My mum used to have an indoor cat, she was lovely and so loving and very happy she had lots of toys and always had someone fussing over her.

Sadly Pheobe is no longer with us, but she had a long and happy life, so i think it's fine to have an indoor cat and don't see it as cruel.

I have two indoor cats and they are far more loving than my previous outdoor cats because they are indoor cats (I think)

They have never been outisde and are not concerned by it. They liked looking out the window but that is about as far as their interest goes.

The reason they are indoor is my previous cats were run over (Deano) and never came home (Sophie) and it took me 12 years to ever want a cat again!

i have 4 cats and they are indoor cats, i have lots of toys scratch posts etc for them and they all play together, my only prob few years ago is when i took in an outdoor cat for someone and it was forever trying to escape out of window [i live on second floor] which wasnt safe so i had to rehome her but other than that no prob at all they are happy safe dont get illness or mishaps in the sameway as they dont come into contact with ther cats and traffic etc

Keeping a cat indoors isn't cruel, and letting a cat roam isn't cruel either. Both situations depend on the living conditions of the owner and the character of the particular cat. My kitty is a mostly indoor cat (she goes out for walk and playtime on her harness) and she's totally fine with it, but she has plenty of toys to play with indoors and she's rarely left alone for more than a couple of hours. She has escaped a few times before, but she just sits on the doorstep waiting to be carried back in; I think she knows that she's only supposed to leave the house accompanied on her lead. I'd love to get one of those outdoor runs, though!

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It's not at all cruel to keep your cat indoors safe from traffic, with plenty to play with, plenty of love and company. You said yourself he seems really content and is happy to stay inside. You have absolutely nothing to worry about!! Keep him in where he's safe and happy.

If you think about it, cats are the only animals that we send out unsupervised. I think many of them are perfectly happy to be home-bodies. I know my cat won't go outside for love nor money!

I think the only time that it would be "cruel" to keep a cat indoors, would be if the cat was used to being allowed to roam a large area, and its owner decided to lock it in the house and keep it there against its will for no good reason. But that certainly isn't the case here, so don't feel bad.