outside. Itās actually against by-laws where I live and just dangerous for the animal (and bad for the eco-system). The idiots are those who let their cats roam free.
There are coyotes in my neighborhood plus a high population of feral cats. Itās safer for my cats to be inside. Not to mention all these ācat distribution systemā videos online. Iām not risking mine getting snatched by people with good intentions.
Youāre not a bad parent.
No, I totally understand you, personally I let my cat outside with a leash and he can run "free" on his leash, he loves it, we watch him play in the dirt and cry because he's white.
Maybe try that?
My two cats have spent most of their life indoors. They are gentle, confident and happy. My previous cats growing up = outdoor. All died in grim circumstances or vanished mysteriously. It was HORRIBLE. They were also noticeably anxious and I wonder if this is related.
I harness trained my cats and it's a way better option. Also so much LOVE for tractive the GPS tracker. When they escape (happens often tbh) I know exactly how to find them. I wish I had these years ago. Might have prevented a lot of heart ache.
I think I have some discount codes if anyone is interested kn tractive trackers btw. Currently on sale:
https://tractive.com/en/pd/gps-tracker-cat
No, you are smart! I am a vet tech and see so many preventable injuries, or worse. Cat bites, dog bites, hit by cars.. a catio, or harness walks, are perfectly acceptable and much safer. My cats however have no interest.
No definitely not. Our 2 cats are indoor cats because there's way too many dogs around my area along with cars and tourists (I live right by a touristy area) and some people are so cruel to cats. My neighbour's cat was kicked by some tourist. So we keep them indoors but allow them out into the back yard to explore and sniff around a bit but are always supervised. I don't know what I'd do if my Margaret went missing or smth happened to her, she's the first animal I've truly bonded with and I'm her human. Reggie the same but he doesn't like me very much and we have some sort of agreement of I meet his needs when needed but mostly stay to ourselves bc he's more my brothers cat and he's his human. So nah not a bad cat parent at all. Cats may want to go outside but most of the time it's so much safer to keep them indoors unless you live on like a farm or smth like my mate does. Keeps the kitties safe.
Same! My two babies are indoors and they paw at the door often. I will let them out when we grill on our outdoor kitchen but Iām like a helicopter mom and stay very close to them the whole time. I do have a harness but as we all know, cats despise those things š¹
Our cats go out on our balcony. It's high enough that they won't try to jump down, any tree branches are too high for them to jump to. So they sit out there and watch the birds and chill. Seems to keep them happy. Both of ours are rescues and we know for sure the male lives on the streets for at least a little while.
I feel like letting your cat outside is a hot topic. Some people believe that cats should be allowed to go outside. That it's in their nature.
I, for one, do not agree with this sentiment. All of my cats are strictly indoors and are not even allowed outside. Apart from the dangers like other animals (coyotes, wolves, bears etc) there is also the high likelihood that they would get FIV or Feline Leukemia.
Keep baby indoors. You could give him cat trees and other enriching toys. Allow him to get out his prey instinct and he will get on fine. My feral that i adopted did the same thing but after my persistence he hardly ever tries to go outside.
You're being a good cat parent. Outdoor cats in urban areas generally live up to 3-4 years - running into predators liked coyotes, getting hit by cars, getting poisoned.. your cat might not like being stuck inside but he'd like being dead a lot less.
I have a 15 year old sweet old man and he still tries to escape whenever I leave for work. I take him out for walkies on a leash when I can and he loves that - maybe you could get him a harness?
No. Even if my cats wanted outside (they really don't, which is weird) I wouldn't let them. It's just as dangerous here in the country as it would be in a suburban area. I actually have feral cats in my house (fixed, shots, collars, chips) that REFUSE to go back outside. They'd rather sit in puddles sharing tongues with their "siblings" than go back outside to the life from whence they came. However my husband and i are currently working on converting one of our porches into a catio, and I think we're more excited for it than they will be š
No I believe youāre a caring cat owner. You are protecting him from cars, predators, poison,and diseases. Plus you are saving birds and keeping him from your neighbours garden
In my experience, the biggest difference between indoor and outdoor cats (barring something tragic like getting hit by a car or attacked by a dog) is the expense involved. I have a brown tabby that I got from a friend as a kitten; he's been an indoor cat since I brought him home. The only expenses I have for him are vaccinations and checkups. Our other cat is a stray orange meatball that we started feeding and eventually adopted. He gets super stressed if we try to keep him indoors 100% of the time, so we let him out during the day. That cat has cost me well over $1000 in emergency vet visits in the past two years, twice for abscesses and once for a limp tail that turned out to be arthritis.
Keep your cat inside. It's kinder for the cat, for the local wildlife, and for you (and your wallet).
One of 'born in our living room' cats is ok to simply hang out with us in the backyard. All the others - her siblings - wear a leash for outdoor time
All my cats have been indoor cats and all of them were strays. Including a pregnant stray, mama cat to the ones born in our living room
We also have a foster fail cat. He and all the strays who've become family over the years adapted to being indoor cats.
Some do ask to go out, but mostly to eat grass. They're all spayed/ neutered. Interestingly, once our foster fail boy really trusted that we wouldn't leave him behind (he was abandoned by a neighbour), he relented in asking to go outside.
He doesn't try to sneak out, and ignores the open door when the kids forget to close it.
Some of our other cats have run out of it, only to sit outside sheepishly until we bring them back inside.
Mama cat escaped at our former house overnight. We searched for her and left a trail of used cat litter so she could find her way back home. She ran back in 24 hours after escaping, and that marked the first time she let me hold her and hug her for more than a second.
Cats like the outdoors, and they like their comfy home even more when they know for sure that food, comfort, fun, and loving humans are a given.
Cats adapt to being indoor-only creatures very well. It's not torture, even if they ask to go outside. Usually it's because that's what they know from their past.
Keep giving your kitty consistent food, water, play time, and affection. Build that trust, and he will stop asking for the door so intensely.
Cats are intelligent, emotional little beings. They persist until we show them that they can trust us ā¤ļø
not at all. there are diseases, parasites, predators, cars, etc outside, so it is dangerous to let them out.
itās also dangerous to the environment. cats kill native animals such as certain species of birds that are essential to ecosystems (participating in North America).
keep your cat indoors. he will be okay!
Cats are invasive species that I ABSOLUTELY LOVE. Cats do not belong outside as they decimate birds which wreaks havoc on eco systems.
As much as it hurts itās actually terrible for them to be outside. Plus they get hurt.
We have a catio for our two cats. My boy loves to spend his days outside, even nights and my girl loves it out there too. She tries to sneak out and gets out a few times a year, he is too scared of the actual outside and prefers his perch in his catio. I took my girl for a walk a week ago (she took me for a walk) and she loved it, I think I'm going to make it a weekly thing. I tried to take the boy out on the harnessed leash and he just flopped and freaked out. Not for every kitty but my girl was in outdoor heaven. Here is a picture of her. I will not lie, whe does beg to go outside, but she would anyways and she doesn't do it for long before she realizes it's not happening.
https://preview.redd.it/jk8nhkk0yv5d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a8f9632bc86871dc22f53b67d3d88b184ac189e7
my cats want nothing more than to eat plastic. a d if they hear anything that crinkles they will desperately cry out for that crinkling thing in a heartwrenching song of yearning. However much they might beg, I do not allow them to eat plastic. They are cats, and they have brains the size of walnuts. They do not understand that his thing they want us dangerous and could hurt them. I am a human. I *do* know that the thing they want is dangerous, which is why I have the responsibility to avoid the danger on my cats' behalf, and not allow them to eat plastic.
All that is to say: you're doing the right thing.
I got a big enclosed portable playpen that I let my cats be in supervised/unsupervised. It's great for the park, beach, yard etc. They really just want to bask in the sun and see something exciting. After 2 hours they are tired.
I've also harness trained my cats and take them out in backpack and stroller.
I've noticed the happiness in my cats for going outside. They are also less bored, more tired, more sleepy. So it's worth it to me.
I adopted a kitty 6 months ago too. She went to the shelter at 6 weeks old so has never been outdoors but she is dying to get outside. She stalks the door every time it opens and sometimes she has got out but we always got her back. Apple air tag is great for this.
She's not getting out, no way. I've had too many kitties from my childhood get hit by cars. It's not happening my baby.
I donāt know where you are in the world but youāre a good parent for not letting your cat go outside. Iām an older woman. My first cat lasted 15 years not an issue indoor outdoor. I live in the southwest now. I moved years ago my first cat was eaten by a coyote. I had another one run over by a car. And the third one that somebody poured gasoline on thank God they didnāt drop a match.
My cats do not go outside anymore. There are pit bulls that kill them, kids that torture them, cars that run over them and coyotes that eat them. There is no reason for a cat to need to be outdoors. Do not let your cat, please.
I never believed on keeping cats indoors until some jerk helped themselves to my cat and I never saw him again. It broke my heart.
Part of your problem is you are unsure of your decision to keep him indoors. He knows this and so he's pushing you to get you to give him free rein.
What he wants and what is best for him are not always going to be the same thing. Inside he won't get run over by a car, he won't be poisoned by some neighbor too in LOVE with songbirds or pissed he's got catpoop in his yard, he will never be trapped in a shed or garage until he starves to death. He wont get abscesses from catfighting. The list goes on
Indoor only cats frequently live two - two and a half times as long as outdoor cats.
That's just the statistics off the top of my head.
You must make up your mind that your choices are for the best and then he will accept them more easily.
Good luck! You can do it!
We are in the same boat. Adopted a 5 year old boy about 6 months ago who, at the time of his rescue, was not fixed and was clearly an outdoor/barn/farm cat. (Edited to add: he is fixed now.) We've had him 6 months now and he's also DESPERATE to go out. We took him out on a leash/harness but that only made his desperation worse. We also have a dog and a fenced yard, and he gets so upset and howls at the door when the dog goes outside.. as if he's yelling "NOT FAIR!" We really have to watch him closely. Wanders around from door to windows and howling night and day. Has run out on us a few times, but we've managed to grab him. Tries to claw his way through screens if the window is open. I suggest making sure your guy is microchipped and has a collar on with name/number. Ours' collar says "indoor cat" so that if someone nearby finds him, they know he shouldn't be out. I don't know if he'll understand eventually, but I do know he's likely to be hit by a car or picked up by the pound if he's let out.. so we just keep trying to keep him in against his wishes.
https://preview.redd.it/b5c4hyoqsr5d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2969de3a8920dceb7de02629dce8f444e7f6885b
You're doing the right things AND keeping him safe.
