Indoor or outdoor cats

[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.

[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... they do not have nine hearts.. 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.