Hi
I have 2 house cats (well kittens really - they are 7 months old) and they are both gorgeous (but then I am biased!)
My question is, does anyone else have house cats and does anyone think it is cruel to keep them in?
The reason I ask is because someone at work yesterday told me that I should start letting them out now they are 7 months.
We made a decision to have them as house cats after reading lots of stories about horrific things happening to local cats, including being shot with air rifles and poisoned. We also live on a road that should be quiet, but because the road at the top of ours has speed bumps, people tend to drive fast down our road......
The cats both seem perfectly happy indoors - they have plenty of toys (not to mention 5 dogs to play with ) and a huge cat tree (which we squeeze past to get to the bathroom, but they love it so it stays on the landing ) They seem perfectly content to me, and spend time either watching the world go by on the windowsill in the front room, playing with each other (glad we got two!) or sleeping (their favourite past time when not playing!)
Their tails twitch when they watch birds outside, but apart from that, seem perfectly fine to me......
Am I kidding myself? Or am I being unkind?
Any thoughts gratefully received.
Thanks.x

I think cats can be perfectly happy indoors as long as they have enough space, company and enough things to keep them interested.

Your cats sound as if they have a great life.

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Lauren

Don't Shop Adopt! - Stop Puppy Farming

Battery Farmed Dogs Campaign (Puppy Farming)

hello
i have an 8 week old kitten she is dieing to get out ...if i go out in the garden she stands at the backs doors jumping up at the handle and meowing so i pick her up and take her out with me holding her of course she looks at the birds and follows them with her eyes .i dont want her to go out but she will oneday i surpose

I've got 5 house cats & they all live happily indoors. It's your choice - some people will say it's unnatural, but I wouldn't take the risk with mine. You sound like you've done all the right things for your cats already - it's essential that you ensure that they are stimulated, have lots of things to keep them entertained & have trees/scratching posts which mine adore. Even though mine are indoor cats, they're all micro-chipped just incase they get out & they're all vaccinated apart from the feline leukemia jab.

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Mum to Saffy, Tilly, Sox, Mia and Munch

I think you hear such dreadful stories nowadays about outdoor cats being abused or run over that unless you live in the middle of nowhere with no roads nearby then it is much safer to have them indoors.

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Lauren

Don't Shop Adopt! - Stop Puppy Farming

Battery Farmed Dogs Campaign (Puppy Farming)

If they really wanted to go out I think they'd be trying to sneak past you when you open the door. I have three cats and two of them are out a lot but Lulu hardly goes out and usually wants to come straight back in. I am sure she would be happy to never go out and just watch the world from the window. It sounds like your cats have an interesting view, so I wouldn't worry too much if they're not trying to get out. My gran had a housecat that wasn't allowed out and that poor puss spent her life trying to escape past your legs at the front door. After my gran died the cat came to live with my mother and was allowed out and spent her last year of life just sitting in next door's garden a lot.

Hi, I think its a personal choice really, I think you have to factor how busy the roads are around you. Some cats are quite happy to stay indoors - unfortunately for me they all want to go out & explore lol

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"Life may not be the party we hoped for,
but while we're here we might as well dance."

well i think it depends on the cat my ragdoll is happy being in doors she loves playing with my other cat and has loads of toys and stuff where as smokey a moggy and we try to keep him in serton hours of the day but he hates it he hangs on doys and looks for anyway out so we have to let him out for a little while as he would become unhappy what bread are your cats and if there happy i dont see the problem

Cats can be perfectly happy indoors!

But try and provide lots of things that can imitate the outside and provide stimulation.

Like:

Cat climbers (big and small)

Shelves for them

Beds/sleepers in different locations around the house

Food in random places for them to find

Water in a couple of places

Food balls

Window sills free so the cats can look outside and watch the world go by

Lots of toys, but remember to switch toys regulary to keep the cats interest, also in different places

Also there are cat tunnels, gyms etc

I am only going by what i did when i my cats were kept in! And by what family/friends do.

But reading your post, your cats seem to have a super life!! Don't feel horrible by keeping them in! You know what is best for your kitties and if keeping them inside is better for them and yourself (peace of mind i mean lol!) then good on you.
xx

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My cats are indoors, though they have a cat door leading to an enclosure. My mothers cat has never ever been outside and doesn't know what it's missing. There are too many risks outside now. It is no-one else's business and it's not your problem if they don't "understand" either. They are your babies and you are the one responsible for there safety.