Do you let your cats run at large?

[IRescue452]

Last night at 3 in the morning there was a cat in heat howling in my front yard. I went off to chase it away seeing as I have to work early and I don't want to be up all night, and 3 cats went running from my garden. One cat was in the area where some baby birds were learning to fly that day (gee, who ate one of the babies last weekend?). One was trying to fish the goldfish out of our pond. The third was the howler. This morning I found a break-away cat collar in the garden. No tags though. I know they are/were somebody's pet, neither of them was our normal big grey stray who hangs around.

I am so sick of these animals. If they aren't spayed then they probably aren't vaccinated. What if all their poop all over our yard gave something to myself, my animals, or my family? I'm at the point where I want to trap them and take them to a far away shelter, then send their owners a nasty note and make them think I did something bad to hurt their cats. Either way, I'm going to set traps.

Let this be a lesson to anybody who reads this thread; an animal at large is an animal at large, and the fact that its a cat gives you no more right to let it loose. I'd be well within the law to shoot these cats. Lucky I don't blame the cats. If you want you precious cats to go outside. Build an enclosure with a top or use a harness and a leash like a responsible person. End rant.

[Pawsitive Thinking]

As a responsible cat owner I find your post highly offensive. Clearly trying to resurrect the indoor v outdoor cat issue which is never going to be resolved amicably. Brody has 24 hour access to the house so is neither an indoor or outdoor cat but that does not make me a jerk

[Casper]

Nope, just for the fact that I would be worrying where they were the whole time. The only cat that I let outside is Khaith and he never gets more than two feet away from me.

Out of our whole neighborhood(I live in a large lake-side neighborhood) there are only 2-3 cats left on the loose. We are lucky enough to have the town's "Crazy Cat Lady" living right in the heart of the neighborhood and she does a great job with the whole trap, neuter, release thing. :) None of us have ever had a problem with the cats. It helps that they are all taken care of by the whole neighborhood. I seriously think that those cats get a dozen meals a day.

[sasvermont]

Well, well, well. This topic has been discussed before and I suspect no one answer is "the answer". One would hope that each person would be able to judge each situation accordingly.

I keep my cats inside for the most part. Two of mine, the Abys, are not outside cats, personality wise. They are a mess and won't come in for days, if they get out. Lucy, the big black barn cat is in and out all day long when I am home. She is in a night! Why you ask? There are wolves, foxes etc. in my town and I don't want her to be part of the food chain.

One would think that most owners would want what is best for their pet - for them to be safe and to not prey on other animals/birds etc. You cannot mandate this...just hope for their common sense to kick in early in their pet ownership.

It is my opinion that if someone leaves their pet out all night, they (the pets) are free game, to be trapped by someone bothered by them, eaten by a bigger animal, hit by a car....... Unfortunately not everyone goes to the trouble to spay and neuter their pets....creating a horror of horrors for those of us trying to get a good night's sleep. Not to mention the creation of new, and for the most part, unwanted animals. Ugh.


So I vote for a trap, neuter program in your neighborhood. I did it years ago, and we have not had problems since then. That is not to say that we don't have a stray cat or two from time to time, we do. Just not herds of cats like we did before. I also went to a couple of farmers in the area and asked them to take their cats to the free/cheap spay neuter clinic.

I feel your pain. Not everyone cares much about their neighbors' sleep.....but that is life. I hope you get help with this problem, as the animals will benefit in the long run too.

[horselover365]

As a responsible cat owner I find your post highly offensive. Clearly trying to resurrect the indoor v outdoor cat issue which is never going to be resolved amicably. Brody has 24 hour access to the house so is neither an indoor or outdoor cat but that does not make me a jerk

I totally agree. I let my cats outside, they have acess to the house at all times, and they never leave my yard. My one cat does not even go outside simply because she does not want to.

[columbine]

I agree that letting cats roam is irresponsible, but if someone who can't afford to take on another cat goes the extra mile to to do TNR, they're doing a great deal of good.

Love, Columbine

[Suki Wingy]

Both my cat, and the cats I will be living with this fall, are not allowed out of the house for any reason except to go to the vets office. My grandmother's cats, however, are allowed out in her back yard that is FENCED, and since they are declawed, (that's another story) they can't get out. Before the 6 foot wood fences, they went out on harnesses.

[Freedom]

The last option in your poll indicates that you are not familiar with TNRM, as that is NEVER the attitude of the program volunteers.

[Suki Wingy]

I believe it is sarcastic, her views on what catch and release is.

[Zippy]

No,I don't believe in outdoor cats.I had outdoor cats when I was younger and will never do it again.My girls are indoors only.

[cassiesmom]

Nope. The building management gets hinky if any pet is in the hall unleashed.

[krazyaboutkatz]

No, mine are all indoor only. I live in a condo and our rules say that all cats must be indoor only or they'll be trapped and taken to a shelter or if they have ID tags on we may be fined for letting them roam free outside. Even if these weren't the rules, I'd still make all of my cats stay indoors only. It's so much safer and I always know where they are.:)

[Jessika]

As a responsible cat owner I find your post highly offensive. Clearly trying to resurrect the indoor v outdoor cat issue which is never going to be resolved amicably. Brody has 24 hour access to the house so is neither an indoor or outdoor cat but that does not make me a jerk

I agree....

