Current Events > Is keeping cats indoors cruel?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Theyre an animal and youre locking them away from the natural world.
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Yeah, like let them out to fight other cats, get run over by cars, get tons of ticks and rabies sounds real humane.
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no it is worse to keep them outdoors
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My first cat I would let outside regularly. Never had any problems other than getting worms once in her life. Died of natural causes and was quite the happy cat.
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cats like to feel safe, and know that they have a regular source of food.

besides that, treat them well and play with them, and they should be fine.
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As long as an animal lives to its natural lifespan while remaining happy, I'd say any treatment it fine. The idea that an animal is always happiest in nature is dumb. When you have an animal in captivity that lasts barely half of its natural lifespan, then you know you're depriving it of something important.

Nope. Pretty sure my cats would prefer living 3-times as long, in a climate-controlled environment, where they dont need to worry about avoiding cars, or contracting diseases or waiting to be let back in so they can eat.

The average lifespan of an indoor cat is 12-18 years old. The average lifespan of an outdoor cat is 2-5 years old. So what do you think?

Cleo_II posted...

The average lifespan of an indoor cat is 12-18 years old. The average lifespan of an outdoor cat is 2-5 years old. So what do you think?

Quantity =/= quality. One of my cats acts like its torture to not be able to go outside occasionally, so I let him.

My cats seem pretty damn happy being indoor cats
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letting cats outdoors is cruel tbh
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cats destroy local ecosystems. dont let them out.
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If my cat ever went outside I would have a nervous breakdown.
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KronoCloud posted...

If my cat ever went outside I would have a nervous breakdown.

they wont go far and will probably just hide if it is scared. just need a trap with some kitty food and maybe a favorite blanket or something of theirs to get the scent.
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A cat has a lifetime of about thirty years indoors. Maybe five outdoors.

How do people actually keep indoor cats indoor though? Because you have to open windows to get fresh air in the house or when it's too warm.

I want to get a British shorthair but I keep hearing stories of cats getting ran over. Not just on the Internet. This lady i know irl wouldn't shut up about her cats. I listen to her talk about her cats for like 2 years. Then one day she said he got killed by a car. I felt pretty bad even though it was annoying listening to her talk about them every time I see her.
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Cats are outside animals
Dogs prefer to stick by their owners indoors
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People with indoor cats always have smelly houses
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Is it way more dangerous to let your cats outside, yes?

My family has had numerous cats over the course of our lives and some of them would try to claw their way through window screens while others had little interest in the outdoors.

We let them out whenever they wanted and they all lived happy full length lives. Some cats definitely arent built for it though.

Theyre still animals lol

My family cat was an outdoors cat. Would hang out in the yard and climb the fence like a little guard. Only came home to bloody violence once and then no other cats came to our yard and she never left it.

She was a good girl. Passed away a few years back from kidney failure.
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Cleo_II posted...

The average lifespan of an indoor cat is 12-18 years old. The average lifespan of an outdoor cat is 2-5 years old. So what do you think?

Have you ever walked your cats before?
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emblem boy posted...

Have you ever walked your cats before?

Is that even possible?

Questionmarktarius posted...

emblem boy posted...

Have you ever walked your cats before?

Is that even possible?

I've seen some videos on it. They also sell leashes for walking cats
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We can apply the same safer being inside logic to our children, but we allow them to leave the house.
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Questionmarktarius posted...

emblem boy posted...

Have you ever walked your cats before?

Is that even possible?

i can take my maine coon on a harness and he loves it. none of the other cats are down for it but i let them all out on my deck all of the time.

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Cobra1010 posted...

How do people actually keep indoor cats indoor though? Because you have to open windows to get fresh air in the house or when it's too warm.

Leave the screen closed. Cats, like any other animal, become accustomed to whatever environment theyre placed in. My cat tries to make a break for it maybe once a year or so, and when she gets outside she stays as close to the house as possible, so I just leave the door open, chase (walk) her around the full perimeter of the house and she runs back in when we get back to the door.