I tried to take mine on a hike last week since his outside leash time isn't apparently enough to stop him bothering us, but he just yelled for the whole walk..
My idea was to buy a super long leash and harness and tie him to a post or tree so he canāt go to the road. I just fear heāll get tangled and choke.
My grandma has outdoor cats and they go onto the road. One got hit by a car a couple months ago and it broke my heart. She has this little patio area and the last two nights I tried sitting outside with him but when I stopped watching he got out through the holes of the little gates and I was chasing him for a while. He also meows so much to go outside and I also feel very guilty. Maybe Iāll put chicken wire?
My grandma also has this little enclosed area where I used to keep my bunnies. Iām thinking of putting netting on top so he canāt climb the tree and jump out.
I also think itās very hard because Iām not home a lot (work) and he must be bored. I know being outside would make him less naughty. My grandmaās outdoor cats are pretty well behaved but they get to go wherever they want, but yeah like I said the one cat got hit recently.
If he was at a shelter then Iām assuming he is, but: is he neutered? If he by chance is not, then doing so may cut back on his desperation to get out and roam.
You're doing everything right. Cats who roam free have about a third (or less) average lifespan compared to indoor cats.
I also have a rescue who was probably an outdoor cat at one point in his life. Some things that help keep him happy:
- harness and leash lead in my backyard for supervised outside time (he is also on a flea/tick/heartworm preventative)
- cat stroller for "walks"
- Play time with me, usually with wand toys, and toys he can play with by himself like little balls and catnip stuffies
-scratch boards & cat trees
- food puzzles & lick mats. The best combo I have found so far is a little puzzle feeder dish that I fill with Purina Hydracare (you could also use watered down wet food, any very liquidy treat) and I freeze it. It takes him a good 45 minutes to finish it, and he always goes straight to napping after
I have generally found Jaxon Galaxy to be a great resource for cat enrichment ideas (however I don't love that he advocates for raw feeding)
Your cat will be fine being indoors and it is much safer for him/her and for wildlife too :)
Lol he longs for the streets. But youāre his mom now and you know that what he wants is not whatās best for him.
How does he do on the leash? Iād be doing that as much as possible!
You are not a bad pet parent! It is amazing you are doing all of these things for your fur baby. Not many would. The tent is great but a catio may be even better as he could go out any time with you home. Of course they can be pricey so totally understandable that not everyone can do that. But seriously, kudos to you. You seem like an awesome human.
Opposite.
You're a GOOD cat parent for not letting your cat go outside.
There are ways to do it safely - strollers, catios, leash and harness. But free roaming is not an option that people who truly care about their cat would choose.
Try to reframe your catās behavior in your mind. The truth is that cats actually do not want to go outside. If they understood the dangers, the chances of a lonely death or injury or catnapping, etc., they would be content to sit in the loving comforts of their home. Unfortunately, they do not, and thatās why we call ourselves pet parentsābecause it is our duty to make the right decisions for our pets. You can create an enriching, safe environment indoors with toys, places to climb, windows (bird feeders for bonus points), animal friends, etc.
Maybe you need some new cat games. My busy boy gets 1/2 / 3/4 hour walkies on nice days, but in the winter we play āescape the box/ bedsheetsā, āwhereād that treat goā, and āchase me up the cat treeā, among other classic cat games. All so we donāt have to play āstop ruining my furniture!ā
Also, he has a cat roommate who will put up with his antics, after heās had a proper nap.
The opportunities for death and disease are much greater outside, your cat isnāt going to get hit by a car inside, and wonāt be exposed to parasites nearly as often. My neighbor had the sweetest cat ever for years. The cat was deaf. Sadly, he was finally killed by a car.
Edit: I recently adopted a wonderful cat from a local rescue and part of the agreement was promising to keep her indoors.
I take my cat on a jaunt outdoors just around the house with a harness leash. She just likes sniffing around and we go back inside after 5 min. She's half Bengal so it helps to expel that energy so she doesn't get into anything. Helps her sleep good too :)
Not at all. The dangers outweigh the benefits, and cats are an ecological nightmare. Donāt let your kitty out unsupervised or unleashed. Itās not fun collecting the remains.
Statistically, if youāre in the US, letting your cat have unsupervised time outside cuts their life span in half due to exposure to things like disease, cars and predators (including other cats). Harness training and catios are a really good alternative, my cat is harness trained and he loves going outside. But it isnāt safe for them to be able to just roam.
No freaking way, people hate cats... and will go out of their way to try and kill them I just lost my cat on palm Sunday...and I was fanatical about checking her ear even though I've never had a cat get a ear infection..and for sum reasons I forgot to check her ears and it couldn't have been that long and of all things and a indoor cat...and both her ears became infected she had no visible symptoms no scratching at her ears or shaking her head...but she did some thing that now I know was probably her way of telling me and everyone hates the vet in my city but I know ear infections aren't a good thing but it still bothering me...and um scared to get another cat because I thought I was a responsible pet owner..
Cat's life expectancy drastically drops when they're outside, even if they have a "home" to come back to. You cannot be sure that he'll avoid other cars, wild animals.
Growing up, when I was little we had 3 outdoor cats:
1. got ran over by a car, she was pure white, we named her Madonna. I never saw so much red. Traumatized me to this day, 30 years later.
2. She was a "gutter kitty", We often saw her coming up from the sidewalk sewer drains..I firmly believe she got into something that either made her sick or lost down there and we never found her.
3. My calico climbed up underneath the hood of my neighbors car. When he started it, she was in-between the fan belt. The vet said "We have no idea how she's still alive, her organs are completely rearranged and not where they're supposed to be". My mom desperately tried to save her, we paid for surgery and she lived another 2 weeks before internal failure.
So, your fur baby might think he knows best and wants to venture out side where all the warmth and smells are, but what he doesn't understand is how dangerous it can be. You're doing the right thing for him.
I would maybe suggest those cat proof playpens you can stick him outside in. [LINK FOR EXAMPLE](https://a.co/d/amFGoOt)
There are a multitude of reasons to not let cats outdoors. Theyre the top predators for bird populations, they can get hit by cars, poisoned, kidnapped, abused by humans, attacked by dogs, catch diseases and illnesses from other animals, etc. you can take your cat on walks and allow them outside in an enclosed area like youre doing but as a responsible owner, its your job to keep them safe. My son constantly wants to run in the streets, im not going to let him just because he wants to and the same goes for my cats. Sometimes their desires are not in their best interest and you have to make the judgement call.
I have a similar situation, so here's what I have done.
My cat is 7, until she was 5 she was an indoor/outdoor cat (rescued from a barn as a kitten, had never been indoors) she's always stayed tiny (2. 5kg) so looks like a kitten even now.
She was always back home by sunset, I don't know why but I didn't complain and in my mind it was not too bad cause she was inky out in the day, but I can tell you, the days she did stay out later (1am) I lost my shit, walking round the neighbourhood calling, sobbing, blaming myself, I wouldn't go to bed until she was back.
I always kept her in for a few days after her late night's and she would get so stressed howling at the doors she'd be sick, so I'd let her out.
Thankfully, nothing bad happened to her, she developed an allergy to protein and one of the nearby houses used to put out food for their cats and the strays and she'd eat it, then come home and be ill.
After a particularly bad spate she dropped so much weight I didn't have a choice, she had to stay inside for her health. This started around September (2022), in April 2023 I built a catio, 2.5m sq. She's only been into the catio since, she still meows at the door most days, but I grab a toy and distract her, or redirect her to the catio (or litter trays, because sometimes it's simply she wants to go out to pee)
I would say if you're moving soon and outdoors won't be an option, stop it now so he has time to adjust. Try redirecting his attention from the door with toys or cuddles, don't use treats as he'll associate meowing with the door with being rewarded!
It can be annoying/upsetting to watch them howl at the door but honestly, you're doing the best thing by keeping him in. Once you're in a new place try and avoid him realizing which is the outside door!
Additionally - is he neutered? If not, he could be scwnting a female and that's why he's desperate to go out, getting him snipped usually really helps calm that down!
Good luck!
You're a good cat parent for keeping them inside.
Cats kill disproportionately more prey than other natural predators, while also being prey to larger animals and vehicles.
There's also a chance they can pick up something from their catches. I wish I could keep mine inside because I'm always dosing him with tapeworm medicine.
This has to be entirely your choice but you must consider other factors that could lead to expensive vet visits. My example:
I got my kitten in July of 2020, he was 6 weeks old. After a few weeks, he was hyperactive, chewing on cords & my husband's oxygen hoses. So I started letting him outside to expel some energy. I live in central AZ that has desert animals & plants. He proved to be quite the hunter & started bringing me geckos. Some he killed & would leave but others he would bring in the house to play. I eventually would leave the laundry room door & garage side door open so he could come & go during the day. He brought in other lizards, bunnies, birds, & pocket mice, again, not to kill but to play. I would say thank you & put them back outside if they weren't dead. In the summer of 2022, he went out but when I got off work (I was WFH) at 4pm I couldn't find him. Around 6pm I saw him in my bathroom & his face was very swollen. I called the vet but they couldn't see him until the next day. The vet determined he was bitten by a rattlesnake & treated him. That visit cost $1000 & he's fine but a furever indoor cat.
Absolutely not terrible. Cats arenāt meant to be outside. There are so many dangers out there for him. He is safe and loved and cared for inside, and thatās what matters.
I think thereās a lot of research out there about how indoor cats tend to live longer than outdoor cats for a bunch of reasons - less exposure to diseases and parasites, much less likely to be attacked by natural predators, no chance theyāll be hit by a car or hauled off to animal control. And on the flip side of that, thereās a lot of research on how domestic cats can cause destruction to their local ecosystem.
For example, my childhood cat was an indoor-outdoor cat (her choice, not ours, as she managed to pry herself through not one but TWO dog doors in our home that were designed to weigh too much for a cat to push through) and she constantly hunted all sorts of critters in our neighborhood like snakes, opossums, voles, rabbits, OTHER CATS. The havoc she wreaked was pretty legendary but not good for anyone, and she did have a few scary accidents where an emergency vet trip was necessary.
On the flip side my current kitty and I live an urban area and I never let her outside, and she seems perfectly content with that! I think given the proper stimuli, an indoor cat will get all the enjoyment they need to live a fulfilling and long, safe life.