My in-laws' cats are mostly outdoor cats, all are spayed and neutered and UTD on shots/dewormed, get them medical attention whenever they need it no questions asked and love them more than anything... but I guess they're irresponsible jerks, too...

[3muttsandaboston]

I chose irresponsible jerk because my cats are indoor/outdoor.

[lute]

I don't have a cat right now. When I did she was an indoor/outdoor cat. I find nothing wrong with an outdoor cat. In my opinion some cats are happier outside. Even though I do not have a cat I still find it offensive.

[Miss Z]

I don't have a cat right now. When I did she was an indoor/outdoor cat. I find nothing wrong with an outdoor cat. In my opinion some cats are happier outside. Even though I do not have a cat I still find it offensive.

Totally agreed!

My RB cats Brando and Zsa-Zsa were allowed access outdoors all their lives (apart from Zsa-Zsa's final year, when she went blind, although she could go in our fenced back garden whenever she liked). They were happy, healthy cats who led enjoyable lives; they could roam about in the park next door as much as they pleased.

Before I joined Pet Talk I had no idea the indoor/outdoor cat topic was so heated. I realise now that in my part of the world it is far more customary to let cats outdoors and that in others it is frowned upon. But, even now when I no longer own a cat, am highly offended when people pick out such statistics that outdoor cats don't live as long as indoor cats (my cats lived to be 15 and 16), cannot cope with being outdoors (hmm, cats running across fields and jumping up trees to their heart's content sure looks risky) and are owned by horrible, irresponsible people who don't neuter/de-flea/remotely care about their pets. I could say that most indoor cats I know *in person* are fat and bored out of their mind and that their owners are over-protective and cruel to keep them cooped up. But I know that isn't reflective of indoor cats and their owners on the whole and so I never say it. So I don't see why anyone else has the right to assume so many things about the people who let cats out. :rolleyes:

I can understand why keeping cats indoors is a good idea in certain circumstances, such as if the cat is disabled in some way, the owner lives near a very busy road, it is not allowed in their area or if there are predators about. But other than that I don't think it's fair to deny a cat a bit of freedom. They are naturally independent animals and like to have time by themselves, unlike a dog, which likes being around people or their own kind.

Rest assured any cats I have in the future will go outside and I'll carry on being a 'jerk' to the end of my days. :D

[Suki Wingy]

I think it's more the issue of intact cats running at large and cats that run into the streets and get hit by cars, which happens unfortunately a lot.
I used to think the standard life span for cats was 20 years, since until we lost our cat at 23, I had known several cats in their twenties, all indoor cats.

[jennielynn1970]

I am so sick of these animals. If they aren't spayed then they probably aren't vaccinated. What if all their poop all over our yard gave something to myself, my animals, or my family? I'm at the point where I want to trap them and take them to a far away shelter, then send their owners a nasty note and make them think I did something bad to hurt their cats. Either way, I'm going to set traps.




None of my cats go outside. I live in the city, and that is not the place for an animal to be roaming free. We have strays in the area, and I have done trapping and gotten them neutered/spayed and found them new homes.

My mom and dad have 3 cats that do go indoors and outdoors (on a 100 acre farm...), but they spend the nights indoors always, and are also spayed/neutered.

While I can understand you being annoyed by the howling and all that, your alternative to trap them, take them far away and sending a nasty note to the owners is just as bad as letting the cats run at large.

Do you actually rescue?? I'm not sure I'd want someone with your attitude as a rescuer, or for that matter, a neighbor.

[pitc9]

I am not a cat owner, but I did find your poll a little harsh.

In just the same way bad owners spoil dog breeds... the same happens to indoor/outdoor cats.
A few rotten apples shouldn't spoil it for everyone.

And your comment about TNR, wow!! :eek:
Do you realize exactly what those people do?
The time, money, blood (literally) sweat and tears they put into doing that all because the REAL irresponsible jerk dumped a few cats off thinking they would be able to take care of themselves on their own??
THERE... there are your irresponsible jerks ... the people that dump the cats that end up forming colonies that people work their asses off to TNR.


My parent's have a beautiful Maine Coon names Leroy and he is an in/out cat. They are responsible owners and had him neutered and gets shots every year and he has 5 acres to himself and he sleeps inside everynight!

So to answer your poll... my parent's cat is an indoor/outdoor cat but they are by NO means irresponsible jerks.
So I guess that makes them responsible jerks!
:D

[Twisterdog]

My two cents worth, sure to be unpopular:

I own dogs. I keep my dogs on my property. They are NEVER allowed to run loose, in my neigbors' yards. If my neighbors wanted dogs, they would get their own. My dogs are my responsibility, and I would never subject them to danger running loose, nor would I subject my neighbors to their presence.

So WHY do cat owners think it is different for them? I'm sure some cats are happier running loose around the neighborhood. My dogs would be happier running around loose, too ... peeing on everything, digging up flower beds, pooping on other people's grass. I do not, for one second, however, think that my dogs' happiness gives me the right to intrude on the rights of other people.

