hi,
Have just been reading a thread on another part of sf and it has got me thinking.A member stated that they think it is cruel to keep a cat indoors.
so what do people think? is it cruel to keep a cat indoors? even if its never been outside?
interested to hear your answers.
thanks x

:rant: No. I have 3 indoor cats who are so happy and content. They are pedigree. I dont think i would have a moggy as a house cat tho.

I don't think so - as long as the cat has the opportunity to do 'cat things' and has plenty of stimulation, I don't think you're depriving them particularly.

I have a cat flap and my cats can come and go as they please but we live on a relatively quiet street. If I lived on a busier street or had pedigree cats, I'd consider keeping them indoors.

Some cats are perfectly happy being a house cat, some aren't.

Mine turned themselves in house cats as they got older and certainly seemed perfectly happy.

I don't think it makes any difference if they're pedigrees or moggies, each cat is an individual.

As long as they can play and be daft and get some exercise, I don't see there's a problem with indoor cats. Of course, you have to be prepared for them to wreck the house on occasion.

Some cats are perfectly happy being a house cat, some aren't.

Mine turned themselves in house cats as they got older and certainly seemed perfectly happy.

I don't think it makes any difference if they're pedigrees or moggies, each cat is an individual.

As long as they can play and be daft and get some exercise, I don't see there's a problem with indoor cats. Of course, you have to be prepared for them to wreck the house on occasion.
My reason for comment bout pedigrees is that my past moggys were always outdoor. I live on a very busy road so we chose pedigrees who for generations have been house cats, didnt want to risk a moggy been unhappy if it wanted to go out as its just not safe.

My two were house cats for their first couple of years. Curiosity was always there to get outside, but they were happy getting their exercise chasing each other up and down the stairs. Not sure how hoppy the people in the downstairs flat were about the constant clattering :D

I moved off the main road and they have been "outdoor" cats ever since. One likes to pop out for a "constitutional" than come straight back in, and would no doubt adapt happily to becoming an indoor mog if necessary. The other, she is one of those who likes to roam (and visit numerous other houses too!) and I would have to rehome her rather than "imprison" her.

It depends on the cat, but if there is room, a young cat can be accustomesd to the indoor life. Just don't expect to confine them further - if they are indoor cats then they must have free reign to moult on your pillow, scratch your settee and do all their "outdoor" activities inside, from playing to scratching to toileting

Our cats have always had freedom to come and go as they wish. They did go out for the first 10 years, but for the last 6 or 7 years they have been almost always in the house. It is very rare that they go out at all now.

As long as they are happy. We all know our animals needs and expectations and adapt to them. My brother had two rescues, both content inside, one passed away and the remaining wanted to roam after that. they let him and all is fine......

Thanks for the replies so far,
i have 2 older kittens (moggies) they are indoor cats .They as you have all said have the ability to roam wherever , when ever in our house. They both are a little inquisitive but never make a concerned effort to get out side.We do live on a main road and one of our previous cats was killed on the road hence me keeping these boys inside, but the post I mentioned made me wonder if i was being cruel!
thanks again

no you not. As long as your cats are happy thats all that matters :)

I don't think it is cruel to have an indoor cat...some cats don't want to go outside. My cat is 7 years old. At our previous house she was out and about all the time, but with this house she prefers inside. I think perhaps it is because she is a little older. She'll still go out, but only for brief periods. I'll let her out, thinking I've got a couple of hours before she'll want to come in, but 10 mins later she is crying at the door. I think now she would rather sleep all day and smooch with her catnip toy than have a night on the tiles.

No it's not cruel. Many people banged on to me about it being cruel to keep cats indoors when we first got our two. I listened and wished I hadn't as one of my cats got killed on the road outside our house. And it wasn't even a busy road. Ever since then my remaining cat has been a house cat. And I am far more comfortable knowing that no harm can come to her.

It's not just the roads either. People can be cruel to cats and put nasty stuff down to keep them out of their gardens. Not to mention cats getting poisoned.

