Do you let your cats run at large?

[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.