Kitties

Rheanna · 07-05-2006, 05:14 PM

My question is this : For those of you who have cats, want cats, did have cats, know someone who has cats, or know someone who is kin to someone who has cats

Do they stay indoors most of the time???

Background Info : My MIL sometimes likes to make snide comments out of nowhere that seemingly are to say I'm weird, strange, or whatever. I have an inside cat who had kittens. My little Ollie died, but the other two are still indoors. I threw them out for half a day because no one would take them and they were pooping under my desk

I felt bad and brought them in and I think they're getting the hang of the litter box FINALLY... Point being, my MIL felt the need to come out with a comment about how it's not "normal" for cats to stay inside all the time and "most people" have outdoor cats or let them go in and out all the time. I felt this was a jab directly at me, as she does that.. And was wondering how many of you find it perfectly normal for cats to stay inside all the time?

quickcurl · 07-05-2006, 05:22 PM

My cat stays inside all the time. Call it what ever you want, but I'm not about to let him out side so he can get run over by a car, attacked by some other animal, beaten up by another cat, tormented by some kids or something else horrible. I love him waaaaaay too much for that!!!

When I was a teenager, a stray kitten showed up in our yard and we ended up taking her in. It took awhile for her to get used to staying inside all the time, and it was a pain to listen to her cry at the door, but she got the hang of it after a while....again, didn't want her to get run over, etc.

Rheanna · 07-05-2006, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quickcurl

My cat stays inside all the time. Call it what ever you want, but I'm not about to let him out side so he can get run over by a car, attacked by some other animal, beaten up by another cat, tormented by some kids or something else horrible. I love him waaaaaay too much for that!!!

When I was a teenager, a stray kitten showed up in our yard and we ended up taking her in. It took awhile for her to get used to staying inside all the time, and it was a pain to listen to her cry at the door, but she got the hang of it after a while....again, didn't want her to get run over, etc.

See, that's how I feel too. My MIL kept talking about her mother who kept having her cats 'disappear' that were outside, right before telling me how weird I was. It seems I care way more about my pets than she does... I don't know. Cats are different than dogs, it's not as though you can put them in a cat lot or something

I didn't think I was weird by any means; I didn't see why she said that

Cynaminbear · 07-05-2006, 05:59 PM

Everyone I know, now, keeps their cats inside except for one of my neighbors. They haven't learned to keep their cats in the house even after one disappeared.
When I was growing up we knew only one family with cats and they were indoor/outdoor. Chow-chow died from an animal bite, most likely a groundhog. They took Tara and her 4 kittens to a shelter. Kitty, Tara's son, was dumped in a field but found his way home. He later died after a car hit him. I found him, frozen to the ground, on my way to school.
We keep all of our cats inside, and freak a bit if they get out and we can't find one. There are many feral cats in our neighborhood and I just know they'd get into a fight. George, our oldest cat, had to be taken to the vet after being bit during a fight. Fighting increases their chance for catching disease (FIV) or infection.
That said, in many parts of the country it's strange to have cats and even dogs inside. Ignore her comments about the cat inside; afterall it's your home and you're the one who lives with it, not her.

outtahere · 07-05-2006, 05:59 PM

I live in an urban area, so no, my cat is not going outside. I can't believe the nerve of some people who let their cats run wild around here with a major highway so close by. My cat is not like personal property to me (though she is considered property under my state's law), but a family member. Heck, I love her more than I do some of my family.

This board shows me again and again how meanspiritied people can be to one another

(don't know what is up with it lately), and it makes me appreciate my cat even more. My grandparents live on a farm, so their cats are in and out a lot. I can see that a little more than letting them out into the city streets, but still, this is a world cultivated to meet humans' needs (which I sometimes think is unfortunate), with little regard for any other living creatures.

iris427 · 07-05-2006, 06:23 PM

I keep my cats indoors for several reasons.

