Indoor or outdoor cats

[IRescue452]

Just wondering if you keep your cat(s) indoors or outdoors or both and why. Sonny is always indoors because I don't want him getting hit by a car, getting attacked by a neiborhood dog or getting some disease or worms. He doesn't like being outside anyway if I take him out he runs for the door, smart cat.

[sammy101]

Bear is a indoor cat now.I take her outside once in a while,but she never wants to stay out anymore.She's almost 20 so she cant walk very well.But when she was younger,she was outside all the time!

[jenluckenbach]

100% inside!

The out of doors is simply not a safe place for a pet to be unless you are there with your pet on a leash and supervised. How many pets have dissapeared when let outside? How many have been hit by a car? How many have been poisoned (accidentally or otherwise)? I've heard of attacks by other animals, being stolen, getting an incurable disease from an unprotected free roaming cat.........all of these things are real dangers, and no matter how slight you feel the chances are that YOUR cat will come up against one of them....is it worth taking a chance with their life?
Just my lowly opinion.

[wolfsoul]

Caleb is an indoor cat, but I do take him for walks. My RB cat, Sara, was an indoor/outdoor and she was attacked and killed by a dog. :( :( :(

[carole]

You are fairly new here, and this has been a topic which is rather sensitive to say the least, especially for people from my country and the Uk, where it is considered normal to have indoor/outdoor kitties,it is a cultural thing, infact some consider it cruel to keep a kitty indoors permanently, I am not of that opinion, and since coming to PT believe it really is a good idea,but only if I can provide an safe outdoor area as well, and one I hope I maybe able to carry out in the future, for now it just is not possible, however my kitties are strictly indoors at night times.

An ideal situation would be to have cat fencing, which I have seen here on PT, which means one can keep your kitties indoors and outdoors, but they cannot leave your section and no other kitty can get in, purrfect IMO, but oh the expense,but that is something I consider ideal, I don't like the idea of a kitty being inside permanently, but I realise in some parts of the states, this is the only safe option, I say whatever works for you and your kitties.

P.S the one point I want to raise, there are still some risks to having a kitty indoors as well, mainly the risk of fire, and being trapped, and things falling on them and getting hurt, that has happened here on PT, and of course can happen at any time, but I think a little more likely if the kitty is indoors all the time, and maybe a little bored, I guess one just has to weigh up which is the higher risk in this case, the fire one really would worry me though, also how do the kitties keep cool in the heat, I know if my house is locked up during the daytime and then I come home it is unbearable until all the windows are opened up, does everyone have air conditioning then?

[Desert Arabian]

90% Indoor; Sammy and Dudley are leash and harness trained, they go outside on nice spring and summer days but are supervised while they are outside, they are never left outside unattented!

[LeahMM]

My three newest kittys are indoors only. Quki lives mostly in the garage but comes in sometimes and Hannah split when we started adding animals to our family. She does come to eat but that's it.

[Corinna]

My three have the choice of outside during the day but when it gets dark they are in side like it or not.

[Uabassoon]

I know if my house is locked up during the daytime and then I come home it is unbearable until all the windows are opened up, does everyone have air conditioning then?

In the US almost everyone has air conditioning. I remember last summer when there was a massive heat wave in europe I couldn't understand why it was such a big deal, it took weeks before it finally dawned on me that other countries aren't like the US and air conditioning isn't the norm.

Both of my cats are indoor only, just too many risks. Maybe if I lived in a different area I could take them out on a leash or sit in the yard with them so they could play. Where I live the best sitatation is for them to be inside only.

[carole]

you are so right, it is crazy, my sister owns a million dollar property and even she does not have air conditioning, we do have some homes here with it, but far and few between, a top priority if I ever can afford a new home, a heat pump is what i would put in , gives you both heat and cooling system.

Not one school in NZ has air conditioning either and it gets up in the 80's and 90's here sometimes., and it is humid too, crazy huh?

[jenluckenbach]

Not only are most homes air conditioned, it is also normal to have window screens. Our windows can safely be opened without allowing cats out (or bugs in)

[carole]

Yes Jen I am aware of the screens, is everyone just rich in the USA or are things just darn cheap,? I am so envious, I would love to have air conditioning and screens, would cost a small fortune here.

I presume the fire risk is minimal then? in comparison to kitties being outdoor/indoor in the states?

Do you know here in NZ when I tell people I keep my cats indoors at night, they look at me blankly and ask WHY? and they think I am a little weird, I can tell.

[Tollers-n-Dobes]

I don't have a cat but if I did he/she would always be inside unless I was outside with them and they had a harness and leash on.