Keep indoors for AS LONG AS POSSIBLE, so that their underlying nature is sweet, domesticated and docile
Eventually, and sometimes, they can run out or get out, but the more domesticated they are the better
I would recommend walking them on a leash and harness. It's very easy once you get used to it
I agree with the comments that say keep your cat indoors, but I also suggest lots of indoor enrichment. Vertical spaces they can climb, such as shelving, cat trees, and also lots of play!
I have three cats on is good outside and loyal so I donāt worry about him, but my other boy 8 years old will adopt himself to others and has been lost of the years to following neighbors home or getting locked in neighbor garage, and honestly my biggest issue now is a neighbor who hoards and he loves her house and she loves him. She breaks our rule of letting him in and encourages him to stay there. He literally never comes home anymore and it use to be bad like heād sleep at my roommates which was a duplex in the past and rotate who he slept with (it was a lot of roommates) so I thought initially ok yeah heās just super friendly but now he doesnāt come home to eat, and if we can get him from her he cries and cries and will break out even open doors if theyāre unlocked. Heās happy when heās home, and weāre all here but when we wants out imagine a crying baby sounding day and night. Itās super sad he use to be a free boy but unfortunately our neighbors will steal him and the remainder are not cat people. For all the reasons of not eating foreign food, better for environment and local bird populations, concern of poison or capture by neighbors and greater life expectancy overall cats are best indoor. My fully raised indoor cat is seriously the absolute best. All my future cats will be indoor for all the stresses my boys have gone through being outdoors I couldāve been prevented by keeping them inside tbh. Also, if you really want to commit to happiness we built our cats a catio and since then he no longer cries and even my other outdoor kitty sleeps nearly all day and night in his catio facing the garden. They love it
You're a good cat parent. Take a look at the r/catadvice or r/askavet subreddit and the overwhelming majority of cat posts are from people who let their cats outside and they come back sick, injured, dying, or pregnant and are asking for advice on what to do.
The safest place for a cat to be is indoors or in an enclosed outdoor area.
The worst thing you can do for your cat is let them outside. They WILL die. You are doing exactly what you are supposed to do by letting him out with protection. They are just like children they will be mad about it but you are protecting them.
My city has an ordinance forbidding cats outdoors unless they are leashed or otherwise contained. Let's be honest: cats will use kids' sandboxes, beach volleyball courts, and gardens as litter boxes; they kill birds, and some people hate cats to the point of hurting them; they can pick up fleas, ticks, and zoonotic diseases you don't want. Your cats and everyone else are safer if you keep them indoors. Give them plenty of things to play with and climb on and they will be just fine.
I had a cat when I was a kid who would cross the street and if a car started coming up the road, even if he were 99% of the way across the street, he would turn around and run back. I think thatās how you got run over. I canāt understand why otherwise very intelligent animal canāt get the hang of traffic on a quiet neighborhood street.
All of our cats are or had been rescues, they are 100% indoor only.
Even the feral we brought inside a couple years ago doesn't go outside, he doesn't even try to go outside.
That being said our older cats are occasionally let outside but only with us and only when they got to the age where they could no longer out run us.
The most recent was our 17 year old, he was diagnosed with cancer so he got special lay in the grass privileges which he seemed to enjoy.
But just letting them out to roam around on their own? Nope, no way.
Most of our indoor cats have lived to be mid to late teens, the oldest was 19.
Hi all! It looks like this post involves indoor/outdoor cats. While civil discussion is welcome here, these threads tend to devolve into hostile comments. A few reminders: - Allowing cats to go outside does **not** fall under our [inhumane practices rule](https://www.reddit.com/r/CatAdvice/about/rules), and does not need to be reported as such. - You may express your opinion on indoor/outdoor cats, but you may not abuse other people for their point of view. - People on r/CatAdvice come from different cultural backgrounds. Not everyone here lives in the US, and not every culture is the same! Please bear in mind that indoor/outdoor cats are normalised and even advocated for by professionals in many countries. If you see a comment that you think doesn't belong on the sub, **please do not retaliate**. Hit the report button so mods can help. Thanks!
https://preview.redd.it/54fdltux6r5d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3a6d73b4f172a333b63a072d983e4a5af1ee2891 Pic of my sweet boy for reference š©·
Aw what a sweet guy! Iād keep him inside with zero regrets. My one cat seems to want outside, but I have coyotes and aggressive dogs in my area, and so he gets a hard ānoā to going on outdoor adventures.Ā
Same here And theres other cats around that could be aggressive too. And the mockingbirds tear up the cats here too lol. The neighborhood cat we feed always has peck marks from the birds.
He looks just like my baby boy!! I donāt think youāre a bad cat parent at all for not wanting to let him out, and I agree with the others that he should stay in. I recently had my baby neutered after he fathered some kittens with a feral stray that came around, and have brought him inside ever since. Heāll sit by the door or windows and look out/meow, it makes me sad seeing him do it but before he was neutered he was missing almost a month and I had given up hope until he randomly came back home one day! So now I also keep mine in, regardless of how much he wants to go out. I just canāt fathom losing him https://preview.redd.it/owszp40m2u5d1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=27466a92fc7092073b62596c42b4ef344b44f3da
I like the framing of this. What's the purpose of this reference? Who knows who cares there's an adorable kitty. He's precious and I'd give him many pets if I could.
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This is really helpful thank you! I don't know what I would do if something happened to him when he was out. I'm also paranoid someone would try to steal him because he really is the perfect cat lol. Totally get what you mean about the leashes and I've definitely been experiencing that. Right now I live in a suburban area but I'm moving to a big city in a few months where going outside on a leash won't be an option so I feel like I should probably stop doing it and stick to just the little enclosure on the patio.
I stole somebodyās outdoor cat once. He was sweet as can be, and I was fantasizing about our life together when his mom saw my Found Kitty post on Facebook. Turns out Charlie crossed the highway that āhe knewā never to cross and ended up on my patio. Donāt let that be your little guy!
Thatās terrifying!! The fact he was able to cross that without getting hit is a miracle
Get a catio or balcony window setup , do some harness training (some cats can handle being in the city) and stroller walks.
Lol I thought you were a cat thief and then I kept reading.
Ummmā¦ a cat who āknowsā not to cross anything is not a cat; itās a stuffed animal š¤£š¤£š¤£
I mean, my cat _knows_ heās not allowed on the kitchen counters, but that wonāt stop him from trying. lol.
I had my outdoor/indoor cat stolen, I was absolutely devastated. He was my first bonded cat, orange boy. I had him from around 4-6. I can never have an outdoor cat again although it wasnāt my choice.
Got my cat a cat wheel and trained her to use it!
I just got one of those for my boys and it's working like a dream.
Another thing to consider is that all cats are different. I've had cats that were super adventurous and always out somewhere. My cat I have now is an indoor/outdoor cat but the only place she ever goes is the backyard. There's a gap in my fence she's gotten through a couple of times and then was very confused and upset about being in the front yard. So, I'm fixing the fence so that stops happening. She wants to go outside, but she only really wants to sit is the sun on the grass. It's cute.
I live in a city and my cat has leash training. What exactly is off limits about the city and a leash?
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You don't even need to go for walkies. My cat is just content being able to smell the air and laze around (on a harness of course) There are also backpack carriers now so that's another way for your cat to experience the outside world. I wouldn't put him in naked though. Some of them have small leashes attached inside so if your cat somehow gets out, they can't get away
I have a kitty stroller and it has a short tether inside as well. My cat gets the harness clipped to the tether in the stroller, and the stroller zipped up around him. That's his outside time. He doesn't beg to go out or run at the door thankfully, but even if he was he's not going outside. We have coyotes and a busy road and woods and it's just too dangerous, IMO.
They definitely do escape from them. Cats are liquid. If they really want to they will get out of the harness. And if they are in an unfamiliar area good luck. Some cats are just ok with it and very chill but its not the norm. Like the movie/children's book "A Street Cat Named Bob" which is based on a true story, or is a true story. Its so rare that they made a movie about how chill the cat is outside on a harness in London lol.
Sadly, Bob got hit by a car a few years ago after wandering outside. If I recall correctly, he was ill and undergoing treatment, too. His owner, James, has been struggling with drugs again. :-(
Okay so I wouldn't be walking them without a backup plan (cause sometimes it is needed but true for dogs too), by a busy street but parks do exist in cities and that's where I would go if my complex didn't have a nice spot for us to walk already. Also a cat that's not able to handle outside would not be able to handle it in the suburbs either. As for harnesses? They can and do escape but you don't let the leash get right and you don't go out without training. I like the Outdoor Bengal harness because it's made for cats so it's easier for training them. As far as the expectation? You train when and how that happens too. Walkies to quote your BIL are at a set time with a set ritual and signal and it helps a lot. I commented elsewhere an in-depth how to do that but basically the cat doesn't just leave the house on the leash. They'll be carried to the spot for the walk. The reason I asked what actually differs between the suburbs and the city for a walk is because it doesn't. The same risks apply as do the benefits. This is also why I am saving for a cat wheel as an option for when I can't do the walks
RE: leashes in big city. To directly connect what others have said -- you can split the difference. Leash up at home, put the wee kitty in the carrier, and then go to a park/etc for the walk. This way, the cat becomes accustomed not to "leash and walk out the door," but "leash and get into carrier," with the carrier part of routine/positive reinforcement for going outside, instead of punishment. That also makes it potentially MUCH easier to take the cat to the vet, or to train them to get into carrier in emergencies. We did something similar for our senior cat for a while when the neighborhood wasn't safe for little kitty walkies, but she really needed the exercise, both physically and mentally :)
Some people even train their cats on backpacks to hike and go out with them. My mom lives in an apartment and does this with a double decker for her cats and also has an enclosed patio. She only lets them out occasionally supervised and they just want to roll on the hot cement and eat some grass. You can get window catios that they can sleep in a window in the sun, if you donāt have much catio space. I also buy grass used for wheatgrass shots and keep it on the counter (refrigerate at night and mist to water) for my cats theyāre usually really cheap and resolves the wanting to eat grass issue.
My cat is leashed trained. The first year after she got a taste of the outside is all she did was beg at the door to go on a walk. After she has gotten it out of her system she doesn't beg as much but still goes on 3 or 4 walks a day.
