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As PIF and Chrish have explained - most cats in the UK are indoor/outdoor cats.
My three are such cats. The came in and go out as much as they please. Hence me being their official window/door opener!!
In cold, windy and rainy weather they don't like to go out - oh apart from Ketchum who adores to sit in the middle of the lawn while it's raining:eek: :eek:
In nicer weather they love to snooze in the flower beds and find somewhere in the shade to have dust baths and watch butterflies and **burdies**.
They always sleep indoors at night when it's wintery - but again on a hot summer night they prefer to be outdoors where it's a bit cooler and are often found in the morning on the garden swing!!
At all times there is a large kennel outside - fully carpeted - for them to go into if they are caught in the rain and want to shelter.
They have beds all over the house and sleep where and when they wish - apart from night time - when they are put into the kitchen and have a choice of 5 beds in there.
My cats are happy and healthy - if they wanted to stay indoors all the time - they would - they enjoy their freedom to come and go as they please.
I stand by my decision and I defend anyone elses decision to treat their cats as they wish.
Lynne
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I get panic attacks thinking about my cats roaming around the outside world!!! I absolutely agree with your reasoning. An alternative I've heard of is putting the cat on a harness with a leash so he/she can wander the yard but not get loose and possibly hurt. Sounds kinda funny but maybe it could be a compromise?
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It's illegal here to let a cat roam. Cats can be outside, but must be confined to their owners property. Any cat found off the owner's property is taken to the city pound and if not claimed in three days, they are euthanized.
My cats were all indoor only before that law came into effect. I live in an area that is quite rural so traffic isn't an issue, but I've had wolves, foxes, coyotes ect in my yard. Outdoor cats don't last long in my neighborhood. My neighbor lost three last winter to a coyote--he watched one of them get snatched! Coyote was not the least bit concerned that there was a human outside.
My husband did build an enclosure for my cats. They use it only in the summer though--they don't like snow on their paws!
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Mine are indoor only...but I do take them outside to the walled yard....on harness and supervised! Coyotes, snakes...who knows what all....not to mention fleas and intestinal parasites lurk out there!