[LauraT7]

If i had CHOOSEN my cat, Pixel, from a shelter or home litter, I would want him to be an indoor cat - as I also think that 'loose in the great outdoors' is not a safe place for domesticated animals.

Though I like cats, i've never had one because I'm allergic to some cats. I can never tell until I spend time with one, however, whether a particular cat would make me sneeze or itch - some reactions have been really severe. (one cat made my throat close up and my face swell up - I could not breathe)

I'm so softhearted, that if I DID get a cat, and then found that it made me allergic, it would break my heart to give them up.

I also know that i am not a very good housekeeper - and that properly maintaining a litter box would be a constant fight between me and my son. Our yard is big enough, that the doggy poop is not a problem, and our dogs have always stuck to two spots in the yard for 'toilet' purposes, making cleanup only a once or twice a month chore.

However, Pixel choose us - by wandering into our garage over Christmas. He was obviously an 'outside' cat, and had been for quite awhile. He already knew the neighborhood, and the dangers of traffic, animals and fending for himself. My first intention was just to provide him with food, water and the shelter of our garage in winter - possibly get him fixed if I could catch him. but he worried me, as he would come in late at night - obviously having been fighting with other animals - scratches and ears chewed, etc. After awhile, he would let me pet him, but not much. I figured he was a young feral, or 'lost' pet - as he had apparently been stealing dog food from us for awhile, was familar with our garage and yard, (despite our dog - he came in and out thru the hole in the back of the garage for our golden)

When the weather turned bitterly cold one night, he willingly came into our warm laps and the warm house.

since then, Pixel has decided that he's mostly 'house' cat, with a little 'explorer' in him. He seldom stays outside more than an hour - though he can come and go at will. I think he's decided he has the best of both worlds - protection from the elements and nasties that want to pick on him, and lots of food, attention and warmth - the only negative from his viewpoint is the big hairy dog. (who very pointedly ignores Pixel - as Pixel is RUDE to the very nice, polite doggy!)

Pixel makes life easy on us - as he taught himself to use the dog's plexidoor to go in and out on his own - and he potties outside - usually in the sand of the large dog run - so we don't need a litterbox inside. (we can clean up his droppings with the dog's periodically)

Luckily for Pixel, he causes NO allergic reaction in me! Once it was obvious he was going to stay indoors - I even pushed the envelope by burrying my face in his fur and letting him sleep on my bed - nope, not a sniffle or itch! (He now thinks that "I" sleep on "his" bed! LOL!) "Prince Pixel" thinks he rules the house!

occasionally, he'll wander - usually in the early evening, and from my knowledge of the neighborhood, (and the burrs and seeds he brings back on his coat) Pixel mostly goes down to the dead-end of our street and wanders the creek bed down there. There's another feral i've seen him with - a larger, long-haired version of him - who I think is his mom. But she/he won't come anywhere near us, and will run if we even look at her. ( but I've been leaving food out for her in the garage, too, and have seen her around our house more often)

Anyway, Pixel is mostly house cat now - because that's the way HE wants it.

laura

[LauraT7]

As for the A/C issue -

Most homes in the US nowadays are BUILT with A/C - I don't know how it is in other countries, but the US is big on their perks, even if they can't afford them! ( they just add them to the mortgage! LOL!)

In a typical house, with a forced-air (usually gas or sometimes electric) furnace system - the ductwork is already in place for heating- so adding a whole-house AC system is only another $1000 (to the builder) for a basic system as it uses the same ductwork as the furnace. Of course you can go much higher than that for bigger houses or fancier systems. (I just replaced my whole house AC last summer at a cost of about $1300 - take out the 20 yr old unit and put in new - for about a 900 sq ft ranch house)

I think in some other countries (from what I've seen on the remodeling shows in England - BBC's "Changing Rooms", etc ) your heating systems are different - baseboard, electric and radiator heat - which means you would have to add the cost of all that vent piping and ductwork which our homes already have for the furnaces. THAT would add a ton of material and labor expense.

The cost of running it isn't that bad - esp if you don't keep your house refridgerator cold, and also insulate well and use ceiling fans.

In the northern US - most houses also have 8' basements (not common in the south) as the foundations have to go below the 4' frost line anyway. For my pets, I leave the basement door propped open when I'm gone in the summer - they often go down in the cool basement and lie on the cement floor - usually it's a good 10 degrees cooler down there ( or more!)

Houses in the south are often built on cement slabs - so I guess what they save on the cost of a basement, they can spend on AC! LOL!


Laura

[EssTer]

After having bad experience on having outdoor (actually both outdoor+indoor) cat I´ve decided that Simba´s gonna be °100% indoor cat!