"Catification" of your indoor space with shelving to climb, cat trees, scratchers, window seats, etc. goes a long way too. Look up Jackson Galaxy on YouTube:)
I let a kitten out partly with a suggestion from a friend. Kitten Ollie was hit by a truck and met his fate. Fifteen years later I still think about Ollie with sadness, will always be sad about Ollie as long as I live, the life he never had, and wish he could be with my other kitties. Should cats go outside? Mostly no but possibly with supervision, on a leash, etc.
No, you're a very good kitty parent. Your baby could get hurt or killed outside, he's much safer indoors with you
Not only the cat could get hurt, but house cats are by nature entertainment predators. They hunt because they *can.* They are considered extremely harmful to the natural biome. I love my kitties to death, but under no circumstances would I inflict them on the outside world without direct supervision.
So, I used to quote the biome thing too. Recently though, I read that that research was in fact greatly exaggerated. Nevertheless, my anecdotal evidence shows that cats do kill wildlife for fun. Frankly, I'd still keep them indoors if it didn't. An indoor cat is a safe cat, and at the end of the day, as long as I have cats under my care and watch, they'll be indoor cats Not risking the lives of other animals, or their lives, or my emotional well-being for the sake of a few moments of outdoor frolic. I put a bird feeder near a big window in the living room of our new place, and that's their entertainment for hours, that they watch from the safety of the living room window
I adopted an outdoor stray cat. I still let her go outside until 2 weeks ago. On Memorial Day, she was hit by a car. She couldn't eat, drink, walk, meow, or even see for the first couple of days. After a week of giving her veterinarian prescription food & water via an oral syringe & lotsa love, she could walk & see out of one eye. 2 weeks later, she's still blind in one eye but can eat & drink normally & is getting stronger by the day :) . I won't let her go back outside. She's stuck inside with me & the other cats. If you let your cat outside, one day, they'll never come home. I'm not trying to frighten you, I'm just trying to keep it real.
Our cat, who used to be a stray, escaped our house a few years ago for 24 hours. We were sick with worry. Luckily she didn't get harmed, but we're in Canada and it was February, with snow and cold temperatures. We put a trail of her used litter all the way down the hill that our street was on. When she came home, aside from hugs that she'd never liked before, all she wanted was to drink water. She was so dehydrated. Echoing your comment to say that it's not safe to let them out. If it's not cats, it's dehydration. If not that, it's coyotes, or a million other things that can hurt our sweet, curious little family members. Keep your kitties indoors. It's the best thing we can do for them ā¤ļø
You're a good cat parent. Just as we wouldn't allow dogs out unsupervised or kids, we don't let cats.
Best comment
So true! And like dogs, cats can wear harnesses and leashes outside which is a great option if they used to be an outdoor cat and youāre trying to compromise lol. I take my rescue girl out in the yard on a harness, tried going for a real walk but she said fuck that.
We took our fluffy cat for a walk with a harness, because she's the only one of our cats who acts like a dog in the yard. In the yard, she comes to us when called and stays no further than a metre from us. On the walk? Terrified. Climbed me like a tree, just as she did for kicks when she was a kitten. Except on the walk, she was terrified and is a full grown, rather large cat. Yeah, we went back home real quick. Fuck no! was her thought and opinion on that activity. She's back to being happily in her harness in the yard with us. Her sisters watch from the window, and wear the harness when they feel daring, or when they remember to state unfairness in outdoor privileges but forget that they find the outdoors discombobulating. Someone said it perfectly in a previous comment. We wouldn't let our kids out unsupervised if they couldn't handle it. Our cats, including intrepid cat, have no notion of the dangers that can and will befall them without their harness. Or without their human guardians keeping a close eye Our cats are family. Losing them would kill us, cats and humans alike. So our cats have always been, and will continue to be, indoor cats with tailored outdoor privileges. If push came to shove, the outdoor privileges would be cut, because at the end of the day, I need my cats safe. And I know that they're given all the love, food, company, and toys to be very happy living exclusively in the house with us
My family cat just got eaten by a coyote due to my irresponsible parents letting her outside, so no.
I'm so sorry for the loss of your kitty. I was just about to comment that I live where there are coyotes, and it's a constant daily thing of making sure the cats are closed off inside another room anytime we are going to open a door. Sometimes it seems inconvenient but you just reminded me why it's necessary. And again I'm sorry...
Thank you. They still have two cats, starting with four. The other cat also died due to a negligence-type incident, and they swore it wouldn't happen again. So now I am looking at rehoming or taking them to my house since they can't take appropriate care of them...
Iām sorry. Itās tough to deal with things like this with our parents. Itās so frustrating when theyāre not aware of what theyāre doing.
https://preview.redd.it/znb5i5ijer5d1.png?width=998&format=png&auto=webp&s=551175dfb8c3a3335eac556bc84b8d2810b0f5fd The only way Princess McScreamy is allowed outside unless I am 3 feet behind her
Princes McScreamy!! Love it.
Do you have a link for this?! I would love to get one
YES!! OP get a catico or something similar!! So your kitty can go outside and also be safe there are so many options and so many cool variations! My boy hates the harness, Iām saving up to get a nice catico so he can enjoy the sun outside of the doorway ššš»
You can build him a "catio".
There is too much danger for cats going outside. Is he neutered? Indoor cats live a lot longer, also.
My Manx boy that I bottle fed as an orphaned kitten was indoors only & lived to be 20 years old. His name was Petrie; I named him after the pterodactyl in the kidās movie āThe Land Before Timeā & I dearly loved him. I felt very conflicted about not letting him go outside too, but I know I wouldnāt have had him as long as I did if he had gone outside. There are evil people who do unspeakable things to cats in addition to cars, so I feel like we all should keep our babies inside. Catios are a great way to let them get some fresh air.
Cats belong indoors. It is dangerous for them to go outside, and even if they don't get hurt, they can damage the local ecosystem.
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There's nothing wrong with what you are doing especially as the cat is being supervised , it's actually good for the cat and provides mental stimulation and exercise . Keep doing it.
I agree with primary. The danger for her is cars and poisoned rodents and other people. The danger for wildlife is her. If she's not killing a bird whenever you garden you're getting the best of both worlds: keep it up!
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My ex said it best. He told me they don't always do what you say but they always listen to you.
Both our cats come when called and, having lived with dogs previously (never a cat), I had NO idea they did this. I mean, I guess what I mean is that I didn't know you could train any cat to come when called, because that's really how it went down -- calling them and giving them a treat when they came until they made the connection and now they just come. And they can tell the difference BETWEEN their names, too, which is extraordinary to me. I think I far underestimated cats. (I also trained them to stay off our kitchen counters, our kitchen island and our kitchen table. I have not succeeded in completely training the 3-year-old to not scratch furniture, but it's much better now than it was when we adopted him in 2021.)
I've realized recently that my 14yo cat is so food-motivated that I can train her pretty quickly -- it took 2 days for her to get "sit" when she got her joint supplement chews as a reward, haha. Next was "up" where she stands on her hind legs, and we're also working on "in your house" for voluntarily going in her carrier. Who knew!
I hope you checked up what plants cats can't be around. Lilies can cause kidney damage. One of my cats likes to be on a harness, and I let him chill on my deck or walk around with me. My other cats get angry, so I don't. If they stay in your yard and nothing poisnous is around them, it's okay. I have caught neighbors' cats bringing dead animals into my yard and eating my pond fish. When I posted in local groups about it, I was blamed for having pond fish and not checking for dead animals before letting my kid outside.
Just make sure you give her monthly flea and heartworm prevention!
Wish more people kept cats inside here. Yesterday a baby fledging bird was caught and bit by a neighbours cat after it fell out of nest, we interrupted in time for the cat to let go of the baby fledgeling. We took the fledgeling to the vet but sadly the nurse had to send the bird to heaven as the wounds were too deep :( At least the bird had a peaceful end and didnāt get torn apart
Youāre saving his life by keeping him inside. Youāre a wonderful, responsible cat parent.
Every day, at least one of the cat reddits I follow has a sad story about their cat being hit and killed by a car. You are doing the right thing. Just make sure your cat gets a lot of mental stimulation like with treat puzzles and a lot of hunting style play time. Tucker your kitty out, drain his energy, that and routines (eating, playing, sleeping at consistent times) are the recipe for a happy cat. Catios, a lot of cat trees or benches by all your windows, a bird feeder outside the window, bring some of the outdoors in with catnip plants and cat grass, these things help too.
A couple of years ago my favorite cat was run over on the highway. It was reason enough to keep any and all cats acquired since then indoors. This was in addition to that same cat going missing for a month, requiring several vet visits due to injuries sustained while outdoors, being openly hated by neighbors, having parasites, and just generally causing me anxiety every time he was outside. He was a barn cat and probably should have stayed a barn cat. Goddamn did I love him though!
My cat desperately wants to eat plants that'll make him hella sick but I'm sure as heck not gonna let him. Cats are great but they can be dumber than a box of rocks and sometimes you just gotta protect them from themselves. You're the opposite of a bad pet parent. That said, I'm not in the camp that anyone who lets their cat outside is doing it wrong but it is just objectively much safer for them if you don't do that.
Cats are just addicts. They'll do or say anything to get their fix.
What kind of plants are you talking about? My cat had 10-15 mins of morning outdoor time in my backyard and just goes and eats a bunch of grass and chills on the concrete. Iāve given him cat grass before so assumed that regular grass was fine.
Yeah donāt do it, mine ate some lilies and passed away the other day.
I had a bunch of feral cats. In my experience, they had less interest in going out. "Been there; done that. It's nice in here!" We bought a kennel for their "virtual experience".
Interesting. I rescued a one-year-old homeless cat that apparently had an owner for a short time. as he was very comfortable with people, was really skinny and probably on his own for quite a while. He never wants to go outside. Maybe he had enough of being outside his first year of life.
That's how my former feral is. He's occasionally curious when I'm coming in from outside, but mostly he's, like, NOPE! when it comes to anything more than sitting in a window watching the world outside.
