inside or out??

[tikeyas_mom]

Pam posted: INDOOR ONLY! I love them too much to risk losing them to anything!

I love my kitty alot to and he's an out door cat.

[NoahsMommy]

Re: Fire
I know people that practice having fire drills. It may sound wierd, but my cats are like children and I wouldn't leave a burning house without them, ever!

We live in a large apartment complex and I can't tell you how many cats are outdoors here. I also can't even tell you how many "lost or missing cat" signs I see. Its just idiotic...we are surrounded by a BUSY street and a wash (where water runs towards the ocean) where I've seen coyotes. People are also little speed racers around here. I want to steal all those cats and take them inside. Its cruel to leave them out in our area.

I've heard the arguement that cats are missing out by being indoor cats. That may be true if cats were able to live in something like the zoo, protected and given food to "stalk".

I speak only for places I've been. I don't know anything about NZ when it comes to cats. It does sound safer to me though. Less development and more cat loving people.

[EnglishRider]

Originally posted by NoahsMommy
Re: Fire
I know people that practice having fire drills. It may sound wierd, but my cats are like children and I wouldn't leave a burning house without them, ever!

I doubt that this will help at all in a real emergency, but both of my cats know to come to me when the smoke detector goes off. It just started when our oven got too dirty and broiling chicken = a little smoke and the alarm going off... both ran to me (dunno why really, lol). So every once in a while I set the alarm off and get tuna so if they come to me, they get a treat. Alarm = treat. It comforts me that I'm doing something in regards to a fire emergency, and I know the cats won't run and hide at the noise. Of course add smoke and flames to it, the "trick" won't be much good, but its better than doing nothing.
- Carole

[batgirl1980]

Originally posted by EnglishRider
I doubt that this will help at all in a real emergency, but both of my cats know to come to me when the smoke detector goes off. It just started when our oven got too dirty and broiling chicken = a little smoke and the alarm going off... both ran to me (dunno why really, lol). So every once in a while I set the alarm off and get tuna so if they come to me, they get a treat. Alarm = treat. It comforts me that I'm doing something in regards to a fire emergency, and I know the cats won't run and hide at the noise. Of course add smoke and flames to it, the "trick" won't be much good, but its better than doing nothing.
- Carole

really??? now THAT is a cool idea... maybe I should start trying that with my babies.. at least to get them to not be scared of the noise.. (of course do the drill when the neighbors aren't home LOL).. Thanks for the great idea! Because I won't leave without them in a fire (or whatever disaster).. and if I could get them unscared of the sound at least.. that might help if, God Forbid, something should happen!

[tikeyas_mom]

I also can't even tell you how many "lost or missing cat" signs I see. Its just idiotic

that is sad. If I lived there my kitty would be a inside cat aswell. I dont blame you one bit. . here is is quiet I never see missing cat posters. It is a nice road with cars going 20 km and they watch for animals and kids because thats all my road consists of. lol

[Soledad]

I am asking this out of genuine curiosity, but I find it odd to keep 5+ cats indoors in one house/apartment. That seems unfair to me.

[NoahsMommy]

Originally posted by Soledad
I am asking this out of genuine curiosity, but I find it odd to keep 5+ cats indoors in one house/apartment. That seems unfair to me.

The only ones that even want out are Noel and Olivia....and that's the balcony. I've tried taking Noel outside on her harness and she was terrified.

Basie, Noah and Micah HATE when I even open the front door!

It isn't cruel or odd if they've never been outside before, other than the balcony.

I can see the problems that would arise if you rescued a cat that was accustomed to being outside, but its not fair to force them out if they've been used to living a safe, happy life indoors.

Besides, if my cats where outdoors, they would be dead and/or in cat fights every day. I don't see how that could make a cat "happy" to be outside....

Life is different here...