My neighbors' cats use my flowerbeds for litter boxes. They scream and yowl all night on my fence. They have kittens in my shed. If I would have wanted to deal with all this, I would have gotten a cat. It's not fair, and it's not right. I don't park my car in my neighbor's garage. I don't let my kids go into my neighbors' yards and break things. I don't let my dogs run amok on my neighbors' property. WHY, just because it is a cat, is it somehow different? It is NOT.

I don't care if it is a child, a dog, a cat, a rabbit, a ferret ... if it belongs to you, keep it on your own property and don't invade the space or property rights of others.

[Suki Wingy]

I actually agree with everything you just said, Twisterdog.

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

As a responsible cat owner I find your post highly offensive. Clearly trying to resurrect the indoor v outdoor cat issue which is never going to be resolved amicably. Brody has 24 hour access to the house so is neither an indoor or outdoor cat but that does not make me a jerk

I agree 100% !!!It isn't very nice to call people who let their cats out are all irresponsible and jerks :(. When you make a poll, you have to give all possible solutions, not just the ones that are right in your opinion..........:(

[kt_luvs_kitties]

I am going to completely ignore this poll...

I think you need to rethink your position, and you DO blame the cats, or else you would not want to take them away to a far off shelter.



If you are that concerned, and want the howling to stop, DO TRAP THEM. then take them to be fixed.... That would solve the problem of howling and wandering into your yard, mostly.

It is ALOT harder than you might think. I have done TNR... and they were MY problem. I have 15 cats(indoor only), thats as many as I can keep. That was the only rational choice I could make for the strays.... I never thought of it as "they are not my problem."


And if it is that bad, tape a note to the cats collar, follow them, post signs and talk to the owner.

PS- You DO NOT have the right to shoot them. Noone does.

[Alysser]

I agree with Twisterdog, though I don't find it a big deal if your cat is in your yard/garden/balcony and supervised or trained to not go outside. I know if dog owners let their dogs run around a neighborhood their would be BIG problems.


I'm sorry you are having problems with these cats, but I think this poll is way out of line. I don't understand why you have to be so rude? There is no need for it. Just because a cat is let outdoors doesn't make a person an idiot or irresponsible. You let your dogs outside to go to the bathroom, does that make you and idiot? That's basically what you're saying to me. By the way, if you trap the cats and tell the owners you posioned them or something I hope they call Animal Control on you. I find that really, really stupid to even say that to someone. You could just say you did them a favor and spayed humanely trapped their cat's for them and got them spayed so they wouldn't be such a nuisance or not even say anything at all.

[luvofallhorses]

I also find it (the poll) very offensive. :rolleyes:

As a proud responsible owner of two wonderful cats, I do NOT let my cats outside. They do sneak out once in awhile but venture into our neighbor's yard and that yard only. The neighbors are friendly and don't mind them but they don't "run at large" or dig in flower beds. they just lay under the trees in that yard but they are rarely outdoors because we live by a busy street and letting them out frequently is very irresponsible in my eyes because they could easily get killed by being hit by a car. that is my worst nightmare, that's why they are 99.9% inside.

My 5 wonderful dogs don't run at large either. they go outside to play and go potty and lounge in the sun with food and water provided. they hate being outside and are always indoors unless they are outside playing or lounging in the sun. they all have collars and tags and their current rabies tags and are only out of the yard to go for walks on leash.

[Randi]

I don’t think many here are taking your silly poll serious - you made it to provoke, right? In any case, you need lots more options, and no. 3 you can skip altogether, it’s irrelevant.

I can symphathise with you concerning lack of sleep because of the howling, but then, either find out if these cats are owned by someone, and ask them to be responsible, or call a cat rescue place to come and trap them.

People in Europe handle cats very different from many Americans, we don’t declaw them and many have catflaps, so they can come and go as they please. I believe most people are responsible enough not to let their cats out if there’s a busy road nearby.

[Miss Z]

Just to add my opinion on why letting dogs run around would be an entirely different matter to letting cats out. Probably will get flamed for this, but oh well.

A cat is an independent animal. It is not in its nature to want to be around humans and other animals all the time. A dog is a pack animal. It likes being around people and its own kind. It would be unusual for a dog to want to be alone in the same way a cat does.

Plus, if dogs ran around free, they would form packs, and that would be really, really dangerous. Cats do not form packs. They are of no danger to anybody unless you try to antagonise them in some way, in which case, you deserve to get scratched.

A cat is agile. They are very streetwise and the majority learn quickly about how to stay away from passing cars. Outside cats are more likely to sunbathe next to a bush away from humans or go hunting, again away from humans. A dog, meanwhile, is not streetwise, it would come up to people all the time, and that could be dangerous.

So letting a dog roam free IS different from letting a cat roam free.