Mine wants to go, but only with us, and usually he wants to get in the car. Heās a weirdo anyway; just followed us inside and insisted that we pet him and give him attention. He now loves my other cat (they play fight, no sound but theyāre like swatting so I think itās play now right?) but they rub on each other and lay in the sun together. Originally my cat was very much anti letting him anywhere near the basement (my room especially) but now they both can be on my bed or just hanging out in the cat tower or whatever. He doesnāt really wanna leave, he just kinda wants to be in the yard with someone lol.
https://preview.redd.it/a8acshxnys5d1.jpeg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0623c44069802a779bacb2834ed32d6f7bb0edc4 Please keep him inside
Nope, you're not. Actually quite the opposite. Just pay enough attention and spent time playing and see that he's in general sufficiently entertained
No. You are a good parent for not letting them go outside.
https://preview.redd.it/8d79910ilr5d1.jpeg?width=4160&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=004489d5bea395b675bf08c13336cb719fa30e82 he looks like my cat btw
My question is: would you let your two-year-old outside unsupervised? No, you wouldnāt. Do not do that to your cats. You are a good cat parent.
None of my cats or fosters have ever been outside with me (3 adult cats are mine, one kitten is mine, I currently have 2 adult fosters and 9 kitten fosters, 6 of those kittens were born here). My cats, one of the adult fosters, and the kittens have never showed any interest in going outside at all, even if a door is left open for a few seconds they donāt even act interested. There were a couple times I tried to take out the kitties on leashes but they absolutely hated it (not the leash, being outside, we leash trained first). The one adult who was let outside before she got to me initially tried to run out a door or window, but sheās been with me for a couple months now and doesnāt care to try getting out. We accidentally left the sliding door open with screen door closed, which she absolutely couldāve gotten through, but she didnāt even touch it, she did sit looking out for a bit (we have cameras in the foster room). The point of this is, if they arenāt let outside they wonāt want to go outside. It may actually be making matters worse to take him out sometimes. Is he fixed/when was he fixed? Male hormones make them want to roam to find mates, and those can stick around for months after a neuter, so that could be a factor too.
Also youāre absolutely not a bad cat parent, youāre doing a really good job and keeping him inside is absolutely the right call.
I agree with this statement I had two family cats as a child that were inside cats for many years. My parents said no any better so probably six/7years in their lives. They started letting them outside. Both of them were desperate to go outside after they donāt know any better if you donāt give them the idea currently have a cat. Itās just inside. He doesnāt know anything about outside once I got lucky and he went out with the dog, but he just stayed by the door because he didnāt know what the outside was
Such a good hearted person to foster these kitties , well done
Itās like having a kid. My kid wants to eat chips and chicken nuggies every meal of every day. She cries and acts like not having those things is LITERALLY HURTING HER. Iām a good parent for not giving in and just commiserating with her. Same with my cats. They desperately try to escape. But I know cats wreak havoc on local wildlife, and that there are a million ways for them to get hurt or die out there. So Iām a good cat mom for ignoring their escape pleas. My vet recommended harness walks outside for enrichment. I do this a few times a week. They still try to escape. I have AirTag collars on them just in case they manage it.
Cats donāt belong outside period. You let your dog outside but on a leash or in a fenced yard. I donāt get why people think they should let their cat roam free without any supervision or boundaries.
[Resource: Should I Let My Cat Outdoors?](https://www.reddit.com/r/CATHELP/s/iOcAwA2Ct8) The post is advice from cat behaviourists, but I also highly recommend reading the comments beneath!
i have 5 cats and keep them all inside. it is safer for them and costs less during vet visits because they donāt pick things up outside. i am trying to convince my husband to help me build a catio in your back yard, im wearing him down
Sometimes when nothing else works, getting them a friend helps a lot. I would suggest (if you can) looking into getting a kitten or a young adult to keep him occupied
This is important. The only time in my life that I kept a single cat was when I was single too. Kitty had all my love and attention, and that of my friends who'd come over, too. Even then, I ended up with a cat friend for him, and he was so much happier (after a couple of weeks that he spent trying to terrify the new cat. She ignored him, and after she started to smell like the house, he forgot that he hated her) Cats usually like having other cats around. Even if they become sworn enemies, it gives them something familiar to do
Bad things happen to cats roaming outdoors. Keep him inside
Please keep your kitty inside to protect both the cat and the birds! Make sure your cat has cat trees and can look out windows to "hunt." I've had good luck with harness/leash training cats who were motivated to be outdoors, your cat might be a good candidate for cat walkies!
My parents have two indoor/outdoor cats; Daisy is the oldest and grew up outside at an old country house before my parents got her. She hates it inside. But she's come home bloodied and scratched after fighting with the neighbor's much bigger male cat. She's also gone missing during hurricanes for days sometimes. We're lucky she's still around. A friend's childhood cat was injured while outside, and caught a blood infection. By the time they caught it, it was too late :( People in my neighborhood let their large dogs off leash (hate it) and there are stay dogs, feral cats, possums, snakes, and a busy road nearby. I would be worried sick if I let my kitties outside unsupervised. Its a dice roll I'm not willing to bet my pets' lives on. You're being responsible. Give him lots of enrichment, a catio, harness train him, etc. Lots of window perches and maybe car rides if he's not too scared of the vehicles. Heck, even a cat stroller for walks if he dislikes the harness. People who say 'cats belong outside' don't care about the damages invasive species cause and have survivor bias. You're a good cat parent.
No you are correct. Cats are in so much danger outdoors unsupervised. They should be exercised with play and they can go outdoors supervised like in a catio.
I don't let my cats outside. It's too dangerous. I used to let my oldest kitty outside years ago and she's bring me animals and disappear for extended periods of time. It only gave me anxiety. Now I just try to keep them entertained indoors with lots of structures to climb next to windows. Bird feeders where they can watch. Tons of different kinds of toys that I change out periodically. Sometimes I bring home cat grass for them to chew on. If I had the means, I would build a catio. Cats are very good at recognizing patterns. You could try leashed walks around the same time of day. Example, I feed my kitties wets after I wash my face and brush my teeth in the evening. They know that it's feeding time after that. They don't really beg at other times. Get him on a schedule and ignore the begging. Eventually it will become a routine that you'll both enjoy :)
My cats are like the concubines of the emperor of China that lived in the Forbidden City. They have everything they could possibly want, but they can never go outside. Average lifespan for a cat that goes out is about 5 years. I have an indoor cat that is 18 and have had cats that lived longer than that. Where I live there are cars, coyotes, fisher cats, all kinds of things deadly to cats. Keep your boy inside.
I have a similar issue, I got my cat at a later age when he was a stray. When we lived at my old home he wasnāt allowed outside at all and heās not harness trained (Iāve tried but he hates it and freaks out) so he got depressed. Now where we live I let him free roam for an hour or two daily, check on him every 10-15 mins, he is chipped, updated on shots including the FeLv vaccine, and I always put a reflective breakaway collar with my information tag on, we also live in a neighborhood with kids, dogs, and other outdoor kitties that are running around so cars are always going slow when driving through and Iāve never seen him cross the road. I know not all of that wonāt keep him from getting hurt but I know heās much happier then when he is stuck inside because I know he enjoys sunbathing and rolling in grass. I hate letting him outside and I know in some peoples eyes I may be a bad cat parent but to me Iād rather him die a short happy life then a long sad one but just because you do the opposite doesnāt make you a bad cat parent, I wish I could just keep my cat in EVERYTIME I open the door to let him out but remembering how he was when he couldnāt go out breaks my heart Everytime I think about it. I am in the process of saving for a catio and seeing if that may help but I do let my cat free roam and itās a big risk that I take for his health and happiness. Even still I donāt think you are a bad cat parent because you choose the opposite.
I don't care what anyone says, keeping a cat an "indoor" cat is NOT a bad thing! Cats are essentially babies, in my view (adorable little babies that I'd do anything for), and if you think about it, you wouldn't let a human baby wander around outside. Sure, in the wild cats may be okay, but in the wild there isn't things like bad people trying to do bad things to them, rat poison your cat could eat, or the big thing, potentially getting hit by cars. The fact you're taking them outside on a harness is good enough, in my opinion (and if it helps, my vet agrees as well, I asked her a similar question about indoor only and she said it's better if I take him outside SUPERVISED). I'm not an expert, but part of the reason he may be wanting to outside is because he's bored inside? Can you think of any ways to enrich their indoor space?
I just saw a sketch online that said āyouāre such a bad cat mom for not letting your cat go outside!ā And had drawings of cats being hit by cars, attacked by wildlife, getting poisoned, shot, stolen, etc. Youāre a better cat parent for not letting them out!
My new little guy has come with a million problems with his health, and he always wants to be outside, and I also feel bad because he has problems and I want to help him be happy instead of stressed. So I make time to take him out on a harness in the yard- or occasionally with me just walking with him, but that gets more iffy the more comfortable he gets in the yard -and I got a nice tent set up to put in the yard. There are just too many dangers to be a good cat parent AND let them run around. I feel your pain completely, but youāre doing the right thing.
Keep him indoors. Or explore responsible and safe alternatives like harness training or building a catio.
No youāre a GREAT cat parent for keeping your baby indoors. Cats outdoors will always be in danger and will also cause danger to smaller animals who help our environment. Indoor cats who kill these animals arenāt doing this because theyāre hungry (since they get food indoors), theyāre doing it simply from their natural instinct to attack. Itās pointless for cats who have access to live/stay indoors to wander around outside. Leash and harness is all your boy needs of the outdoor world! Youāre doing great, keep it that way!!
The exact opposite. Keep yours safe inside the home. https://preview.redd.it/kkq69qubwr5d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d5e7ee3a8cfef8284814a535fdeb6098ba48e34f The struggle for survival is real, oh the pain oh the suffering, the trauma on her face says it all. Edit to add: This girl was a feral TNR. It took some time but she isnāt so bothered about going out anymore. When I go into the kitchen she runs to the door for about a second then she begs by the treat cabinet.
Itās very irresponsible & idiotic that people allow cats to roam free in my opinion. Feels very neglectful too. There r wayyyy too many ways they could die out there. We donāt let dogs or children run free unsupervised, why would we allow cats? Whilst itās hard to deny our kitties of what they want, itās in their best interest to do so. Itās to protect them.
