cat - outdoor or indoor?

[deemabrouk 0]

I put.. I'm a dog person 100%.. BUT i do have a cat.. and she is outdoors... unless you truely live in the Sticks.. I think it is best to leave them in... and by Sticks I mean.. when you look out your window you DONT see another house!

[cheeky^Wolf 0]

Our cat's an indoor one and she's quite happy. We back onto woods and I'd be too worried she'd go up there and disappear.

We've recently fenced in our yard so the dogs spend more time outside and she stands at the door meowing. I felt so bad I was carrying her out onto the porch and holding her while she sniffed the air and looked around.

Eventually I decided we had to find a solution, so we bought her a dog kennel thing from Walmart for $28. She loves it! She even sleeps in it when I bring it in the house. She sits out there watching the dogs run around, catching bugs and sleeping. I'd recommend one to anyone who wants their cat to get some fresh air but not let loose. There are more expensive alternatives that are all netted and specifically for cats, but this one works just great and is alot cheaper.

Here's a picture of her tormenting Sadie from the safety of her house.

[sparkofcreation 0]

It's funny, the shelter we adopted Sgàthach from made us sign something promising we'd never let her outside ... in the UK, shelters make you promise you won't keep the cat INside all the time!

My (British, obviously) sister in law still claims we're torturing the kitties by keeping them indoors.

[homesick_american 1]

Does anyone think it's cruel to have a strictly indoors cat? As in, if you don't live in a place where you can let your cat out, you shouldn't own a cat.

(P.S. I'm not attacking anyone, I honestly don't know whether there are people who feel that way)

You can't let a cat roam outdoors in Dallas anymore, so it's not even a choice. Cats have to be on a leash or confined in a fenced area.

[deemabrouk 0]

I put.. I'm a dog person 100%.. BUT i do have a cat.. and she is outdoors... unless you truely live in the Sticks.. I think it is best to leave them in... and by Sticks I mean.. when you look out your window you DONT see another house!

I just realized i put outdoor... OOPS!!!!!!

She is indoor!.. then I had a back porch.. she would go there.. but mainly stayed in the house

Edited June 9, 2007 by deemabrouk

[Lou Lou 1]

I acquired my neighbor's cat last year and she's an indoor cat for the VT winter, and outdoor for the summer. They gave her to me because they were moving out to the sticks, and they know she wouldn't have lasted 48hrs with all the coyotes out there. She was actually raised an indoor cat, but when my neighbors got her, she just loved being outside, so they vaccinated her up and she has a great time bringing all kinds of wildlife in. As long as she's still healthy, I plan on taking her back home with me when we move even though she's getting be an old lady (nearly 11). I just couldn't bear to leave her behind.

I must admit I do have a problem with indoor only cats unless it's due to climate/illness/safety. I guess because it's so common back in the UK for cats to be outdoor/indoor creatures. My tux who now lives with my Mum would go crazy if he was kept inside.

Don't even get me started on declawing.

[doodlebug 3]

I had to sign something saying I'd keep Christabella indoors too. I always wondered how cats know where home is if they're outside. And how do you know they're at the door wanting to get in?

[Ban Hammer 12,878]

I had to sign something saying I'd keep Christabella indoors too. I always wondered how cats know where home is if they're outside. And how do you know they're at the door wanting to get in?

cat i had previously was an indoor cat, he was scared of the outside. i'm afraid to let my current kitty out, he's so darn cute someone will take him home.

kitty pic for mags and other cat lovers

[Donna A 4]

im a dog person too but since getting the cat i guess im both.

i only let the cat out if im holding her in my arms. the dog gets to excape once in a while for a short jog around the yard but i keep my babies in the house safe from flees and cars.

i just go crazy when i see someones baby squashed on the road.

[doc_cute 0]

i am not much of a pet lover

[Donna A 4]

i got mine declawed and it dont even faze her a bit. she still goes thru the motions of scratching but just no damage to anything. she still makes dough in my skin just no pain. i tried the soft caps and holding her down was not fun to put them on.

for ones with cat allergies here is a sight for you. there is info at the bottom. and yes this is where i got my kitty and she is the pic sleeping with my dog.http://www.keittasiberians.com/main_page.html

[Mags 112]

Don't even get me started on declawing.

Absolutely.

[Elphie 0]

My cats stay indoors.

[sereia 0]

i read somewhere that outdoor cats live less than half the lives (on average) than an indoor cat.

my cats are all indoor. we've had many outdoor cats in the past and found that most of them were eaten by coyotes, or run over by cars. not worth it in my neighborhood imho.

but currently my family has a cat who is 21 years old and he is indoor/outdoor. don't know how in the world he's survived this long when we've had cats before and after him who are long gone!

[Erica 0]

I have two mostly indoor cats, but we do have outings in the summer. And then they basically graze my entire garden as if they are goats. Good times.

And yes, I can't NOT post a pic of them