EffectAndCause posted...

We can apply the same safer being inside logic to our children, but we allow them to leave the house.

Right, because, as human beings, we need to leave the house for all sorts of things. Cats do not.

Yes its easy to take a cat on a walk

See?
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emblem boy posted...

Cleo_II posted...

The average lifespan of an indoor cat is 12-18 years old. The average lifespan of an outdoor cat is 2-5 years old. So what do you think?

Have you ever walked your cats before?

I tried with one of mine years ago (the one I had before my current boys). He was completely terrified and frozen in place. I do want to try with one of my current ones. Hes a lot more adventurous and I can see him really enjoying it. I just need to get a new harness and try. I know the other one would be terrified because he has no desire of going outside and is afraid of his own shadow.

Outdoor cats are fine, but I would never buy a cat for the sole purpose of putting it outside. I would feed a stray and they'll come back for more making them sort of a defacto outdoor cat pet that you don't really have to worry about much. I would take them to the vet to get spayed/neutered so they don't breed more, though.
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Cleo_II posted...

The average lifespan of an indoor cat is 12-18 years old. The average lifespan of an outdoor cat is 2-5 years old. So what do you think?

What about indoor/outdoor? I grew up with one that lived to be 22 and all the rest lived solid 10+ year lives.
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voldothegr8 posted...

Cleo_II posted...

The average lifespan of an indoor cat is 12-18 years old. The average lifespan of an outdoor cat is 2-5 years old. So what do you think?

What about indoor/outdoor? I grew up with one that lived to be 22 and all the rest lived solid 10+ year lives.

That doesnt change the fact that youre exposing your cats to all sorts of dangers when letting them out, like wild animals, cars and cruel humans. Growing up, we had 2 cats that were indoor/outdoors. The first died at age 4 from feline leukemia (a very painful death that honestly traumatized me) and the second vanished when he was 1. My brother got another cat a few years ago that he mostly kept indoors. One day he let him out when he was 3 and the cat never came home. My husband also had two cats before he met me. He had them for about a year and they were also mostly indoors but hed let them out occasionally. One day they also never came home. My cousins cat was killed by coyotes when he was 7.

Yes there are plenty of cases of cats who were let out and lived long full lives but exceptions dont make the rules.

SoraOwnsOctopus posted...

Yeah, like let them out to fight other cats, get run over by cars, get tons of ticks and rabies sounds real humane.

Yeah let your kid know outside to hurt themselves and get hit by cars and catch diseases. Real humane.

Ill keep my kid locked in the closet like a good parent.
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No. Especially given that they devestate the wildlife population and are just as prone to getting injured, killed, or diseased as any other pet that you just let roam. Its negligent.
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CanuckCowboy posted...

SoraOwnsOctopus posted...

Yeah, like let them out to fight other cats, get run over by cars, get tons of ticks and rabies sounds real humane.

Yeah let your kid know outside to hurt themselves and get hit by cars and catch diseases. Real humane.

Ill keep my kid locked in the closet like a good parent.

Most parents do supervise their kids and keeping track of them is easier then ever before.
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According to some of the responses in this topic, all animals should remain indoors for their safety.
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CanuckCowboy posted...

SoraOwnsOctopus posted...

Yeah, like let them out to fight other cats, get run over by cars, get tons of ticks and rabies sounds real humane.

Yeah let your kid know outside to hurt themselves and get hit by cars and catch diseases. Real humane.

Ill keep my kid locked in the closet like a good parent.

Thats a bad analogy considering parents supervise their kids when they are let out. I dont see parents letting their kids out alone for all hours of the day to brave the elements, and fend for food and water.

Cleo_II posted...

CanuckCowboy posted...

SoraOwnsOctopus posted...

Yeah, like let them out to fight other cats, get run over by cars, get tons of ticks and rabies sounds real humane.