[BitsyNaceyDog]

All 6 of mine are indoors only.

[janelle]

My two kitties are indoor but they love to go out so I take them and stay with them. I feel sorry for them that they can't go out by themselves but I don't want the chance that they will get hurt.

I had a Siamese that I trained to go out and stay in the fenced yard. I started with him on a leash tied up, then supervised him as he walked around the yard, I told him no whenever he looked like he was going to jump the fence. He was so smart that he got the idea not to jump and run off.

He loved going out on nice days and exploring the back yard and then laying under a bush and sleep. I even got to the point that I just left him out and stayed in the house until I wanted him or he wanted to come back in. I wish I could do the same with my kitties now. My fence has spaces in it so they just walk through and I have had to go get them back in so I don't trust it.

My sister had outdoor cats mostly. One lived to be 19 and came in and out but got into fights. He was able to protect himself. Went on top of houses and all. But he did have fleas and she had to use the flea meds on him and exterminate her house each summer.

[Pit Chick]

I wish I could still let my cats go outside cause they sure did like it, but after one being hit by a car and costing a couple thousand to fix and another that accidentally got let out and being mauled by a dog, it just isn't worth it. Eventually I would like to get them an outdoor kitty enclosure though.

[PJ's Mom]

Both of mine go outside for an hour or two a day.

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

Both :) But.... only because our garden is surrounded by a fence! I do NOT want them to get on the street or other people's garden. Inka loves to be outside, and she would stay there all day if I would let her. She only comes inside to use the litter-box :D :D
Maya goes outside for a short walk, then she begs to come back inside. Maybe the warmer weather will change that (it did last summer!). She likes to "fertilize" daddy' flowers!!

[PayItForward]

I have seven happy inside/outside cats and one happy inside only cat (Sweet Annie)

And a couple of happy inside only fosters :D

My opinion is that we must take into account our own feelings, the local enviroment, our cats personality and history, before deciding how to let our cats live.

I think there are three acceptable options.

Inside only in dangerous areas
Inside/outside in safe areas
Inside with limited supervised outside access. This can be walking on a leash, cat run, fenced in balcony or supervised garden visits.

I judge dangerous areas on the following points...see table half way down draft page on which lifestyle choice is right for my cat.
http://www.piftails.com/insideoutside.html

I do not believe outside only is an acceptable solution for any domestic cat.

[aly]

All of my cats, foster cats included, are 100% inside only.

[janelle]

But how can you have 12 indoor cats? Do you have a huge house?

[jenluckenbach]

Originally posted by janelle
But how can you have 12 indoor cats? Do you have a huge house?
I have 15 indoor cats plus numerous indoor foster cats.....6 right now.

I have a 5 bedroom row home. 3 stories tall. It seems to hold the cats quite well.

[lv4dogs]

Meko is an inside/outside cat. She only goes outside for a couple hours a day. I tried for 7 months to keep her inside only except for on a leash & she would spaz out with the harness & it was very hard to keep her in, she would sneak out all the time.

I only let her out as I live in a safe area. I live in the back of a trailer park, far from the road & it's not even a busy main rd. The speed limit in my park is 5mph & everyone repects it. meko won't travel more than 2-3 houses aways anyways.

She ALWAYS comes right away when called too.

If she starts to travel further away from home or if anything else happens that will pose a danger to her she will be kept inside 100% of the time.

[davidpizzica]

Nikki & Daisy are both indoor cats. During the summer I going to try to train them on a leash. I was lucky with my RB siamese, Thai. In her 22 years, she very rarely left my yard. I think she was afraid of the cars coming down the street.

[Buddy Blaze Lover]

I don't have a cat, but I think he/she would be exclusively indoor in the city, and both (in and out) in the country.

[gkristian]

i don't have a cat, but if i did it would be an indoor one

[chocolatepuppy]

Both of my cats are indoor only. :)

[tikeyas_mom]

my cat comes inside and goes outdoors as he pleases.

[k9krazee]

We tried keeping the kitties indoors but they like to go out when they want to!

[jackie]

All my cats have always been indoor/outdoor cats. The main reason is a selfish one, I hate litterboxes, LOL, and my kitties all enjoyed sitting in a sunny garden. :D

[Vette]

Both.

ive tired to keep them inside only cats but my parents didnt like all the scratching. i figure letting them outside is better then having them declawed...

espeically Cheetoo. she hawls like shes inheat if shes not let out when she wants out. think my other cats learned to be brats from her.. they dont howl.. but became more scrarcy then ever. LOL

[Randi]

Fister is an indoor cat now, but he lived in the backyard with his mom and a few other cats until he was over a year old. He still wants to go down occasionally, unfortunately only when it's getting dark. I sometimes let him, he loves to roll in the dirt, and it's a joy to see him race around in the grass and flowerbeds. He usually comes up 20 min. later. :)

I believe that most cats enjoy an indoor/outdoor life the most. Of course, that is only possible in a safe area, like with a huge fenced garden or on a farm in the country.

