Do you let your cats run at large?

[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.

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 ). 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. 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........

[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. 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........

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. 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. 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.