Yeah let your kid know outside to hurt themselves and get hit by cars and catch diseases. Real humane.

Ill keep my kid locked in the closet like a good parent.

Thats a bad analogy considering parents supervise their kids when they are let out. I dont see parents letting their kids out alone for all hours of the day to brave the elements, and fend for food and water.

Well said.
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Yeah, my first three cats were indoor/outdoor and none of them lived past 6 years. The third one actually contracted heart-worms, which I had to watch her struggle with for years. The former two just ran off one day, and I have no idea if they were killed or if they just ran off to hide. So, not only did they not live as long as the indoor cats ive had since then, I wasnt able to say goodbye to them and had to spend weeks hoping in vain that theyd come back home (one had left for a few days before).

The cats Ive had since switching to indoor-only have seemed just as happy as my outdoor cats, but lived to be 16, 17 and 13 (this last one had health problems and, based on the temperament she had when we rescued her, was most likely abused by her former owner) respectively.

Kami_no_Kami posted...

Yeah, my first three cats were indoor/outdoor and none of them lived past 6 years. The third one actually contracted heart-worms, which I had to watch her struggle with for years. The former two just ran off one day, and I have no idea if they were killed or if they just ran off to hide. So, not only did they not live as long as the indoor cats ive had since then, I wasnt able to say goodbye to them and had to spend weeks hoping in vain that theyd come back home (one had left for a few days before).

The cats Ive had since switching to indoor-only have seemed just as happy as my outdoor cats, but lived to be 16, 17 and 13 (this last one had health problems and, based on the temperament she had when we rescued her, was most likely abused by her former owner) respectively.

Yeah not knowing what happened is a horrible feeling. When our second ran away, I was outside every day for about a week, looking for him and talking to neighbors to see if anyone saw him. It's heart wrenching. One dude was super suspicious too. He got real shifty eyed when I asked if he'd seen my cat. He claimed he did and fed him some of his granola bar and that was it. He seemed super nervous talking to me though. And the story was weird, who feeds cats granola bars? I always wondered if he took our cat, or if he harmed him. It still bothers me to this day.

No, cats are fine being kept indoors. Just get them a scratching post and some toys to play with to keep them entertained and they'll be happy.
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Domestic cats are indoor animals. If it never went outside, then it will not want to go outside, and will be terrified to step out.
People who make this kind of topic probably grew up in the farm. Not like theres anything wrong with it

If you're keeping a cat in a small apartment...it's debatable. I think it leads to a bit of a sucky existence to some extent then for the animal. But in a spacious 2 story house? No, not at all - that's more than enough room for them to wander around and find nooks and crannies to sleep in etc. BUT, then there is going to be a demand on the owner to actually play with the cat. If you're keeping a cat inside and never do shit with the cat except feed it then you shouldn't be a cat owner - they ultimately need some physical activity to have fun and an attentive owner of an indoors cat will oblige with toys.

But yeah, it's a known fact that if you let your cat outside, it's detrimental to the local environment at minimum - they're going to kill as many birds as they can, often just for sport. And if your cat isn't spayed or neutered, then that's another problem. And then on the side of the owner, any number of things can happen. A common issue is fleas, for example. And cats definitely have a habit of either getting killed by any number of things out in the open or getting 'adopted' by a neighbor.
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Depends on the cat. Some are just that type and others arent. Surprise surprise, like humans, each cat is different.

If you let your cat outdoors and dont do preventatives or even a fucking leukemia vaccine, then yes, youre a cruel bastard.
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No it's not cruel. Indoor cats tend to live longer healthier lives than outdoor cats or even cats that spend some time outdoors and some time indoors.
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My parents last cats were indoor cats. One got out a few times and one night was attacked by another cat in the neighborhood. She could have been killed. She would have been out all night if not for the fact that I was still awake and the other cat meowed at my door and he seemed distressed. I had heard the scuffle outside and put two and two together. She was very happy to get back inside.
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