I empathise with the fact cat poop and pee and yowling is unwelcome. As I said earlier, it is irresponsible to let a cat out if it hasn't been fixed or vaccinated. A neutered cat doesn't really yowl. As for cat mess in the garden, that is trickier to control, I'll admit. We never had a problem on that front as our cats would stay away from the neighbours' gardens and use the park instead. Our male cat, Brando, did go ever so slightly senile in his old age and on a few occasions tore neighbours' bin bags when they were out for the rubbish man to collect. We discouraged this behaviour by spraying the area around where we placed our own bin bags with room air freshener. It more or less worked. Plus, there are methods of keeping cats off your property, such as repellents and devices that emit sounds only audible to cats when they pass it. Some of our neighbours, who are very proud of their garden, have used one of these for years. It always worked with our cats and does the same with all of the other cats in the neighbourhood. It's worth the investment.

And I agree with everything Randi said.

ETA: I think the age cats live to has little, if nothing, to do with whether they are indoors or outdoors. I realise perhaps, purely on a broad, statistical basis, an outdoor cat has a shorter lifespan than that of an indoor cat because, inevitably, some are unlucky enough to be killed by a danger in the outside world. But I think a cat's lifespan depends on many other circumstances; breeding, diet and general health, for example. I've known outdoor cats to live beyond 25, and indoor cats to only reach 9, and vice versa. I suppose it's the luck of the draw. There are dangers for us when we step outside our front doors, too.

[Alysser]

Just to add my opinion on why letting dogs run around would be an entirely different matter to letting cats out. Probably will get flamed for this, but oh well.

A cat is an independent animal. It is not in its nature to want to be around humans and other animals all the time. A dog is a pack animal. It likes being around people and its own kind. It would be unusual for a dog to want to be alone in the same way a cat does.

Plus, if dogs ran around free, they would form packs, and that would be really, really dangerous. Cats do not form packs. They are of no danger to anybody unless you try to antagonise them in some way, in which case, you deserve to get scratched.

A cat is agile. They are very streetwise and the majority learn quickly about how to stay away from passing cars. Outside cats are more likely to sunbathe next to a bush away from humans or go hunting, again away from humans. A dog, meanwhile, is not streetwise, it would come up to people all the time, and that could be dangerous.

So letting a dog roam free IS different from letting a cat roam free.

I empathise with the fact cat poop and pee and yowling is unwelcome. As I said earlier, it is irresponsible to let a cat out if it hasn't been fixed or vaccinated. A neutered cat doesn't really yowl. As for cat mess in the garden, that is trickier to control, I'll admit. We never had a problem on that front as our cats would stay away from the neighbours' gardens and use the park instead. Our male cat, Brando, did go ever so slightly senile in his old age and on a few occasions tore neighbours' bin bags when they were out for the rubbish man to collect. We discouraged this behaviour by spraying the area around where we placed our own bin bags with room air freshener. It more or less worked. Plus, there are methods of keeping cats off your property, such as repellents and devices that emit sounds only audible to cats when they pass it. Some of our neighbours, who are very proud of their garden, have used one of these for years. It always worked with our cats and does the same with all of the other cats in the neighbourhood. It's worth the investment.

And I agree with everything Randi said.

ETA: I think the age cats live to has little, if nothing, to do with whether they are indoors or outdoors. I realise perhaps, purely on a broad, statistical basis, an outdoor cat has a shorter lifespan than that of an indoor cat because, inevitably, some are unlucky enough to be killed by a danger in the outside world. But I think a cat's lifespan depends on many other circumstances; breeding, diet and general health, for example. I've known outdoor cats to live beyond 25, and indoor cats to only reach 9, and vice versa. I suppose it's the luck of the draw. There are dangers for us when we step outside our front doors, too.

Actually, Zara, you made a very valid point. Although I really don't agree with it, letting cats roam around neighborhoods is not the same as letting dogs do this. I just don't like having to think that if I let my dog in my neighbors yard there would be huge problems but their cat has free roam of the entire neighborhood, though. It's a bit hypocritical. I see your point though. Cats and dogs are totally different animals. Although, I mostly agree with the not letting your cats run free thing, I don't think her post was very nice at all.

[CathyBogart]

Wow, aren't you a peach?

I have one indoor-only cat, one indoor-outdoor cat, and I'm involved in TNR when I can be, so I guess that makes me a stupid irresponsible person. :rolleyes:

[jennielynn1970]

**I find his/her screen name to be a bit ironic if this is actually his/her view on the subject of rescue and TNR.**

________________________________________
I'm not a fan of dogs, cats, rats, goats, horses, or any animal roaming neighborhoods. I get upset when I see so many strays that scavenge in my neighborhood. I just realized that the one neighbor and her bratty little son, who totally irritated me, have moved and we now have a very pretty "stray" grey marbled tabby in the neighborhood. Hmmmm... coincidence? I think not.

There are many other options than the ones you listed, for more humane in any case, that would be much more appropriate to handle the outside cats that you hear yowling. I hope you will take the suggestions that have been listed here and utilize them.

[Miss Z]

Actually, Zara, you made a very valid point. Although I really don't agree with it, letting cats roam around neighborhoods is not the same as letting dogs do this. I just don't like having to think that if I let my dog in my neighbors yard there would be huge problems but their cat has free roam of the entire neighborhood, though. It's a bit hypocritical. I see your point though. Cats and dogs are totally different animals. Although, I mostly agree with the not letting your cats run free thing, I don't think her post was very nice at all.

