Uh, another thing..
- Even Doh my cat Frodo does his Business outside, he pee'd in the shower for me to show me the blood in his pee, after having urinary tract issues. How cool is that! (please don't use "go Cat" dry food (vet did not approve at all - especially if your cat is neutered - I know, stupid me).
- —Guest Tinafromeire
Free Cats
- I own a cat named Frodo, lovingly dubbed "International Cat" (now aged 7), he lived and roamed in Ireland, Germany and Italy, and now in Ireland again. I think that we need to choose the right set up for them, to give them the chance to learn and progress in their lives. But if you have inappropriate dwellings - you should keep a Guinea Pig instead. Cats need the Country Side! I went through considerable effort (each awkward move - euro crisis, what can I say). To ensure the home is rural, even Doh he is good with traffic. We need to to do which is best for them ( not what is more convenient for us!) I drive an hour to work, and being rewarded by looking at cows out my window. Cats (Pets) are not substitute children, but individuals with their own needs. Saying this, in Europe we don't have to worry about predators (a streetwise cat gives a dog a run for his money). Of course there has been the odd drama - such is life. Declawing your cat is sick, by the way!! Best wishes from Ireland.
- —Tinafromeire
My Indoor Ragdoll
- My indoor Ragdoll little girl's name is Molly. She stays indoors and waits for us to come home daily by sitting at the dining room window and waiting. She chases me around the house and is very quick at finding me when we play hide and seek. We have a long hallway for her to run down and a cat tree she is the sole Queen of. And we do not worry about her safety, we live in a Coyote inhabited rural area and every once in a while hear the coyotes having a feeding frenzy with somebody's pet in the neighborhood. Molly is a happy little girl and I open the big livingroom window in the mornings for awhile so she can take in the outdoors. We will be retiring after the end of the year and I think Molly will REALLY enjoy having both my wife and I home all the time. She sleeps between us nightly.
- —Guest Mike Rice
Indoor Cats
- We have kept our many (4-6) cats indoors for over 20 years. I see no negative effects from this, only positive ones. Do it for your delicate little friends, they will be grateful.
- —Guest Robert Reger
Inside not out!
- I had a beautiful black an white cat and we let it roam outside until one day she got run over by a car and the car drove off. I'm getting a new tabby kitten and I'm going to keep it inside because they live longer, No diseases , still excersize running up and down the stairs! So it's inside for me guys!
- —Guest Lewis
Never again
- My darling kitty just died, hit by a car... If or when I get a new cat it will be indoor only. I refuse to let another animal under my care suffer in that way.
- —Guest Ella
Freedom versus security
- I choose to let my cat out during the day and keep her in at night. Several factors affected my decision. First, she was a stray, so she grew up familiar with the outdoors and how to avoid its dangers. Second, we live on a fairly quiet street and she is spayed so doesn't go far. Third, I believe that being allowed outdoors gives her an outlet for her energy and mental stability. She is better able to cope with household changes like the new wood flooring, and is able to investigate things outdoors that she sees through the window that make her uneasy. If something like a fire or earthquake were to find her outside, she would be able to cope until she was found, and I wouldn't have to worry about her starving or getting hurt. On the other hand, I am very adamant about her being in at night so she won't get hit by a car or attacked by feral cats or anything. She is vaccinated and spayed. I also wouldn't let her out alone if she were a kitten or inexperienced.
- —Guest Erica
indoor-outdor cat
- my kitty is five. found her on the by a friends. she would have been a ferral cat. but we gave her a home. she has the choice to come or go. we make sure she's in at night with us. if we don't see her in an hour or so we call her and she comes running . i put a collar with a bell on her i'm sure it helps scare away smaller creatures she may want to play with. and we have all of the above coyotes, owls, raptors etc. we keep a close watch on our baby. so i'm for bot really.
- —Karenflaska
Cat on a rope
- My rescue cat had a clear desire to go outside - but being aware of the risks above, didn't want to let him be entirely free. He's quite happy to spend his time in our yard on a 30' long rope. He can access most of the yard, and isn't going to get hit by a car. ... the article is a little alarmist. I mean, Serial Killers? Seriously?
- —Guest Jebus
yes and no
- Overweight cats die prematurely.Need exercise.never let out at night.
- —Guest vezna
Abusive
- It is abusive to let a poor defenseless cat run out where so many horrible things could happen to it. My neighbors let their cats out everywhere and they poop on my lawn, use my car as a scratching post, so little paw scratches are all over it. If I could call the police and get them in jail I would! But I know those who commit cat abuse are the ones whohysically harm a cat with a knife or a gun. And even they only get a fine and a few years. They ought to put them in jail for at least fifteen yrs.
- —Guest Moi
Cat enclosure compromise
- When we recently moved we planned to install a netting cat run down the side from fence to veranda. Our two new adoptees, Ghost and Mocha, now have a safe outdoors that we can use with them. Best of safe indoors and healthy outdoor.
- —Guest Sue c
Try Rescue Shelter First
- You sound very prepared! Very glad to hear it! Tho there is a gerenal temperment for specific cat breeds, it still comes down to each individual cat's personality. Rather than spending tons of $ on a breed, go to a rescue shelter pick out 2 young kittens. Ask the workers what their energy level is, personality, etc. You'll be saving kitty lives fullfilling your children's love for cats. But if you prefer or must have a specific breed (as some people do, I always suggest Ragdoll Cats for kids. They are known for the docile attitude go limp when you pick them up (hence the name, so it's less chance of clawing biting if your kids like to lug around a cat. The long hair is kinda annoying, but you've gotta weigh the pros cons as with ALL breeds.I encourage everyone to get 2 kittens. 1 kitty will get lonely by himself/herself. I mean you can't play with the kitten ALL the time. And kittens tend to have quite a bit of energy. Getting 2 kittens isn't even that expensive. You'll already have all the cat stuff, it's just a little extra food. Oh make sure to spay/neuter so they don't have babies. Pregnancies can end up costing a lot with all that extra food litter possible vet complications. But I'm rambling now. Sorry. Hehe.Hope that helps!~fayquest
- —Guest DLXHjflG
Indoors and outdoors
- My Angel would try to escape any time a door was opened. After numerous times of trying to chase her down to get her back in the house I decided to try something. On my day off, I just opened the door and let her out. She looked at me like she was waiting for me to throw my usual fit. With the satisfaction that I wasn't, she proceeded to go and sharpen her claws on a tree while I put clothes on the line. That day she went in and out five times. Each with my watchful eye. Now, she asks to go out and I know that she knows that she can come in any time that she wants. Although the outside cats that I have and her don't get along very well. But, she lets them know who is boss.
- —Guest Tracy
Ms.
- Yes, it's true, I'm finally a believer that cats should stay indoors. Two weeks ago my beautiful himalayan disappeared. There is no trace of him anywhere. I wish now that he had been an indoor cat.
- —Guest Linda
