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Author Topic:   WHY?
catwoman
Member

Posts: 43
From:Brunswick, MO USA
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 02-20-2004 08:14 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for catwoman     Edit/Delete Message
I don't mean to hurt anyone's feelings or anything, but why do so many people out there have outdoor cats?

I know you probably mean well, letting them have the fresh air and run around but I read so many accidents and deaths on this message board because cats are allowed to roam outside.

Please, if you feel you have to let your cats out, take them on a leash or build a little cat garden to where other animals can't get to them or they can't get run over.

Yes, things can happen to them indoors as well, but it's not near as likely.

It's just too painful to read all of these sad stories. I really like this message board, but I am so saddened at these tragic accidents that could be avoided.

I apologize if I am speaking out of turn, I don't want to start a war or anything like that. I just feel for these animals.

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Samsintentions
Member

Posts: 944
From:Columbus, Tx ,USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 02-20-2004 09:32 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Samsintentions     Edit/Delete Message
OK. I'm not trying to be rude or anything, but not everyone has cats for "pets" Like dogs, cats serve purposes and work as well.

We have barn cats, and Tom has now become one as well. What purpose do they serve? they rid the premisis of mice, rodents, and other pests. This in turn also keeps the barns cleaner, horses and cattle safer(from diseases and so forth, carried and spread by rodents). Some people are allergic to cats but love them, so they stay outside, so the families can still enjoy them. And there are some just like Tom that will just plain not adapt to the inside.

My mothers cats are inside/outside cats, and come in and out as they please.
ALL our pets are loved dearly, fed properly and well taken care of.

Cats were once wild ya know, we domesticated them for our likings, not the other way around! Outside in the country like our cats are, they are much safer than those that are in cities and towns. I can see worries there. But as for the cats enjoying "fresh air and roaming", all pets should have access to the outdoors one way or another but thats just my oppinion. Keeping them cooped up for ever in the same place is not heathy in my oppinion.

I'm glad you care for your cats and love them dearly, but look at it from other prospectives as well before judging.

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MaryNH
Member

Posts: 240
From:Campton, NH USA
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 02-20-2004 11:33 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for MaryNH     Edit/Delete Message
I live in a rural area...lots of wildlife - coyotes, bears, foxes, bobcats - I get them all in my backyard.

11 years ago I adopted (well took) a little teeny parasite-infested kitten from a collector. She was so tiny, so encrusted with fleas, mites, worms - you name it she had it. She was the cutest little thing.

She cleaned up well and became a wonderful cat. HEr name was Sessy. The first year of her life I kept her inside but she was really good at escaping. I finally gave up and started letting her outside. Now and then I would try to make her inside only as my cats were were inside only. But Sessy would pull curtains off the walls, once cracked a window trying to get out...she was going to end up hurting herself. So I would give in and let her outside. I always always tried to get her in at night, since we had so much wildlife around.

I haven't seen Sessy since July 18 2002 - I don't know what happened to her. She was 9 years old. I still look for her though.

I don't know if she was killed by an animal, hit by a car, stolen by someone...I'll never know. We do get fishers and I understand death for an animal by a fisher is horrible. I so hope this isn't what happened to my dear Sessy.

I will NEVER have another outside cat. I cannot send an animal off to die like Sessy may have. I can't and I won't. I too have friends with barn cats...they lose about 1 a year to God knows what. I understand the need for barn cats - but I wouldn't do it to a cat.

I will always wonder what happened to Sessy..I just hope her end was quick and painless.


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MaryNH
Member

Posts: 240
From:Campton, NH USA
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 02-20-2004 11:34 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for MaryNH     Edit/Delete Message
Sessy

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Chessmind
Member

Posts: 701
From:CA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 02-20-2004 11:57 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Chessmind     Edit/Delete Message
Hello. I understand both points of view. Have any of you seen pics of people's yards that where completely fenced/wired all around their property? Basically, it's constructed in such a way, that it makes it impossible (if done correctly) for cats (as well as other animals) to get out and other animals to get in. I think this is an ideal situation for cats. As they can enjoy the indoors as well as the outdoors without the worry of other animals, cars and so on.

I find it interesting that statistically there are far more instances of strictly indoor cats that have anxiety-related problems: obsessive/compulsive disorders, cats that pull out their hair, separation anxiety, compulsive eating disorders, and various neuroses.

MaryNH. Sessy was a beautiful cat. I'm sorry for your loss.

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cmr
Member

Posts: 15
From:
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 02-20-2004 12:08 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for cmr     Edit/Delete Message
...MaryNH, your kitty is beautiful! I'm so sorry she's missing.


I grew up in a house where the cats were indoor/outdoor. My family got our first cat when I was six years old because that was the kind of pet I wanted. From my first grade year until I was out of high school, we had approximately 6 cats that were indoor/outdoor and 2 that ended up being indoor only. Guess which ones are alive today.

When I moved out of my parent's house and had my first apartment, I rescued two kittens a few months apart. With memories of waking up to get ready for school only to find my current kitty dead in the street in front of my house, I never let them outside.

I don't really think that catwoman was referring to people on farms that keep half feral cats around to catch mice. I think she was referring to people like my parents who used to let the cats out in a neighborhood just to let them roam around and play in the grass. The neighborhood cats annoy neighbors, can get into any unknown thing and bring it back home with them (like FIV/FeLV), be poisoned or caught by a neighbor, or be struck dead by a car driving too fast. I will never let my cats out. I'm still upset by all the ones I lost growing up.

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nern

Moderator

Posts: 1591
From:NY, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 02-20-2004 12:22 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for nern     Edit/Delete Message
Its really unsafe where I live so I would never dream of letting mine outside. There was a woman on another forum that enclosed her entire backyard so that all of her pets (cats & dogs) could safely enjoy the outdoors....I thought that was a really neat idea.