Thank you, Alyssa. Here we can clearly see that people like you in this thread are mature enough to consider someone else's point of view without getting rude or snappy. I respect your opinion. :)



**I find his/her screen name to be a bit ironic if this is actually his/her view on the subject of rescue and TNR.**


Yes, now you mention it, that is quite an interesting point.

[mruffruff]

I never meant to have cats. I started with 4 dogs. And I put up a big fence so they wouldn't run loose or bother the neighbors.

Then neighbors moved and left their kittens to fend for themselves. Guess who fed them? Then spayed/neutered/vetted them? And ended up taking them inside to keep them safe?

Over the past 5 years, I've taken more than 42 cats off the streets. Some have had to be euthanized because of health problems. A few have been adopted and some have been turned over to the no-kill rescue/shelter that I work with. Twelve live with me. Two of them are indoor-outdoor during the day, only because they will chew their tails bloody if I don't let them out. All of them stay in from 10 PM to 6 AM.

Now there are another half dozen that I feed on the front porch. They are all boys, all neutered, all up to date on shots. But I have no room at the inn....and the rescue/shelter is full too.

Fortunately, the neighborhood is small, relatively safe and the people don't mind.

Someday, somehow, these 6 will come inside or be adopted. Until then, they will have to 'run wild'.

Maybe a little TNR on your part would let you get some sleep.

[Medusa]

I didn't check any of the boxes due to the wording but my cats have always been indoors. They're all rescues that were either badly abused, neglected or sick. Since they had a rough start in life, I want them to have it easy for the rest of their lives and outdoor kitties don't fare as well as indoor kitties.

[pomtzu]

Well - I'm on both sides of this fence. I have two indoor only cats and they have never been out, except in a carrier to go to the vet. And what's more - they have absolutely no desire to go out. On the other hand, I also have an outdoor only cat - he is the resident stray that showed up here almost six years ago. I found out he belonged to a neighbor that threw him out along with all the other pets - and his wife. He was neutered when he arrived - never goes far from the house - is very street smart - and absolutely wants no part of being in the house. I realize that he probably won't have as long a life span living outside, but it's his choosing. Since I live in a rural/farm area, there are cats everywhere, but surprisingly not as many roaming as I've seen in some suburban areas. I do have to agree - it's not so much of a problem as dogs roaming since dogs can form packs and be potentially dangerous. In most instances a cat will run from you, whereas the dog could run at you with questionable intentions!

[davidpizzica]

I think it's more the issue of intact cats running at large and cats that run into the streets and get hit by cars, which happens unfortunately a lot.
I used to think the standard life span for cats was 20 years, since until we lost our cat at 23, I had known several cats in their twenties, all indoor cats.

My RB kitty, Thai was a complete indoor cat and she lived to the ripe old age of 22.

[Cataholic]

Miss Z, I adore your post, but, must disagree with you completely on this topic. At large animals are at large animals. For whatever reason, a person should have the right to restrict ANY unwanted animal on their property.

Here, in the US, I would think it is pretty common to have local animal ordinances that DO address this issue, as it applies to both felines and canines. Enforced? Perhaps not. BUT, it is pretty hard to catch a fleeing cat.

I have a lovely flower bed that has become a litterbox. I have particular areas on my house that make the opening of windows a horrible decision. Why? Cause the neighbors cats- all of whome I adore (both felines and hoomans alike) spray MY house! MY HOUSE!!!! Every try scubbing down brick with OdorXit? Expensive, somewhat ineffective, and very time consuming. I don't really adore explaining to my 4 year old that comes across the dead birds in my yard the cruel realities of life. Bad enough that they die of natural causes, but, to know the neighbors cats killed them is horrible to me.

Want YOUR cats to roam? Great. Keep them in your yard. Please.

[Desert Arabian]

Wow, the original poster must have gone off her medications! I do understand the frustrations of having a stray animal causing some minor problems on personal property. Cat urine is not a pleasant smell at all. I'm so glad I don't live near you- cause if I found out you shot an animal of mine- you better believe I'd show up on your door step with my 12 gauge loaded. You think it's perfectly legal to shoot a stray animal that's on your property in the state of Wisconsin? Guess again. Unless it's causing immediate danger- good luck proving that to the game warden and police officers when come to question you. How disturbing. But don't worry IRescue452, Wisconsin is trying hard to pass a law that makes feral cats legal game- all you will need to do is buy a small game license and you can shoot all the cats you want. I'm sure you'll be the first in line if that law ever gets passed. :rolleyes:

ANYHOW.....

My parents cats are indoor/outdoor. However, they cannot leave the yard since we have a cat-proof fence installed around the perimeter.

[All Creatures Great And Small]

The cats DesertArabian mentioned in the above post are my cats, and to clarify, I have had indoor only cats all of my life UNTIL last year when we finally sprang for the cat fence. Dudley got to the ripe old age of 10 before he was allowed to venture out "loose" into the fenced yard. Before that they went outdoors (not often) on harnesses, or with me standing next to them one at a time to explore a little of the front yard ("herding" them with a broom :p:D ). Technically my cats are indoor/slightly outdoor, since they can't roam out of the yard and we close the cat flap in the winter so they have to stay inside.