[carole]

thanks for your reply jen, nz is a obviously a lot safer than the large us of a, but there ares till dangers too, thanks for addressing the fire thing, i guess you are right, caged animals have the same risks, as i said i am sure you have decided outdoors poses more of a risk for them.
I am certainly not for or against indoor only cats, i think what works best for you is the way to look at it.
I do strongly advise those with indoor/outdoor cats to try and keep them in at night, that to me is the most dangerous period for them.
Both my cats tend to stay around the section most of the day, they may wander to the neighbours now and then, but not too often, the neighbours have lovely treed sections, with lots of interesting things for them to c and enjoy.
Ash ususally suns himself on the verandah or outdoor set all day, and sometimes on the carport roof, Lexie runs up and down the tree, explores the section and stays with me most of the day, she is sleeping on the couch right now, as much as she would love to be out at night she is NOT allowed. Ash is a bit more sneaky and i have to really practice tough love to keep in at nights.
Anti freeze is a real problem in usa it seems, we dont need to use the stuff here much, as we dont have very cold winters.
Yes i am thankful each day that nz is so safe in comparison and that most people love cats.
I wish it could be the same for everyone.
They used to call it Godzone here once, but believe me things have changed here too and its not as great as all that.
I am glad soledad has been able to back up what i have been saying, also she is an american with a different outlook than mine, but she also agrees with me, that its just the way things are here, outdoor /indoor is the norm.
Well folks we have probably exhausted this subject somewhat, it kinda only started as i was asking when i should let lexie out, of course i never expected that there would be any oppositon to me doing this, as its normal here.
Just in closing i respect everyones opinions and i know everyone loves their kitties and does what they consider is best for them. There is no right or wrong way here in my opinion. By the way statistics wise they were saying indoor live longer than outdoor/indoor, well that is in america, obviously it does not apply here as we are mostly outdoor/indoor.
Yes traffic does pose the biggest threat to the cats i think, oh and by the way we dont have wild dogs either i mean such as coyotes, i was reading someone lost cat that way. but stray dogs always pose a threat, i always keep my gates closed to help prevent a stray dog roaming on the section and maybe attacking my cats, however they do have many safe outdoor places no dog can get. Also we dont have hand guns here, i believe your gun laws are very different than ours, and it would be easy to have one and shoot a cat that annoys u, not so here, our police are not even armed as such., we do have special branches of police, armed offenders squad etc, but not the rest.

[NoahsMommy]

Originally posted by Soledad
I am asking this out of genuine curiosity, but I find it odd to keep 5+ cats indoors in one house/apartment. That seems unfair to me.

I'm back.....what's the difference between having 1 cat indoors or 100????

Is four an "OK" number to have indoor only??

[Soledad]

I was mostly referring to confined space, etc.

Sorry, didn't mean to offend. I am just curious because it seems very odd to me, just me.

I didn't get offended when everyone assumed if you had an indoor/outdoor cat that you didn't love them or didn't care as much about their safety.

[carole]

just one more thing, i meant to say if your cat has never known anything but indoors, then it is going to be happy that way,it knows no different, on the other hand if its always been indoor/outdoor its going to be tough on the cat and u to change, i am sure soledad will beable to tell us how it goes with boo, as he will become an indoor only cat from now on. By the way soledad i was curious how come boo does not need to go into quarantine, is that because he has been living in lovely nz for so long te he lol. no seriously would love to know.
And Jen i have never taken any of your comments as to be offending in any way, i respect your opinion, and i realise you were not having a go at people who keep their cats as indoor/outdoor cats, but merely expressing your opinion as i have cheers everyone and have a great day

[Soledad]

Boo does not have to be quarantined because there is no rabies in NZ. He just has to undergo a medical check at the airport.

[carole]

thanks for the quick reply, thats right folks No Rabies on new zealand, also soledad i wondered about some of the diseases people have been talking about that if they let their cats out they would risk being infected, i only know that the vaccination i get is all i am told i need for the cats once per year and they are safe, does america have other disease we donot, u can help me out on that.
Would you not also agree that alot of people live in apartments in usa with their cats, whereas in nz its not really the case, of course we have apartment buildings, but most people own their own homes and have sections here, if i had an apartment there is no way i would let my cat out either.cheers

[Soledad]

I realise there are things outside that can make your cat sick, but aren't there just as many indoors?

[NoahsMommy]

Originally posted by Soledad
I was mostly referring to confined space, etc.

Sorry, didn't mean to offend. I am just curious because it seems very odd to me, just me.

I wasn't offended at your question, I just wondered why you chose "5+".

Many people here have larger homes or apartments. Our apartment is 1000 sq. ft. PLENTY of room for the cats...even more so when they all are in different rooms.

Carole and Soledad,
There are many diseases cats can catch outdoors. We have our cats vaccinated for feline infectious peritonitis (FIP); feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection; giardia; and herpes virus infection and rabies yearly...

There aren't many things they can catch indoors, which is why a lot of vets don't recommend all those vaccinations every year for indoor cats. They CAN catch fleas or anything infectious that another indoor cat may already have.