I think if you do let your cat out then thats fine, but you always have to be prepared for the fact that something might happen to them.

I personally feel better knowing that she's in and safe.

My neighbours now have house cats because all their other cats were runover. I am also grateful because having 6 greyhounds used to dread one of them coming into our garden:wow:

Sue

I don't think it's cruel to keep a cat indoors as long as they have plenty to do and places to explore indoors.

I think that it can be cruel to let them outdoors if you live in a place which is inherently dangerous for them, since cats aren't known for their road sense.

If you are lucky enough (as I am) to live in a place without passing traffic and with plenty of cat-friendly places for them to go, people to meet up with and gardens to sun themselves and get entertained in, as well as other cats with which to pass the time of day, then why on earth should I restrict them to the indoors?

I don't think it's cruel at all. It may be a little unfair on a cat that is accustomed to going out when (s)he pleases to suddenly try and turn him into a house cat, but if the cat is used to being a house cat it's not at all cruel. It's what they know.

I think it can be cruel to keep cats indoors because they should have freedom to roam and play and entertain themselves. I understand about not having them near busy roads, but if you are near a busy road and you have a small house, you probably shouldn't have cats.

torturin a cat is cruel, starving a cat is cruel, keepin a cat inside as you are concerned for its safety isnt. What matters is love, not big houses.

torturin a cat is cruel, starving a cat is cruel, keepin a cat inside as you are concerned for its safety isnt. What matters is love, not big houses.

I don't think I could have put it better myself :thumbsup:

As long as you have the best interest of the kitten/cat at heart - it doesn't matter whether they're indoor or outdoor cats.

I'm very fortunate really because where I live is a cul-de-sac....very few cars come on the road (which is to the left)....and to the right - there's acres and acres of farmland and forest for Tilly to play in. Like my old cat Blaze, they both love the outdoors....but like nothing more than the warmth and safety of being indoors too.

A cats safety and happiness is all that's important :)

I think that it can be cruel to let them outdoors if you live in a place which is inherently dangerous for them, since cats aren't known for their road sense.



I'll second that!! When I let my cat out I often see her sitting in the middle of the road. Once I saw her staring down a car that had stopped because she was sat there with this look on her face that simply said, "My road, now reverse and begone!" I had to go outside and pick her up. Stupid cat!

I acquired two black and white rescue moggies last September. They're brother and sister, and at the time were 6 months old. Their previous owner had kept them as house cats since birth apparently.

I live in a first floor flat so two house cats were perfect for me. Other residents in the complex own cats and dogs, and many are let out into the communal garden to roam freely, but I didn't want to inconvenience my neighbours, or put my cats at risk of injury or being run over.

I make sure my two have plenty to keep them amused (usually cardboard boxes and balls) but up until 11pm I let them charge around and do what they want. To give them decent exercise, I either let them play on the vinyl floor tiles in the kitchen chasing a ball, or throw a small plastic ball into the empty bath and watch them go nutty chasing it around!

I also supervise them playing with toys on bits of elastic as I'm always a bit worried the daft buggers will strangle themselves!

Being on the first floor, they enjoy sitting on the living room windowsill watching the world go by. I'm just really glad they can't get at the birds and just chatter at them whilst thrashing their tail around.

My two seem very content, and as we all know, an unhappy cat will let you know in no uncertain terms!

I'll second that!! When I let my cat out I often see her sitting in the middle of the road. Once I saw her staring down a car that had stopped because she was sat there with this look on her face that simply said, "My road, now reverse and begone!" I had to go outside and pick her up. Stupid cat!

Not funny really, but you made me laugh!

A mate of mine has had atleast a couple of cats who used to do that. In fact one of them was a right arrogant wotsit, to the point a neighbour would have to come get my friend to remove her cat from his car during the summer. He'd make the mistake of leaving the sunroof open, the cat would climb in and settle down for a comfy kip, and any attempts to remove him would be met with growls and intimidation.