I can't believe IRescue452 OWNS a cat and yet would be perfectly fine with shooting one. :confused: IRescue452, I sure hope your sacred indoor cat never accidentally slips out the door and takes off on you one day - considering you may have some really HOSTILE, judgmental neighbors........ :mad::rolleyes:

[bckrazy]

This is reallyyy old... and I couldn't vote... but...

I DO agree with the OP, to an extent (besides the trap and release part). I DON'T agree with the attitude, but it sounds like she was pretty frustrated at the time.

I hate cats roaming the neighborhood, at large, at all hours. Does that mean I hate cats? No. I love cats. I hate worrying about them, I hate worrying about my dogs hurting them when they wander into my backyard on a daily basis, I hate worrying about the coyotes/owls/foxes/mountain lions in the area who love to snack on them, and I HATE having to literally coast through my neighborhood for fear of hitting a cat. I also HATE fighting back tears when I see the countless dead outdoor cats as a result of all of the aforementioned dangers. It's just not fair.

Twisterdog totally took the words out of my mouth - is a pet's "happiness" (which is subjective) really worth putting that pet's life in danger? I have no qualms with people who allow their cats to have fun outside, supervised. If your cat stays on your property, that's your business. But if you aren't supervising or containing your cat, you are throwing your cat which is YOUR responsibility 24/7/365, into a very dangerous world. Not even considering the diseases that an outdoor cat is at risk of contracting and spreading.... Anyone who says their cat roaming the neighborhood alone is safe is in serious denial.

Who ever said that cats magically have street smarts and dogs don't... hmmm. That's funny. I suppose the hundreds of cats I've seen dead in the road, and the dozens I've seen disembowled by local wildlife, were just mentally challenged cats? :(

[bckrazy]

I can't believe IRescue452 OWNS a cat and yet would be perfectly fine with shooting one. :confused: IRescue452, I sure hope your sacred indoor cat never accidentally slips out the door and takes off on you one day - considering you may have some really HOSTILE, judgmental neighbors........ :mad::rolleyes:

Um... I believe "well within the law" does not equate to being perfectly fine with shooting a cat. Honestly, I don't know if it's legal or not, but a person shooting your roaming cat is the LEAST of your worries. ("your" being used in a general sense) Cars, dogs, disease, wildlife, other cats, etc, are of far more eminence.

I absolutely notice when I see a cat that isn't a "regular". And if they allow me to approach them, I check for a collar and tags and call their owner if they have any. But, I KNOW all of the outdoor cats. I know them because I have to check my backyard for cats before I let my dogs out - and there is almost always at least one. I completely empathize with lost cats, as my favorite cat ever was stolen/lost.

[chocolatepuppy]

My two cats are indoor only. My neighbor behind me telling me she found one of the strays she was trying to rescue in the ditch with an arrow through it's head makes me glad they are. We also have quite a bit of wildlife around here and I'll never believe a cat is any match for a raccoon. I do not believe cats can 'take care of themselves' in the outside world. I have seen many on the side of the road. Unfortunately, there are cat haters out there who will run a cat over on purpose.:mad: As for cats in my yard, it makes me angry because I fenced in my yard for my dogs, not to have cats hanging around to cause problems and possibly injure or get injured by one of my dogs. When we first moved here we had cats spraying on our house, we were not amused.:rolleyes: I realize there are 'safer' places people live and their cats do fine outside and that is all good, to each his own. :)

[Medusa]

I posted about this earlier and voted but I feel the need to comment again. Sometimes a cat being outdoors is the only solution w/the overpopulation of cats. I did TNR work for quite some time because the cats were so feral that no one would take them and I had 8 of my own, all indoor, whose health and safety I wouldn't jeopardize. It can be frustrating, believe me, when cats roam the neighborhood and spray. There are two here who love my patio and prefer to sun there, which is fine w/me, but then they spray. My nice new stainless steel BBQ grill is corroded on the sides due to cat urine, even though I have it covered. Do I want to shoot them? Uh, no. I want to give them a home but no one wants these cats. They don't even sleep in shelters that are provided for them, so there isn't much anyone can do except look out for them. I pray every day for their safety and that I won't come upon their dead bodies in the road one day.

[chocolatepuppy]

Sometimes a cat being outdoors is the only solution w/the overpopulation of cats.

Mary, not feeling this was directed at me, but I certainly praise people who help the stray cats. I have done it myself a few times. I would never put someone down for not taking in more cats, we all have our limit. btw, I never shot any cats that sprayed my house. I cussed and cleaned it up.;)

[Medusa]

btw, I never shot any cats that sprayed my house. I cussed and cleaned it up.;)


:) I'm sure you didn't. As you say, it wasn't directed at you but I do know that there are people who will kill cats just because and some around here have admitted to me that they use cats as target practice and they weren't joking. Yes, all we can do is "cuss and clean it up". LOL

[bckrazy]

I honestly don't feel that TNR even has a place in this poll... THAT is what ends the cycle, besides the outright slaughter of all feral cats, which I hope no animal owner/lover would want.

