Quote Originally Posted by Freedom View Post
Seriously, if you can't keep a cat as indoor only, do everyone favor and get a stuffed animal.
I understand people feel strongly about this. I'm not sure if you intended to be as rude as you sound or it was an accident though.

Here's the way I look at it. There are gazillions of cats (unofficial count) who don't have homes of their own, and there are not a gazillion people who want or can care for a cat. Nor will there ever be. Still less are there a gazillion homes that perfectly match every possible criterion for a 'perfect environment'. And there's a critical shortage of shelter space for all the overflow cats. There is no livable way for me to keep a cat indoors all the time if it's really determined to spend time outside, but what I can do is provide it with good food, shelter, clean water, affection, warmth, play time, scritching, protection from the elements plus many dangers and fears, socialization, gentleness and space of its own within its own home, comprehensive medical coverage and attention to any medical needs it might have through the course of its life. If you think that same cat would be better off and live longer taking up a shelter space that could be used by some other cat that's permanently - and without any choice in the matter - out on the street, that's your prerogative. But I guess I just don't grok that logic. Maybe every stray/feral cat where you live gets a shelter space, no matter what. And maybe every shelter cat where you live finds a home within a humane timeframe. That's not how it works here. Even in no-kill shelter they get depressed, they get sick and they die - sooner than they probably would if they were adopted out to even someone like myself who (horrors) leaves her windows open when it gets real hot.

I dunno. I let my cat Limpet go outside if she wanted to - and she did. On the other hand, I paid insurance premiums for her her entire life, and most people I know who have pets don't. But that directly influences the length and quality of a cat's life as well. I really can't see how I'm less worthy than someone who seals her home like a fortress but has to choose euthanasia at the local ER for no other reason than because they just can't afford whatever care the cat needs.