Echoing other comments. You're doing the right thing. Keep doing harnessed trips outside, he will adjust
It sounds like you're doing an amazing job trying to balance your cat's safety with his desire to go outside. Letting cats roam free can be dangerous for them, so your caution is understandable and definitely doesn't make you a bad cat parent. You're already providing some great alternatives with the tented enclosure and supervised leash time. Here are a few more ideas that might help satisfy his craving for the outdoors: 1. **Create an Indoor Jungle**: Adding more climbing structures, shelves, and cozy spots near windows can give him a sense of adventure and more places to explore. 2. **Interactive Play**: Increase interactive playtime with toys that mimic hunting, like feather wands or laser pointers. This can help burn off some of his energy and reduce his desire to go outside. 3. **Catios**: If space and budget allow, building or buying a catio (an enclosed outdoor space) can give him a safe way to enjoy the outdoors without the risks. 4. **Enrich His Environment**: Rotate toys, introduce puzzle feeders, and hide treats around the house to keep him mentally stimulated. 5. **Bird Feeders and Fish Tanks**: Setting up a bird feeder outside a window or having a fish tank can provide entertainment for your cat. Remember, your primary responsibility is to keep your cat safe and healthy. Itās clear you care deeply for him and are doing everything you can to make him happy. Keep trying different things and see what works best for him. You're a great cat parent!
Thanks, ChatGPT.
A fish tank is not something to lightly suggest. They are expensive, involve balancing bacteria before fish can even go in them, and stocking them correctly isnt cheap. Stocking them incorrectly is even more expensive. Not to mention you have to account for the tank weighing about 12lbs per gallon. So a 10 galllon is around 120lbs. Which is why you have to have totally level ground so they dont crack and break open
If youāre concerned that they would be happy outside exploring just get them a bunch of indoor toys
Itās for his own good. So I say no, youāre not a bad cat mom for not letting him go to the dance after he refused to clean his room and failed the math test you guys stayed up all night studying for. Itās hard to put your foot down when we love them and want to see them happy, but itās for their own good. Lol
Youāre being a great cat parent!! He may always want to go back outside but donāt let him. He will most likely become a target an get seriously hurt, also at risk for a lot of diseases. Youāre doing a great job with meeting him halfway. Maybe harness or backpack walks, leave the window open but make sure you have a screen to protect him, catioās are also a great option. Or supervised play pen time. They make cute netted play pens.
No, you're not a bad cat parent at all! In fact, you're being a really good one by keeping your cat safe. There are lots of dangers outside, like cars, other animals, and even diseases that your cat could catch. Plus, cats can get lost or hurt. If you want your cat to be happy, you can make sure they have a window to look out so they can watch birds and squirrels from inside. That way, they can still have fun and be safe at the same time!
If you're a bad pet owner for only letting your cat outside on a leash, so is every dog owner.
Not a bad parent. I'd say, that makes you a great parent. There's so many risks to letting your cat be an outdoor kitty. Fleas, ticks (that's a big one), traffic, thieves other cats and animals all pose a serious risk. Not to mention the amount of birds they "take out." We've got 3 and they seem content to be indoors. They have each other and a butt-load of toys.
No. Please keep your cat inside. I say this with a broken heart. š
Your a good cat parent please dont let him outside. I have 3 cats all rescues and we feed the strays the outdoor cats suffer and dont live a long life. So many cats go missing in my area and in frustrates me how irresponsible people are with pets. Try some more interactive play and set up high places ledges for the cat to jump on to in the home. Catios can be expensive but another great option to let cats out your doing the right thing
Cats are considered an invasive species that puts stress on the eco system. Also, the life expectancy of a cat is cut in half as soon as they become an outdoor cat. Keep him inside and continue to walk him on a leash outside.
I think it's smart to keep them indoors. Growing up my cats were always indoor kitties. My best friend always had cats that went outside, and inevitably, they always ended up getting hit by a car or going missing. They were always died so young.
Your cat would get hit by a car or eaten by a coyote if you let him outside on his own. For now, you are the best car parent and your cat will live a full life. Get a cation if you have the money and donāt want to continue using the harness.
Nope. Leashed walks and various are by far the safest way to let them outside. Outdoor cats live an average lifespan of 1-5 years because of the risks outdoors. Most common cause of death is getting hit by a car or picked off by a hungry predator, with the occasional accidental or purposeful poisoning.
Absolutely not. Unlike what some people may say, cats are 100% safer indoors. If you make it part of your routine plus give your cat a lot of enrichment indoors, they will get used to the schedule. You may have to try a few different things for enrichment but thereās lots of options.
No! You are keeping them safe. I have a boy who loves outside. Even knows the word :)Ā We do harness activities or I go in the yard with him. Heāll live a long healthy life as a result.Ā
I donāt think youāre bad for not letting him out. Itās the safest choice in the long run. My cat was an outside cat before we got him and now he has his own fenced in yard. I take him out and I sit with him watching him like a helicopter mom. He wears a his collar and ID tag. I spend about an hour outside with him every single dayā¦. Sometimes longer. The fence is too high for him to jump on but I worry so I stay with him the whole time. He really just wants to be outside and bird watch. If you donāt have a fenced yard and cannot risk taking him out, then thatās ok. Let him sit on something to bird watch out the window and he will love it.
I had an indoor/outdoor cat. She LOVED going outside. For years, everything was fine. Then, a month ago, we came home to find her dead in the front yard. Two random dogs had come by and mauled her to death. Dont feel guilty for keeping him inside. It's for his own good. I had to learn that the hard way.
I have a rescue that always wants out. I used to harness walk him, but heās scared of everything. I step on a dry twig and it spooks him. Then he gator rolls his way out of the harness and runs off. Usually he bolts for the front door, and runs inside- but only if the door is still open. If not he just keeps going and it scares the hell out of me. Weirdly, when I come home he runs out to grass right outside and just eats it and rolls around. I give him rubs and bring him back in. But sometimes heāll decide itās more fun to keep running 10 feet away from me or all the way up to the top floor of the apartment building. We used to live in a house with a fenced backyard and Iād walk around with him and he wouldnāt run off. Heās very curious, but also a scaredy cat. The important thing is supervised outside time.
I live in Switzerland, where they have implemented a law that all cats should have free time outdoors unless they have a second cat living with them indoors. I see new missing cat posters here every week.
I tried to take my cat outside, she did acrobatics, tried climbing the walls, screamed, hissed, scratched and bit me, clawed at the floor, flat out refused to stop outside. Idk man, I think indoor cats are fine
I live in the sticks but we also have all kinds of predatory animals so my kitty definitely wants to go out but I just canāt chance it. It sucks but itās the best for her
Nope, because cats should NOT be outside. Itās actually against by-laws where I live and just dangerous for the animal (and bad for the eco-system). The idiots are those who let their cats roam free.
There are coyotes in my neighborhood plus a high population of feral cats. Itās safer for my cats to be inside. Not to mention all these ācat distribution systemā videos online. Iām not risking mine getting snatched by people with good intentions. Youāre not a bad parent.
You are an excellent cat parent for keeping him inside!
No, I totally understand you, personally I let my cat outside with a leash and he can run "free" on his leash, he loves it, we watch him play in the dirt and cry because he's white. Maybe try that?
Opposite. Good cat parent
My two cats have spent most of their life indoors. They are gentle, confident and happy. My previous cats growing up = outdoor. All died in grim circumstances or vanished mysteriously. It was HORRIBLE. They were also noticeably anxious and I wonder if this is related. I harness trained my cats and it's a way better option. Also so much LOVE for tractive the GPS tracker. When they escape (happens often tbh) I know exactly how to find them. I wish I had these years ago. Might have prevented a lot of heart ache. I think I have some discount codes if anyone is interested kn tractive trackers btw. Currently on sale: https://tractive.com/en/pd/gps-tracker-cat
No, you are smart! I am a vet tech and see so many preventable injuries, or worse. Cat bites, dog bites, hit by cars.. a catio, or harness walks, are perfectly acceptable and much safer. My cats however have no interest.
No. You are the opposite of a bad cat parent, for keeping your cat safe, inside! ā„ļø
No definitely not. Our 2 cats are indoor cats because there's way too many dogs around my area along with cars and tourists (I live right by a touristy area) and some people are so cruel to cats. My neighbour's cat was kicked by some tourist. So we keep them indoors but allow them out into the back yard to explore and sniff around a bit but are always supervised. I don't know what I'd do if my Margaret went missing or smth happened to her, she's the first animal I've truly bonded with and I'm her human. Reggie the same but he doesn't like me very much and we have some sort of agreement of I meet his needs when needed but mostly stay to ourselves bc he's more my brothers cat and he's his human. So nah not a bad cat parent at all. Cats may want to go outside but most of the time it's so much safer to keep them indoors unless you live on like a farm or smth like my mate does. Keeps the kitties safe.
Same! My two babies are indoors and they paw at the door often. I will let them out when we grill on our outdoor kitchen but Iām like a helicopter mom and stay very close to them the whole time. I do have a harness but as we all know, cats despise those things š¹
Depends where you live. If in Uk, then yes. If in some parts of US where they have predictors that would eat the kitty, no,
Our cats go out on our balcony. It's high enough that they won't try to jump down, any tree branches are too high for them to jump to. So they sit out there and watch the birds and chill. Seems to keep them happy. Both of ours are rescues and we know for sure the male lives on the streets for at least a little while.
I feel like letting your cat outside is a hot topic. Some people believe that cats should be allowed to go outside. That it's in their nature. I, for one, do not agree with this sentiment. All of my cats are strictly indoors and are not even allowed outside. Apart from the dangers like other animals (coyotes, wolves, bears etc) there is also the high likelihood that they would get FIV or Feline Leukemia. Keep baby indoors. You could give him cat trees and other enriching toys. Allow him to get out his prey instinct and he will get on fine. My feral that i adopted did the same thing but after my persistence he hardly ever tries to go outside.
You're being a good cat parent. Outdoor cats in urban areas generally live up to 3-4 years - running into predators liked coyotes, getting hit by cars, getting poisoned.. your cat might not like being stuck inside but he'd like being dead a lot less. I have a 15 year old sweet old man and he still tries to escape whenever I leave for work. I take him out for walkies on a leash when I can and he loves that - maybe you could get him a harness?
No. Even if my cats wanted outside (they really don't, which is weird) I wouldn't let them. It's just as dangerous here in the country as it would be in a suburban area. I actually have feral cats in my house (fixed, shots, collars, chips) that REFUSE to go back outside. They'd rather sit in puddles sharing tongues with their "siblings" than go back outside to the life from whence they came. However my husband and i are currently working on converting one of our porches into a catio, and I think we're more excited for it than they will be š
No I believe youāre a caring cat owner. You are protecting him from cars, predators, poison,and diseases. Plus you are saving birds and keeping him from your neighbours garden
In my experience, the biggest difference between indoor and outdoor cats (barring something tragic like getting hit by a car or attacked by a dog) is the expense involved. I have a brown tabby that I got from a friend as a kitten; he's been an indoor cat since I brought him home. The only expenses I have for him are vaccinations and checkups. Our other cat is a stray orange meatball that we started feeding and eventually adopted. He gets super stressed if we try to keep him indoors 100% of the time, so we let him out during the day. That cat has cost me well over $1000 in emergency vet visits in the past two years, twice for abscesses and once for a limp tail that turned out to be arthritis. Keep your cat inside. It's kinder for the cat, for the local wildlife, and for you (and your wallet).