[CathyBogart]

Cupcake comes and goes as she will. :)

[sandragonfly]

all of mine are strictly indoor dears... :o :o they do not have nine hearts.. :o but one harness each for fun...sometimes! :)

[King Spartacus]

Indoor/outdoor! We live in a relativly safe area... with that I mean we don't live by a highly trafficated road... the road that's nearby has 30mph zone, and there's maybe 2 cars an hour... I never go there though... there's 10 gardens that meet in the middle, and I stay withing them. There are no dogs loose, even thought one of our neighbours have 2 dogs... and I like to tease them!!!
I am microchipped, have had all my shots and I also wear a tag on my (elasticated and reflective) collar with our phonenumber.

Mamma and daddy is very glad they made the choice to make me an indoor/outdoor cat (daddy needed to be convinced.. he wanted me as an indoor only kitty)... as I'm now a much happier kitty! I just LOVE playing in the garden!!! Trees to climb, birdies to stalk, pond to fall into, grass to play on!!!

I'm not allowed to be outside at night, as soon as I come in and it's evening I'm not allowed out again until the next day... once mamma sat up until 1am wating for me! Great fun! Not that they think something might happen during the night... just that they don't want me to be upset if I try to come in, and there's noone to open the door! (They don't let me out in the morning either, if they're both going to work... I have to stay inside until they get back from work)...

[Flatcoatluver]

my cat's are out of contoll when they can't go outside!

[Kfamr]

I don't own a cat but when the day comes that I do it will be strictly INDOORS unless on a leash/harness, or in a contained area.

I do not agree with having pets outdoors.

[trayi52]

Grover is an indoor cat only. She has never been outside in her life. I am too afraid of her getting hurt or killed by dogs or just getting lost.

Willie:)

[davidpizzica]

I agree. Nikki, Daisy, and Marigold are strictly indoor cats.

[carole]

I really have to put my two cents worth in again and share my point of view and explain a little to you all, if you lived in NZ you would be viewed as somewhat crazy having an indoor kitty only , infact they would consider you to be cruel, that is just the culture here.

My kitties are indoor/outdoor, but that does not mean that is my preference anymore, since coming to PT I really would love to have my kitties indoor with a large outdoor enclosure, I just do not have the finances to provide that for them at this stage, and as I have no air conditioning in my home which is the norm for NZ, It would not be possible,the kitties and my family would die from heat stroke, screens are a possibility but again expensive, but I am hoping to gradually install one or two this year, however until a good outdoor enclosure is up and running, they will have to remain indoor/outdoor, still it is my dream to provide this for them if I ever can, and I would do it in a heartbeat.

Yes I love to see my kitties on a beautiful summer day outside enjoying the smells, the sun, the trees, nothing can beat that, but the downside is there is an element of risk, even though I keep my kitties strictly indoors at night time, and Lexie is much more an indoor kitty than Ash, as I have raised her to be that way, but come summertime it is a tad more difficult.

I have really come to the way of thinking the American folks have got it right, although I do think they should have an outdoor area of some sort, I would not even consider it otherwise.

One just needs to keep in mind to respect the choice of other's and the culture's of different countries when responding to such a thread, that is MO.

Although NZ does not have wild coyotes, snakes,etc or Rabies, we still have traffic and other cats and the odd stray dog of course which yes do pose a threat to our kitties, one cannot denie this.
However the constant worry about a fire happening in the home trapping my furbabies would not be something I would like, I guess it is just as much a worry as the above problems I have mentioned, just reading about David's close call with a fire and his concern for his furbabies is one downside of indoor only.,I guess you just have to weigh up which poses more of a threat, this is another reason why I prefer an outdoor enclosure for them to go to if a fire did eventuate.

Yes I have managed to see through other's eye's and values and change my opinion on this subject, but believe me I am a huge miniority in this country, but I donot care what other people think, if it were possible my kitties would be indoor with the outdoor enclosure.

I am still trying to work out if I can afford to put up cat fencing, it is a tricky thing, I have to have my neighbours permission, and I cannot afford to send for it from USA, I hope in time I find a way, as each day goes by I worry about my furbabies.