1. Their safety--there are too many mean people and reckless drivers and other hazards. I'm not letting just anyway near my kitties. They are trusting me with their care, so no way I'm going to let them roam the streets where god knows what will happen to them. I always think of a little girl I know whose kitty was intentionally poisoned by a neighbor. The neighbor fed the cat antifreeze and it died.

2. My neighborhood is full of strays who may fight with my kitties or pass on diseases to them.

3. Cats kill lots of native species. It is really a problem in some places. They can also pass diseases like toxoplasmosis to local wildlife. It is better for wild animals to keep your kitties inside.

quickcurl · 07-05-2006, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rheanna83

Quote:

Originally Posted by quickcurl

My cat stays inside all the time. Call it what ever you want, but I'm not about to let him out side so he can get run over by a car, attacked by some other animal, beaten up by another cat, tormented by some kids or something else horrible. I love him waaaaaay too much for that!!!

When I was a teenager, a stray kitten showed up in our yard and we ended up taking her in. It took awhile for her to get used to staying inside all the time, and it was a pain to listen to her cry at the door, but she got the hang of it after a while....again, didn't want her to get run over, etc.

See, that's how I feel too. My MIL kept talking about her mother who kept having her cats 'disappear' that were outside, right before telling me how weird I was. It seems I care way more about my pets than she does... I don't know. Cats are different than dogs, it's not as though you can put them in a cat lot or something

I didn't think I was weird by any means; I didn't see why she said that

You're not wierd!!! I think you hit it on the head when you said that it seems you care more about your pets than she does. Some people just see them as animals and that's it; they aren't part of the family.

PartyHair · 07-05-2006, 07:23 PM

My baby kitty is an indoor kitty. My sister's cats are both indoor kitties, although they do get supervised playtime in the backyard.

My mom has two indoor-outdoor cats, but they mostly stay inside, or on the giant back porch. When they do go outside, they never leave the fenced in backyard.

jeepcurlygurl · 07-05-2006, 07:25 PM

For me this one is easy, since my cat was just poisoned a few days ago. She's okay thank the gods.

She (Pita) was a wild cat. It took 6 months to get her to come up to me. Another 6 months to get her to come in the house. 3 months to get her to stay in the house overnight. Once she was totally adjusted to being an indoor cat, that's where she stayed. In the summer she goes out on the porch or patio with me to roll around on the cement, chew on grass, and have some 'us' time. Well the other night she went to chew on grass and I could see immediately she was in trouble. My lawn guy knows to use fertilizers, etc that are safe for kids and pets, so I asked him what the deal was. Come to find out, he had seeded some bare spots with treated grass seed. Had she been allowed to go outside alone, she probably wouldn't be around today.

Now on the other side of the coin, I have had outdoor cats. When I moved into a house I bought years ago, there were a bunch of wild cats and kittens living in an abandoned building nearby. I tamed as many as possible, a few became my housecats, some were too wild to do much with so I humane trapped them and took them to a farm to be barn cats. I kept one of my favorite wild ones, built her a house on the back porch, trapped her and had her fixed, and she lived outside for 14 years before dying of old age. I tried and tried to get her in the house but she hated it! She was happy and healthy outside no matter how cold or hot it was.

But I really feel there is no reason for your pet cat to go outside unattended.
Sorry this was so long.

07-05-2006, 07:27 PM

My cats stay indoors at all times. Families always like to point out what you do "wrong" according to them. Just smile

wonderdiana - shopaholic takes a nap · 07-05-2006, 07:38 PM

My dear departed cat, Hunter, got outside once and was terrified! The poor baby spent a whole night outside and when my mom found him he was hiding under a bush.

I wouldn't want to have an outdoor cat with our crazy neighbors who have crazy kids and let their big dogs loose. My other neighbors have an outdoor cat who spends a good deal of time in our yard. I'm thinking of kidnapping her.