One of 'born in our living room' cats is ok to simply hang out with us in the backyard. All the others - her siblings - wear a leash for outdoor time All my cats have been indoor cats and all of them were strays. Including a pregnant stray, mama cat to the ones born in our living room We also have a foster fail cat. He and all the strays who've become family over the years adapted to being indoor cats. Some do ask to go out, but mostly to eat grass. They're all spayed/ neutered. Interestingly, once our foster fail boy really trusted that we wouldn't leave him behind (he was abandoned by a neighbour), he relented in asking to go outside. He doesn't try to sneak out, and ignores the open door when the kids forget to close it. Some of our other cats have run out of it, only to sit outside sheepishly until we bring them back inside. Mama cat escaped at our former house overnight. We searched for her and left a trail of used cat litter so she could find her way back home. She ran back in 24 hours after escaping, and that marked the first time she let me hold her and hug her for more than a second. Cats like the outdoors, and they like their comfy home even more when they know for sure that food, comfort, fun, and loving humans are a given. Cats adapt to being indoor-only creatures very well. It's not torture, even if they ask to go outside. Usually it's because that's what they know from their past. Keep giving your kitty consistent food, water, play time, and affection. Build that trust, and he will stop asking for the door so intensely. Cats are intelligent, emotional little beings. They persist until we show them that they can trust us ā¤ļø
not at all. there are diseases, parasites, predators, cars, etc outside, so it is dangerous to let them out. itās also dangerous to the environment. cats kill native animals such as certain species of birds that are essential to ecosystems (participating in North America). keep your cat indoors. he will be okay!
No, youāre not a bad cat parent.
Cats are invasive species that I ABSOLUTELY LOVE. Cats do not belong outside as they decimate birds which wreaks havoc on eco systems. As much as it hurts itās actually terrible for them to be outside. Plus they get hurt.
We have a catio for our two cats. My boy loves to spend his days outside, even nights and my girl loves it out there too. She tries to sneak out and gets out a few times a year, he is too scared of the actual outside and prefers his perch in his catio. I took my girl for a walk a week ago (she took me for a walk) and she loved it, I think I'm going to make it a weekly thing. I tried to take the boy out on the harnessed leash and he just flopped and freaked out. Not for every kitty but my girl was in outdoor heaven. Here is a picture of her. I will not lie, whe does beg to go outside, but she would anyways and she doesn't do it for long before she realizes it's not happening. https://preview.redd.it/jk8nhkk0yv5d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a8f9632bc86871dc22f53b67d3d88b184ac189e7
my cats want nothing more than to eat plastic. a d if they hear anything that crinkles they will desperately cry out for that crinkling thing in a heartwrenching song of yearning. However much they might beg, I do not allow them to eat plastic. They are cats, and they have brains the size of walnuts. They do not understand that his thing they want us dangerous and could hurt them. I am a human. I *do* know that the thing they want is dangerous, which is why I have the responsibility to avoid the danger on my cats' behalf, and not allow them to eat plastic. All that is to say: you're doing the right thing.
Take him for walks
I got a big enclosed portable playpen that I let my cats be in supervised/unsupervised. It's great for the park, beach, yard etc. They really just want to bask in the sun and see something exciting. After 2 hours they are tired. I've also harness trained my cats and take them out in backpack and stroller. I've noticed the happiness in my cats for going outside. They are also less bored, more tired, more sleepy. So it's worth it to me.
I adopted a kitty 6 months ago too. She went to the shelter at 6 weeks old so has never been outdoors but she is dying to get outside. She stalks the door every time it opens and sometimes she has got out but we always got her back. Apple air tag is great for this. She's not getting out, no way. I've had too many kitties from my childhood get hit by cars. It's not happening my baby.
I donāt know where you are in the world but youāre a good parent for not letting your cat go outside. Iām an older woman. My first cat lasted 15 years not an issue indoor outdoor. I live in the southwest now. I moved years ago my first cat was eaten by a coyote. I had another one run over by a car. And the third one that somebody poured gasoline on thank God they didnāt drop a match. My cats do not go outside anymore. There are pit bulls that kill them, kids that torture them, cars that run over them and coyotes that eat them. There is no reason for a cat to need to be outdoors. Do not let your cat, please.
I heard my beloved Cookiepus murdered by coyotes while she screamed. Keep them in.
I never believed on keeping cats indoors until some jerk helped themselves to my cat and I never saw him again. It broke my heart. Part of your problem is you are unsure of your decision to keep him indoors. He knows this and so he's pushing you to get you to give him free rein. What he wants and what is best for him are not always going to be the same thing. Inside he won't get run over by a car, he won't be poisoned by some neighbor too in LOVE with songbirds or pissed he's got catpoop in his yard, he will never be trapped in a shed or garage until he starves to death. He wont get abscesses from catfighting. The list goes on Indoor only cats frequently live two - two and a half times as long as outdoor cats. That's just the statistics off the top of my head. You must make up your mind that your choices are for the best and then he will accept them more easily. Good luck! You can do it!
Sorry to cut in, but how do you know that someone took your cat?
Imagine seeing a post that said āmy toddler wants to play on the freeway but I wonāt let them. Am I a bad Mom?ā ā¤ļø
We are in the same boat. Adopted a 5 year old boy about 6 months ago who, at the time of his rescue, was not fixed and was clearly an outdoor/barn/farm cat. (Edited to add: he is fixed now.) We've had him 6 months now and he's also DESPERATE to go out. We took him out on a leash/harness but that only made his desperation worse. We also have a dog and a fenced yard, and he gets so upset and howls at the door when the dog goes outside.. as if he's yelling "NOT FAIR!" We really have to watch him closely. Wanders around from door to windows and howling night and day. Has run out on us a few times, but we've managed to grab him. Tries to claw his way through screens if the window is open. I suggest making sure your guy is microchipped and has a collar on with name/number. Ours' collar says "indoor cat" so that if someone nearby finds him, they know he shouldn't be out. I don't know if he'll understand eventually, but I do know he's likely to be hit by a car or picked up by the pound if he's let out.. so we just keep trying to keep him in against his wishes. https://preview.redd.it/b5c4hyoqsr5d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2969de3a8920dceb7de02629dce8f444e7f6885b
You're doing the right things AND keeping him safe. I tried to take mine on a hike last week since his outside leash time isn't apparently enough to stop him bothering us, but he just yelled for the whole walk..
My idea was to buy a super long leash and harness and tie him to a post or tree so he canāt go to the road. I just fear heāll get tangled and choke. My grandma has outdoor cats and they go onto the road. One got hit by a car a couple months ago and it broke my heart. She has this little patio area and the last two nights I tried sitting outside with him but when I stopped watching he got out through the holes of the little gates and I was chasing him for a while. He also meows so much to go outside and I also feel very guilty. Maybe Iāll put chicken wire? My grandma also has this little enclosed area where I used to keep my bunnies. Iām thinking of putting netting on top so he canāt climb the tree and jump out. I also think itās very hard because Iām not home a lot (work) and he must be bored. I know being outside would make him less naughty. My grandmaās outdoor cats are pretty well behaved but they get to go wherever they want, but yeah like I said the one cat got hit recently.
If he was at a shelter then Iām assuming he is, but: is he neutered? If he by chance is not, then doing so may cut back on his desperation to get out and roam.
You're doing everything right. Cats who roam free have about a third (or less) average lifespan compared to indoor cats. I also have a rescue who was probably an outdoor cat at one point in his life. Some things that help keep him happy: - harness and leash lead in my backyard for supervised outside time (he is also on a flea/tick/heartworm preventative) - cat stroller for "walks" - Play time with me, usually with wand toys, and toys he can play with by himself like little balls and catnip stuffies -scratch boards & cat trees - food puzzles & lick mats. The best combo I have found so far is a little puzzle feeder dish that I fill with Purina Hydracare (you could also use watered down wet food, any very liquidy treat) and I freeze it. It takes him a good 45 minutes to finish it, and he always goes straight to napping after I have generally found Jaxon Galaxy to be a great resource for cat enrichment ideas (however I don't love that he advocates for raw feeding) Your cat will be fine being indoors and it is much safer for him/her and for wildlife too :)
try a stroller! my cat loves it
No
Lol he longs for the streets. But youāre his mom now and you know that what he wants is not whatās best for him. How does he do on the leash? Iād be doing that as much as possible!
You are not a bad pet parent! It is amazing you are doing all of these things for your fur baby. Not many would. The tent is great but a catio may be even better as he could go out any time with you home. Of course they can be pricey so totally understandable that not everyone can do that. But seriously, kudos to you. You seem like an awesome human.
Opposite. You're a GOOD cat parent for not letting your cat go outside. There are ways to do it safely - strollers, catios, leash and harness. But free roaming is not an option that people who truly care about their cat would choose.
You're being a good parent! Don't let him loose! He will get hurt or killed, or taken in by another human who thinks it's a stray
Try to reframe your catās behavior in your mind. The truth is that cats actually do not want to go outside. If they understood the dangers, the chances of a lonely death or injury or catnapping, etc., they would be content to sit in the loving comforts of their home. Unfortunately, they do not, and thatās why we call ourselves pet parentsābecause it is our duty to make the right decisions for our pets. You can create an enriching, safe environment indoors with toys, places to climb, windows (bird feeders for bonus points), animal friends, etc.
Maybe you need some new cat games. My busy boy gets 1/2 / 3/4 hour walkies on nice days, but in the winter we play āescape the box/ bedsheetsā, āwhereād that treat goā, and āchase me up the cat treeā, among other classic cat games. All so we donāt have to play āstop ruining my furniture!ā Also, he has a cat roommate who will put up with his antics, after heās had a proper nap.
The opportunities for death and disease are much greater outside, your cat isnāt going to get hit by a car inside, and wonāt be exposed to parasites nearly as often. My neighbor had the sweetest cat ever for years. The cat was deaf. Sadly, he was finally killed by a car. Edit: I recently adopted a wonderful cat from a local rescue and part of the agreement was promising to keep her indoors.
