Do you let your cats run at large?

**chocolatepuppy** · 10-25-2008, 10:54 AM

Originally Posted by Medusa

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** · 10-25-2008, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by chocolatepuppy

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** · 10-25-2008, 04:36 PM

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.

**kokopup** · 01-15-2009, 04:07 PM

I know that living in some parts of the world that strays or free roving cats can be a problem. Saying that anyone allowing a cat to be free to come and go is irresponsible may be harsh for those that do not live in a compact community. I live on large acreage and neighbors are few are far between. My cats are indoor/outdoor and I feel I would be cruel to make them indoor only. I have a cat door that allows them to come and go until night then they can come 'in only' until morning. I have 3 cats, Kallie, Hobo, and Rascal. They all came to me as strays and decided to stay. All have been neutered or spade. When I took Hobo to be neutered the vet informed me that he had already been neutered. Whenever my cats are not inside I can usually walk out side and see them somewhere close by. In my case if a neighbor is bothered by one of my cats I would sure hear about it. They are all relatives. My brother-in-law my closest neighbor has cats I never see and he has cats I never see. My experience with strays has always been positive. Whenever a stray comes my way they end up staying and becoming a part of the family.

If I lived in an apartment or a compact neighborhood I probably wouldn't even have a cat. Koko

my best friend would be there though.

**Medusa** · 01-15-2009, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by kokopup

I have 3 cats, Kallie, Hobo, and Rascal. They all came to me as strays and decided to stay. All have been neutered or spade.

And that's the key point. Allowing unspayed and unneutered cats to roam is irresponsible, whether it sounds harsh or not. Altering them is for the cats' safety and to keep them from breeding and inbreeding to the point where it gets to be out of control. I have 6 rescues; at one time I had 8, (two have gone to the Bridge), all indoor and all altered. While I was rescuing, I had 27 outdoor cats, all altered, so it can be done but too many just don't want to take responsibility for altering the strays. They like petting them, playing w/them and perhaps feeding them but that's as far as it goes. Then the cats reproduce and very quickly and the next thing you know, a feral colony is born.

**kokopup** · 01-15-2009, 06:23 PM

I agree that allowing any pet cat or dog to run unneutered or spade is
irresponsible. I was only saying because of where I live that allowing my cats outside was not irresponsible. My cats are content outside on my land and do not roam. I have a dog (spade) that I allow to run in my woods without a lease. I am always with her when she runs. Am I irresponsible if she isn't on a lease when we run or bike in the woods. I see my cats being allowed outside as being the same thing. In fact if my wife walks our trails with me, Kallie, one of our cats, will usually follow us around our loop. Freedom is not a bad thing. If you read my other post I think you will see that irresponsible owners is one of my PET peeves.

**Medusa** · 01-15-2009, 06:35 PM

Originally Posted by kokopup

I agree that allowing any pet cat or dog to run unneutered or spade is
irresponsible. I was only saying because of where I live that allowing my cats outside was not irresponsible. My cats are content outside on my land and do not roam. I have a dog (spade) that I allow to run in my woods without a lease. I am always with her when she runs. Am I irresponsible if she isn't on a lease when we run or bike in the woods. I see my cats being allowed outside as being the same thing. In fact if my wife walks our trails with me, Kallie, one of our cats, will usually follow us around our loop. Freedom is not a bad thing. If you read my other post I think you will see that irresponsible owners is one of my PET peeves.

I wasn't saying that you were irresponsible and I apologize if I gave you that impression. I'm w/you; if I had the land, I'd have a dog and s/he'd run free right alongside me. I'd possibly do the same w/my cats as long as I could bring them indoors at night. My objection is directed towards those who do not spay/neuter their cats and then allow them to roam and reproduce.