[kokopup]

I know that living in some parts of the world that strays or free roving cats can be a problem. Saying that anyone allowing a cat to be free to come and go is irresponsible may be harsh for those that do not live in a compact community. I live on large acreage and neighbors are few are far between. My cats are indoor/outdoor and I feel I would be cruel to make them indoor only. I have a cat door that allows them to come and go until night then they can come 'in only' until morning. I have 3 cats, Kallie, Hobo, and Rascal. They all came to me as strays and decided to stay. All have been neutered or spade. When I took Hobo to be neutered the vet informed me that he had already been neutered. Whenever my cats are not inside I can usually walk out side and see them somewhere close by. In my case if a neighbor is bothered by one of my cats I would sure hear about it. They are all relatives. My brother-in-law my closest neighbor has cats I never see and he has cats I never see. My experience with strays has always been positive. Whenever a stray comes my way they end up staying and becoming a part of the family.

If I lived in an apartment or a compact neighborhood I probably wouldn't even have a cat. Koko:love: my best friend would be there though.

[Medusa]

I have 3 cats, Kallie, Hobo, and Rascal. They all came to me as strays and decided to stay. All have been neutered or spade.

And that's the key point. Allowing unspayed and unneutered cats to roam is irresponsible, whether it sounds harsh or not. Altering them is for the cats' safety and to keep them from breeding and inbreeding to the point where it gets to be out of control. I have 6 rescues; at one time I had 8, (two have gone to the Bridge), all indoor and all altered. While I was rescuing, I had 27 outdoor cats, all altered, so it can be done but too many just don't want to take responsibility for altering the strays. They like petting them, playing w/them and perhaps feeding them but that's as far as it goes. Then the cats reproduce and very quickly and the next thing you know, a feral colony is born.

[kokopup]

I agree that allowing any pet cat or dog to run unneutered or spade is
irresponsible. I was only saying because of where I live that allowing my cats outside was not irresponsible. My cats are content outside on my land and do not roam. I have a dog (spade) that I allow to run in my woods without a lease. I am always with her when she runs. Am I irresponsible if she isn't on a lease when we run or bike in the woods. I see my cats being allowed outside as being the same thing. In fact if my wife walks our trails with me, Kallie, one of our cats, will usually follow us around our loop. Freedom is not a bad thing. If you read my other post I think you will see that irresponsible owners is one of my PET peeves.

[Medusa]

I agree that allowing any pet cat or dog to run unneutered or spade is
irresponsible. I was only saying because of where I live that allowing my cats outside was not irresponsible. My cats are content outside on my land and do not roam. I have a dog (spade) that I allow to run in my woods without a lease. I am always with her when she runs. Am I irresponsible if she isn't on a lease when we run or bike in the woods. I see my cats being allowed outside as being the same thing. In fact if my wife walks our trails with me, Kallie, one of our cats, will usually follow us around our loop. Freedom is not a bad thing. If you read my other post I think you will see that irresponsible owners is one of my PET peeves.

I wasn't saying that you were irresponsible and I apologize if I gave you that impression. I'm w/you; if I had the land, I'd have a dog and s/he'd run free right alongside me. I'd possibly do the same w/my cats as long as I could bring them indoors at night. My objection is directed towards those who do not spay/neuter their cats and then allow them to roam and reproduce.

[mrspunkysmom]

I didn't like the options either when I first read the poll months ago.

My cats are indoor only because they are not safe outdoors. My neighbors have pit bulls that roam that do not bother me, but would kill the cats. I would like to have an enclosure but it is not feasible. The area is loaded with fire ants anyway.

At one time I lived on a large acreage well away from the road. The 3 cats then would be outside, the cattle being the only other animal around. One of the cats was an outdoor stray that I spayed; she would encourage the other two to want to be outdoors.

[katladyd]

I'm a strong believer of keeping cats indoors unless you live in the country, and even then they can pick up all kinds of diseases that may shorten their lives. My two cats are indoor only because I live quite near a busy street. They are happy and playful and have no desire to go outside. I can leave the door open and they just sit in the living room and stare at me like, "I ain't goin' out there!" My Meezer is actually scared of the outdoors. In this day and age, where I live anyway, it is safer for cats to be kept indoors.

[Pinot's Mom]

Ok-my two cents...

I have had an outdoor/indoor cat (out from 7am till dusk, rescued from a parking lot, we couldn't have kept CK in ... period). We did get him neutered. His choice of lifestyle (believe me, his, not ours) WAS what got him killed. He was hit by a car; he wasn't very old.

Then, we had an indoor/ some outdoor cat (Jamara was let out when she wanted, and we were home, mostly she stayed in our yard, but sometimes she roamed a little). She was rescued from a home where she was abandoned; she was mostly indoor and, as she got older, the deck was as "outdoor" as she cared to get. We had her spayed as well. She died at the age of 18, PTS due to complications from a cancerous growth.