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nern

Moderator

Posts: 1591
From:NY, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 02-20-2004 12:23 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for nern     Edit/Delete Message
BTW, MaryNH.....Sessy is a real cutie!!

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MaryNH
Member

Posts: 240
From:Campton, NH USA
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 02-20-2004 12:36 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for MaryNH     Edit/Delete Message
thanks for the compliments for Sessy...I still get a lump when I see her face

anyway...here is some great info regarding outdoor/indoor cats also plans on how to make a safe outside area for your cats to play in
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pointe/9352/indoors.html

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empressjulz
Member

Posts: 64
From:Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 02-20-2004 12:43 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for empressjulz     Edit/Delete Message
i think whether cats should be "indoor" or "outdoor would not depend so much on personal preferences as much as it would the circumstances and the situation.

for people living in busy areas or townships that have a high number of vehicles, it would probably be advisable to keep the cats indoors, or within the garden area.

some may prefer to allow their cats to roam, and this is especially true for those who live in quite rural areas.

i live in an apartment, my three cats sit tight and pretty inside, and they're perfectly happy. we make do.

what's most important in any cat's life is that they receive love and happiness. the rest will come.

///ej

------------------
miao!

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dolly
Member

Posts: 84
From:Ontario Canada
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 02-20-2004 04:41 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for dolly     Edit/Delete Message
I would *never* let my kitties outside alone, but they do enjoy the fresh air and my Ollie particularly likes the snow. I will take him out on the harness in the backyard and let him walk around. We have only had him for a few months and lately he has been driving us crazy with his crying at the door. We're thinking of building an enclosure but we are concerned about letting him outside in the summer with the flea and tick season. Any thoughts on keeping him clean? I have never seen a flea on any of my kitties and don't ever want to! I won't take him out if there's no safe way to protect him, but he does seem to love our little walks.

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FMgurl43
Member

Posts: 107
From:fort myers, fl. usa
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 02-20-2004 06:48 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for FMgurl43     Edit/Delete Message
i have indoor/outdoor cats 6 of them... and yes one was recently hit by a car i had 2 other cats hit by cars to but thats only 3 cats in the 20 years ive lived where i live i live in a neighboorhood where there is not to much traffic... but the cats that got hit b4 thsi one recently i didnt have a fecnce in my backyard i do now and the reason why my kitty just got hit we found out today is b/c the dog nextdoor to us dug a hold under our fence...normally my cats can go outside and will stay in our fence we fixed the hole sooo now they cant get out... its hard w/ me b/c most of teh cats i have were found cats next to raods or somewhere like taht and r already used to being outside the kittens i have now i have bottle fed and have tried to keep them inside but they see the other cats go outside and will escape when someone walks out the door... i understand both points and there r some places that cats should not be allowed outside and there r some that i think its ok...

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elizavixen
Member

Posts: 160
From:Columbia, SC, USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 02-20-2004 08:41 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for elizavixen     Edit/Delete Message
I have never had any indoors only cats. I have been lucky as none of mine have ever had any issues. I think some of it depends on the cat. I know there are some super friendly cats in my area who just sit in the street. My cat is one of those who stays hidden. He is absolutely miserable if I make him stay inside. So in that sense, I think it would be meaner for me to leave him inside. My grandmother makes her cat come in at night; he will actually sit there and growl at her when she doesn't let him back out. Some cats just need to go out.

It also eliminates litter boxes which is a wonderful thing.

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catwoman
Member

Posts: 43
From:Brunswick, MO USA
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 02-22-2004 08:19 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for catwoman     Edit/Delete Message
Hi Everyone,

First of all, I am sorry if I offended anyone on my opinion (it is only my opinion) about indoor vs. outdoor cats.

Yes, CMR, you were right. I wasn't really referring to barn cats. I didn't really think about what their job is and I can see where they are a necessity for farms. I apologize Samsintentions.

I was really thinking about urban and suburban homes.

And I am NOT saying that a cat doesn't benefit from the outdoors, or that you should NOT take your cat outside. I'm just saying that when you do, make sure it has safe surroundings.

I know it sounds silly, but they do make harnesses and leashes for cats. It may take a while to get your cat use to it, but it's much better than having a cat not come home or find it dead on the road somewhere.

I use to have a cat several years ago that I let outdoors. She always stayed in the neighborhood and was very sweet and wouldn't stay out long. Just long enough to do her business and gets some fresh air.

Well, one day, a high school neighbor kid from up the street drove his mustang about 60 miles an hour up the road. Salem was not more than a couple of feet from my yard when he hit her while speeding up the road. Salem died instantly. That was the only good thing about it. I swore right then and there, I would never have an outdoor cat again.

Since then, I got married and moved to California. My husband's father passed away a few years ago and he had an older calico cat that was an indoor/outdoor cat. We stayed at my father inlaws house for a while and took care of Mindy. Well, one day, out of the blue, she disappeared. No sign of her body anywhere, no neighbors noticing where she had gone, just vanished.

So, this is why I feel the way I do about having outdoor cats. Just seems these two things could have been avoided if only I had kept them as indoor cats.

We now live in rural Missouri, out in the country. I hear coyotes at night and have seen foxes, even saw one fox in town! I will not let my cats outdoors unless they are in their cat garden where I can watch them and where no other animals can get to them. They seem perfectly happy the way things are.

I just hope by writing this thread, it will help someone become safer about whether or not they let their cats outside and supervise them if they do. Make them happy, but make it safe as well. That's all :-)

Again, to anyone I have upset, I am sorry. And MaryNH, your little Sessy was beautiful and sweet looking. I have four torties and she reminds me very much of mine. I hope she returns to you safely. She still might surprise you and show up.

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