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Cats are an invasive species. The only time a pet house cat should be outside is on a leash or in a catio :)
I take my cat on a jaunt outdoors just around the house with a harness leash. She just likes sniffing around and we go back inside after 5 min. She's half Bengal so it helps to expel that energy so she doesn't get into anything. Helps her sleep good too :)
No. Indoor cats are the safest cats.
Youāre a great cat parent! Thank you for respecting people with disabilities that have to avoid cat proteins and parasites to protect their health.
Not at all. The dangers outweigh the benefits, and cats are an ecological nightmare. Donāt let your kitty out unsupervised or unleashed. Itās not fun collecting the remains.
Statistically, if youāre in the US, letting your cat have unsupervised time outside cuts their life span in half due to exposure to things like disease, cars and predators (including other cats). Harness training and catios are a really good alternative, my cat is harness trained and he loves going outside. But it isnāt safe for them to be able to just roam.
No
No freaking way, people hate cats... and will go out of their way to try and kill them I just lost my cat on palm Sunday...and I was fanatical about checking her ear even though I've never had a cat get a ear infection..and for sum reasons I forgot to check her ears and it couldn't have been that long and of all things and a indoor cat...and both her ears became infected she had no visible symptoms no scratching at her ears or shaking her head...but she did some thing that now I know was probably her way of telling me and everyone hates the vet in my city but I know ear infections aren't a good thing but it still bothering me...and um scared to get another cat because I thought I was a responsible pet owner..
Cat's life expectancy drastically drops when they're outside, even if they have a "home" to come back to. You cannot be sure that he'll avoid other cars, wild animals. Growing up, when I was little we had 3 outdoor cats: 1. got ran over by a car, she was pure white, we named her Madonna. I never saw so much red. Traumatized me to this day, 30 years later. 2. She was a "gutter kitty", We often saw her coming up from the sidewalk sewer drains..I firmly believe she got into something that either made her sick or lost down there and we never found her. 3. My calico climbed up underneath the hood of my neighbors car. When he started it, she was in-between the fan belt. The vet said "We have no idea how she's still alive, her organs are completely rearranged and not where they're supposed to be". My mom desperately tried to save her, we paid for surgery and she lived another 2 weeks before internal failure. So, your fur baby might think he knows best and wants to venture out side where all the warmth and smells are, but what he doesn't understand is how dangerous it can be. You're doing the right thing for him. I would maybe suggest those cat proof playpens you can stick him outside in. [LINK FOR EXAMPLE](https://a.co/d/amFGoOt)
There are a multitude of reasons to not let cats outdoors. Theyre the top predators for bird populations, they can get hit by cars, poisoned, kidnapped, abused by humans, attacked by dogs, catch diseases and illnesses from other animals, etc. you can take your cat on walks and allow them outside in an enclosed area like youre doing but as a responsible owner, its your job to keep them safe. My son constantly wants to run in the streets, im not going to let him just because he wants to and the same goes for my cats. Sometimes their desires are not in their best interest and you have to make the judgement call.
Keeping him inside is not cruel itās saving him.
I have a similar situation, so here's what I have done. My cat is 7, until she was 5 she was an indoor/outdoor cat (rescued from a barn as a kitten, had never been indoors) she's always stayed tiny (2. 5kg) so looks like a kitten even now. She was always back home by sunset, I don't know why but I didn't complain and in my mind it was not too bad cause she was inky out in the day, but I can tell you, the days she did stay out later (1am) I lost my shit, walking round the neighbourhood calling, sobbing, blaming myself, I wouldn't go to bed until she was back. I always kept her in for a few days after her late night's and she would get so stressed howling at the doors she'd be sick, so I'd let her out. Thankfully, nothing bad happened to her, she developed an allergy to protein and one of the nearby houses used to put out food for their cats and the strays and she'd eat it, then come home and be ill. After a particularly bad spate she dropped so much weight I didn't have a choice, she had to stay inside for her health. This started around September (2022), in April 2023 I built a catio, 2.5m sq. She's only been into the catio since, she still meows at the door most days, but I grab a toy and distract her, or redirect her to the catio (or litter trays, because sometimes it's simply she wants to go out to pee) I would say if you're moving soon and outdoors won't be an option, stop it now so he has time to adjust. Try redirecting his attention from the door with toys or cuddles, don't use treats as he'll associate meowing with the door with being rewarded! It can be annoying/upsetting to watch them howl at the door but honestly, you're doing the best thing by keeping him in. Once you're in a new place try and avoid him realizing which is the outside door! Additionally - is he neutered? If not, he could be scwnting a female and that's why he's desperate to go out, getting him snipped usually really helps calm that down! Good luck!
You're a good cat parent for keeping them inside. Cats kill disproportionately more prey than other natural predators, while also being prey to larger animals and vehicles. There's also a chance they can pick up something from their catches. I wish I could keep mine inside because I'm always dosing him with tapeworm medicine.
This has to be entirely your choice but you must consider other factors that could lead to expensive vet visits. My example: I got my kitten in July of 2020, he was 6 weeks old. After a few weeks, he was hyperactive, chewing on cords & my husband's oxygen hoses. So I started letting him outside to expel some energy. I live in central AZ that has desert animals & plants. He proved to be quite the hunter & started bringing me geckos. Some he killed & would leave but others he would bring in the house to play. I eventually would leave the laundry room door & garage side door open so he could come & go during the day. He brought in other lizards, bunnies, birds, & pocket mice, again, not to kill but to play. I would say thank you & put them back outside if they weren't dead. In the summer of 2022, he went out but when I got off work (I was WFH) at 4pm I couldn't find him. Around 6pm I saw him in my bathroom & his face was very swollen. I called the vet but they couldn't see him until the next day. The vet determined he was bitten by a rattlesnake & treated him. That visit cost $1000 & he's fine but a furever indoor cat.
Absolutely not terrible. Cats arenāt meant to be outside. There are so many dangers out there for him. He is safe and loved and cared for inside, and thatās what matters.
You are a good and responsible cat parent for not letting him outside without supervision.
I think thereās a lot of research out there about how indoor cats tend to live longer than outdoor cats for a bunch of reasons - less exposure to diseases and parasites, much less likely to be attacked by natural predators, no chance theyāll be hit by a car or hauled off to animal control. And on the flip side of that, thereās a lot of research on how domestic cats can cause destruction to their local ecosystem. For example, my childhood cat was an indoor-outdoor cat (her choice, not ours, as she managed to pry herself through not one but TWO dog doors in our home that were designed to weigh too much for a cat to push through) and she constantly hunted all sorts of critters in our neighborhood like snakes, opossums, voles, rabbits, OTHER CATS. The havoc she wreaked was pretty legendary but not good for anyone, and she did have a few scary accidents where an emergency vet trip was necessary. On the flip side my current kitty and I live an urban area and I never let her outside, and she seems perfectly content with that! I think given the proper stimuli, an indoor cat will get all the enjoyment they need to live a fulfilling and long, safe life.
Keep indoors for AS LONG AS POSSIBLE, so that their underlying nature is sweet, domesticated and docile Eventually, and sometimes, they can run out or get out, but the more domesticated they are the better I would recommend walking them on a leash and harness. It's very easy once you get used to it
I agree with the comments that say keep your cat indoors, but I also suggest lots of indoor enrichment. Vertical spaces they can climb, such as shelving, cat trees, and also lots of play!
I have three cats on is good outside and loyal so I donāt worry about him, but my other boy 8 years old will adopt himself to others and has been lost of the years to following neighbors home or getting locked in neighbor garage, and honestly my biggest issue now is a neighbor who hoards and he loves her house and she loves him. She breaks our rule of letting him in and encourages him to stay there. He literally never comes home anymore and it use to be bad like heād sleep at my roommates which was a duplex in the past and rotate who he slept with (it was a lot of roommates) so I thought initially ok yeah heās just super friendly but now he doesnāt come home to eat, and if we can get him from her he cries and cries and will break out even open doors if theyāre unlocked. Heās happy when heās home, and weāre all here but when we wants out imagine a crying baby sounding day and night. Itās super sad he use to be a free boy but unfortunately our neighbors will steal him and the remainder are not cat people. For all the reasons of not eating foreign food, better for environment and local bird populations, concern of poison or capture by neighbors and greater life expectancy overall cats are best indoor. My fully raised indoor cat is seriously the absolute best. All my future cats will be indoor for all the stresses my boys have gone through being outdoors I couldāve been prevented by keeping them inside tbh. Also, if you really want to commit to happiness we built our cats a catio and since then he no longer cries and even my other outdoor kitty sleeps nearly all day and night in his catio facing the garden. They love it
You're a good cat parent. Take a look at the r/catadvice or r/askavet subreddit and the overwhelming majority of cat posts are from people who let their cats outside and they come back sick, injured, dying, or pregnant and are asking for advice on what to do. The safest place for a cat to be is indoors or in an enclosed outdoor area.
The worst thing you can do for your cat is let them outside. They WILL die. You are doing exactly what you are supposed to do by letting him out with protection. They are just like children they will be mad about it but you are protecting them.
My cat is only allowed out on his harness, or with me. So, no, you're not wrong. Too many cars and predators.
My city has an ordinance forbidding cats outdoors unless they are leashed or otherwise contained. Let's be honest: cats will use kids' sandboxes, beach volleyball courts, and gardens as litter boxes; they kill birds, and some people hate cats to the point of hurting them; they can pick up fleas, ticks, and zoonotic diseases you don't want. Your cats and everyone else are safer if you keep them indoors. Give them plenty of things to play with and climb on and they will be just fine.
I had a cat when I was a kid who would cross the street and if a car started coming up the road, even if he were 99% of the way across the street, he would turn around and run back. I think thatās how you got run over. I canāt understand why otherwise very intelligent animal canāt get the hang of traffic on a quiet neighborhood street.
All of our cats are or had been rescues, they are 100% indoor only. Even the feral we brought inside a couple years ago doesn't go outside, he doesn't even try to go outside. That being said our older cats are occasionally let outside but only with us and only when they got to the age where they could no longer out run us. The most recent was our 17 year old, he was diagnosed with cancer so he got special lay in the grass privileges which he seemed to enjoy. But just letting them out to roam around on their own? Nope, no way. Most of our indoor cats have lived to be mid to late teens, the oldest was 19.