I'm moving house soon, unfortunately someone else bought the house I had my eye on, which was completely safe for my cats (surrounded by countryside and on a dirt track). There are no other houses for sale like this and I'm going to have to choose a suburban type house. I wanted to know other owners' experiences of living near busy roads? Do Burmese cats eventually grow wise to the dangers around them and avoid any roads? Can they be trained? Is it safe for me to move somewhere where there are roads?

No animal is safe near any road! There is always a risk! And there are drivers , sadly, that will, put their foot down rather then brake when seeing a cat!

__________________

Cats and roads don't mix... ever! I lost my darling boy last year to a car on a relatively quiet road. Simba doesn't go out alone and I would never again let a cat out on their own. The pain of losing Bruno at less than 2 years old was just too much.

__________________
http://catscanjump.blogspot.com

Wendy, mum to:
Simba von Wurzbachtal, Turkish Van, born Austria, 5/9/10

RIP
Tarka, 1989 - 2008 my gentle Phileas Fogg
Bruno, 2008 - 2010 taken too soon my darling boy
Misi, 1993 - 25/3/2012 My brave, beautiful tabby

Full agreement with above.Quiet roads,busy roads all roads are a danger to cats.Some cats will be "considered" to be more road wise than others,but there is always the potential for harm with any cat on any road.My cats have all been indoor cats .I live beside a busy road but even if i didnt they would still be indoor cats.

__________________

Ok my naivety has surfaced again...................do people actually do this???!!! A few years years ago a cat ran out straight in front of me and there was absolutely nothing I could do. I was only doing about 20mph. I think I was as mortified as the poor cats owners. I was a mess for days if not weeks afterwards. How the hell could someone do that on purpose!

I would never ever let any of my cats outside, no matter where I lived. I do feel a bit guilty about it sometimes when I see them looking out of the window, but then I remind myself that I would be putting them at unnecessary risk and I'd feel even more guilty if anything happened to one of them if I did let them out.

I live on a relatively quiet road (for London) - except for times when van drivers take a short cut using our road. They have no concern for humans and I am sure some would see cats as target practice.

For this reason I do not let my cats roam, as a usually quiet road means they have no idea this could change within 20 seconds. Our neighbours have lost cats on our road due to this, but also because the road is so quiet the cats fell asleep under cars and then got run over when unsuspecting drivers started their cars/vans.

Our garden is secured and in our new place it will be cat proofed. Until then the cats are allowed out supervised only. I may be selfish, but I just can't face the risk of losing them.

__________________

I also live on a fairly quiet road (for London) and a lot of people have cats and let them roam. I still haven't let my eight month old out alone and I still haven't decided whether I will. It's a toughie.

It is really tough isn't it? On one hand you want them to experience freedom, but on the other you want to keep them safe.

One neighbour lets her cat roam - a big MC type cat, and the other cat is an indoor cat only.

I have to say though, both cats look very happy.

__________________

When you do move in to a new hosue you could look at cat proofing the garden so puss can go in there but not get out of the garden. I'm looking at doing this next year.

I used to let my cats out but when i moved to a main road , decided it was time to cat proof ! now , i wouldn't have it any other way , not even if i moved to a quiet road