We grew up with our cats being aloud some time outside, but they were mainly indoor cats. My main cat that I grew up with was very attached to us and wanted to spend most of her time right with us. We spent a lot of time outside and she was right there with us.
My kitty that I have now spends most of her day sleeping right with me where I sit on the sofa to use my laptop. She goes outside multiple times a day for 15 to 20 minutes, comes in, gets a bite to eat, then goes back to sleep.
But when it gets dark she likes to go outside for longer periods. I guess she’s been hunting because last night she brought me a bird. I feel pretty bad and am considering not letting her go out at night. But I don’t want her to be miserable.
My cat that I grew up with didn’t hunt live animals, she would bring home strange objects sometimes, but not mice and birds.
The problem with letting cats outside is the dangers. Coyotes, dogs, other cats, cars, and diseases and injury. It’s a crap shoot. You have to be ready for them to just not come back.
That being said, I have 3 that go outside. The rest all are inside only.
Cats who go outside tend to die young. But if you’re more comfortable letting the cats out then that’s your business and no one else’s. Unless, of course, if it’s against the law in your town. In mine, feral cats and pet cats outdoors are allowed
Also with outdoor cats there’s the Issue of them getting lost. I’ve had like 10 cats throughout my life all outdoor cats and they always get lost after a number of years. They also get Into fights with racoons. I get your point tho …Idk for longevity I’d say indoor but if you just want them to be free more power to you…cause if I was a cat I’d rather be an outdoors cat lol
We got a kitten at the beginning of the year, he has now been castrated and sleeps indoors at night. I think that he would have been happy chasing after the female cats and adventuring at night.
The best thing you can do if you want to have a cat that goes outdoors is get educated in first aid and medical care for them.
Get some antibiotics to keep on hand, people amoxillin is fine. You can mix it in their water when sick.
If you can get cat anti inflammatory meds, that’s even better. Hard to get without prescription. Baby aspirin is good to keep on hand, cats can have half a baby aspirin once a day for up to 5 days at a time. Longer is hard on kidneys. No Tylenol and no ibuprofen- they’re toxic to cats.
Triple antibiotic cream for injuries. Saline solution to clean injuries is easy to make, there are recipes online.
I wish Tigger wouldn’t have gotten a taste of the outside. Poor thing comes home occasionally limping or scuffed up. He’s a runt and very small. If we don’t let him out then he pees everywhere.
Charles was an outside cat until he wondered up to dad and he’s been an inside cat ever since. Charlie lost a little ear and facial hair to frostbite we think so he has no desire to go outside.
It’s a tough call to let a cat outside that’s for sure.
i’m in uk
the only danger is theives of cars
i still grieve for my kitten who was hit by a car
but all our cats all my life have always been allowed out
the 2 bengals we have now are always out
one of them has a really big territory he crosses the road (not busy) every day with confidence
When I lived with my mom she got a log and laid it flat on the floor and the cat would stand on it and sharpen her claws. She wouldn’t have used a scratching post. But it’s very important to not force the cat to use it, just lie it down and let the cat discover it, she won’t use it if you use force, cats have free will, they need to make their own decisions.
My cat is 100% indoor. I did that deliberately so that he wouldn’t get squashed on the road, wouldn’t hunt down and kill native wildlife, won’t enter other people’s yards (and face the risk of being poisoned by them) and they avoid a lot of disease and injury. He is 14 years old, but still acts like a very young cat. He is happy indoors. He never tries to escape, and the one time he did go outside without us, he ran straight back to the door to be let in again. I think indoor cats are far more affectionate than those that go outside. I’ve had both indoor and outdoor cats, and my little Binx is by far the most loving.