Now, we have an indoor/very little outdoor cat. Pinot only goes outside with a chaperone and a water pistol. We call them "romps" - she has a great time trying to chase birdies and bugs; if she goes to the yard border she is squirted with a water pistol to bring her back and that works quite nicely. She was a rescue shelter kitty and has obviously had lots of exposure to outside in her past life. She has been spayed. Keeping her totally inside would not make her happy.

The point of this? IF the kitty is "owned"; generally the kitty chooses the lifestyle of indoor or outdoor. They can, and will, make the human's life hell if they are outdoor kitties being converted to indoor. I know this can be done successfully, and I applaud those that are able, but it cannot always be done. The problem is not generally those kitties; it's the ones who have yet to be rescued. There are masses of them in some areas and they will create problems. My neighborhood does not, to my knowledge, have any strays. If there were any, they would not live. We are next to a state forest which houses Red Fox, Coyote, very large Owls, & Hawks-all of which could kill a cat. There are also BIG herds of Whitetail Deer, which are my yard pests, but that's another thread...they'd probably step on a cat :rolleyes: - stupid suburban rats...

I agree cats are better off if, from birth, they are kept indoors. Unfortunately, many cats these days are not given that opportunity and we that take them in do the best we can. If you would like to resolve your problem, join us and give them a home, or take them somewhere that will.:love:

[kokopup]

I had three cats until a few days ago when Hobo was killed on my property. We are not sure what happened but have speculate that he might have been hit by a falling limb. That morning it was extremely windy and there were limbs down every where.

We had discussed make all three indoor only but had not made that steps towards making it happen. Kallie will be no problem since she recently went blind and is content in her small world. Rascal is another story altogether. He is our newest addition that we took in when a neighbor moved and left him behind. He has been mostly an outdoor cat until we took him in. Since Hobo died we have started keeping him in. He is using a litter box which we are thankful for because we didn't know how he would react. We are having problems with him trying to get out. Every time I let Koko on or off the porch I have to watch or Rascal will try to escape. I have had to chase him down three times in 2 days. Today is a beautiful day and Koko and I have been out walking and enjoying the sunshine while Rascal is in here bouncing of off the walls and furniture. He has been wild and pacing like a caged lion. Koko and Rascal usually play rough when Koko is in. You would think Rascal was a 100 lbs the way they go at each other. Rascal is more content when she is in, but I can't trust him on the front porch when she is out because there is nothing to keep him from escaping through the spindles on the railings.

Has anyone had experience with making a 2 year old an indoor only that has been an indoor/outdoor. I just don't know whether he will settle down or not. I tried taking him out on our sun porch so he could sun and look out the window. He was content as long as I was there but when i got up he jumped up and followed me back in the house. He is on the couch asleep right now, but just moments ago I had to intervene when he started harassing Kallie. Any advice would be welcome.

[Medusa]

I had three cats until a few days ago when Hobo was killed on my property. We are not sure what happened but have speculate that he might have been hit by a falling limb. That morning it was extremely windy and there were limbs down every where.

We had discussed make all three indoor only but had not made that steps towards making it happen. Kallie will be no problem since she recently went blind and is content in her small world. Rascal is another story altogether. He is our newest addition that we took in when a neighbor moved and left him behind. He has been mostly an outdoor cat until we took him in. Since Hobo died we have started keeping him in. He is using a litter box which we are thankful for because we didn't know how he would react. We are having problems with him trying to get out. Every time I let Koko on or off the porch I have to watch or Rascal will try to escape. I have had to chase him down three times in 2 days. Today is a beautiful day and Koko and I have been out walking and enjoying the sunshine while Rascal is in here bouncing of off the walls and furniture. He has been wild and pacing like a caged lion. Koko and Rascal usually play rough when Koko is in. You would think Rascal was a 100 lbs the way they go at each other. Rascal is more content when she is in, but I can't trust him on the front porch when she is out because there is nothing to keep him from escaping through the spindles on the railings.

Has anyone had experience with making a 2 year old an indoor only that has been an indoor/outdoor. I just don't know whether he will settle down or not. I tried taking him out on our sun porch so he could sun and look out the window. He was content as long as I was there but when i got up he jumped up and followed me back in the house. He is on the couch asleep right now, but just moments ago I had to intervene when he started harassing Kallie. Any advice would be welcome.

I'm so sorry to hear about Hobo. Perfect world, I'd let all my Fur Posse run outdoors but as my signature says "Time and unforeseen occurrence befall us all".

As for making an indoor/outdoor cat an indoor only cat, I've done it twice, first w/Pigeon and then w/Specs. To be honest, though, I think that they both were grateful to be indoors only. I'm sure Pidge was because I had been told that she came from an abusive home and Specs got hit by a car right in front of me, so I think that he, too, was all too happy to come in to stay. It may take a little while and some patience if he cries to be let out but I think that eventually he'll like it. Come to think of it, all of my Fur Posse were outdoor cats, some feral, but they were brought in after only a few months. Both Pidge and Specs were around 2 1/2 years old when I took them in. My 18 year old Boo still darts for the door every once in a while, so you never know. Good luck. :)