CGNYC · 07-05-2006, 07:40 PM

I think if you call yourself "owning" a cat, you should keep them inside. People are mean to stray animals, they can pick up diseases, they get hit by cars, dogs chase them, they fight, and they can be a PITA to all your neighbors if you let them wander.

I can understand letting them out if you're there to watch them, but just letting them out and about? No. That just seems really irresponsible to me. I know no one likes to hear it, but there ya go.

PartyHair · 07-05-2006, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CGNYC

I think if you call yourself "owning" a cat, you should keep them inside. People are mean to stray animals, they can pick up diseases, they get hit by cars, dogs chase them, they fight, and they can be a PITA to all your neighbors if you let them wander.

I can understand letting them out if you're there to watch them, but just letting them out and about? No. That just seems really irresponsible to me. I know no one likes to hear it, but there ya go.

Gotta agree with you on this, as on many things.

Rheanna · 07-05-2006, 08:13 PM

Thanks everyone. I'm glad to know I'm not "weird" as she said

It does depend on the situation. I live in a pretty rural area so it's not *as* big of a thing. My mom has 2 outdoor cats, but she also lives in a very secluded area with a small barely even one-lane background, many acres of woods, a huge field AND a barn. So the cats are more than happy there and don't even go up near the road! I have about 1 1/3 acres, a big portion of it fenced, with a backroad also, BUT a 4 lane just a couple blocks away - so I wouldn't feel right about it. Like I said, I did put mine outside for a bit (a couple hours) but they couldnt' get over the fence right now so they were okay.... I felt awful still and had to bring them in. I don't see how people can just not care about pets at all.. I'm STILL sad about my kitten that died last Friday. Actually broke down on my mom on the phone a few mins. ago, because it really hit me that he was not coming back...

I guess I'm just a softie

curlicious3b · 07-05-2006, 08:16 PM

I want a cat and would keep mine inside at all times if I had one.

FrizzyJen · 07-05-2006, 08:28 PM

Everyone I know with outside cats has lost one. My cats are indoor. We live in an upper apartment with a nice big porch, so they can get a little taste of outside.

Rheanna, I can relate to your sadness over your kitten. I remember when my mom's dog died I kept crying at work.

Jeepcurly, I liked your description of us time with your cat. I always try to get some quality bonding time in with my cats, particularly Aldo, my big mamma's boy

Kaia · 07-05-2006, 08:38 PM

My 3 cats are all indoor. One got out once. I ended up calling out from work to look for him, spent the day making flyers, talking to everyone in the neighborhood, and generally freaking out. Around midnight, I almost gave up and went for one last sweep of the neighborhood because it was starting to storm. As I was coming back, calling his name, I heard a meow and followed it. Turns out, he found the right building, but not the right apartment, and was hiding from the rain under a neighbor's porch. Moral of the story: don't let your cat out unless you expect to lose them. I guess what they say about cats always finding their way home isn't true either. I felt very lucky to have found him.

07-06-2006, 04:43 AM

Jeep, I am so glad your cat is okay!

shellibean · 07-06-2006, 06:32 AM

I think cats are great outside. I am not a cat fan though, so I would NEVER have a cat inside. But, being from the country, I know many people that have cats that live outside on mouse patrol. Of course they feed them and they can crawl under the barn, tractor,etc if it rains,etc. it doens't get that cold where I am from, so that isn't an issue. I think if they have the means to live outside and you still feed them and stuff, it is fine and they would prob. prefer it. Just my opinion though. I would also point out that it wouldn't be a good idea to put a declawedcat outside b/c it wouldn't be able to defend itself.

lazy loops · 07-06-2006, 07:12 AM

Everywhere we've lived we saw cats running around, so I voted "No".

In fact, just this morning I had a tuxedo in my back yard, about 2-3 times a week I see a beautiful white & something ringtail & leg-striped cat jumping the fences & the wall behind our house, & a lady came around asking if I'd seen her several month old butterscotch-colored kitten.