Do you have a cat? Does it go outside?

[notfred]

I seem to be the only person in the world who doesn't have a problem with keeping cats outside. We (me and my parents, while I lived w/ them) had 3 cats. They're all still alive, and they're all 14 years old. They've ALWAYS gone outside. They'll spend probably 12-16 hours/day outside. They're free to roam wherever they want. They used to spend a lot of time in a big empty field chasing mice. Now that they're older, they spend most of thier time in the backyard. However, they have successfully avoided dying for 14 years. We've never even had them to the vet since they got all thier shots and got fixed. I see why you wouldn't let a cat out in the middle of New York City. But I haven't noticed any problems with them living outside in quiet suburban/semi-rural neighborhoods.

What's your opinion on the matter.

 

[Ryan]

My cat is 12 years old, and he's been going outside since he was a kitten. I also live in a suburban neighborhood, and I have never had a problem. He's also fixed

 

[Carbo]

I've always had a cat in my house, from when I was an infant, until this very day. Each and every one has been an outside cat. It's their nature and instinct to prowl and roam. I have one cat now who is about 11, and the other is 19. Keeping the neighborhood safe from rodents............
I will say this, though. The younger one has been hit by a car, and been shot. Survived both injuries and you'd never know by looking at her she was ever even scratched. She's a fighter. We found her on the street as a stray kitten when she was about four months old, and she's never lost her love for mixing it up.

 

[Wallydraigle]

I have cats inside that stay inside, and cats outside that stay outside.

 

[Siddhartha]

I used to have a cat that I let go out whenever he wanted. One day he did not come back.

 

[Lucky]

both my cats stay inside. one is declawed.

 

[ohtwell]

I let my cats go outside.

They hate being stuck inside all day long.





: ) Amanda

 

[JC]

My cat stays inside. Safe from cars, fleas, and the other badass cats in the neighborhood.

JC

 

[Siva]

we got my cat from a shelter and she was declawed, no outside for her

 

[LordMaul]

I thought about having a cat, but then I realize they don't taste that good.

At least, I realized this after Fluffy *AHEM* disappeared...

:Q

 

[SeaSerpent]

My new cat stays inside. My last cat was beat to death by the neighbor with a bat.

 

[eakers]

people who put their cats outside piss me off.

they get into my garage and tear up our garbage or will do it on garbage day. they poop in my nephews sandboxes.

they kill birds and rabbits and squirrels.

they run across the road at bad times.

why should i lisence my dog when it stays in my backyard when cats run around free?

*kat. <--- anti cats.

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: eakers
they kill birds and rabbits and squirrels.

That's one of the best things about cats! I hate squirrells....

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: eakers
people who put their cats outside piss me off.

they get into my garage and tear up our garbage or will do it on garbage day. they poop in my nephews sandboxes.

they kill birds and rabbits and squirrels.

they run across the road at bad times.

why should i lisence my dog when it stays in my backyard when cats run around free?

*kat. <--- anti cats.

Then I'm very glad to piss you off.

Both of my cats have never spent a single day indoors (unless you count the garage). We keep them as predators to keep the ground squirrel population down as they are in a very rural area. Neither cat will stray far from the property and the protection of the dog as there are coyotes and owls that prey on cats always nearby.

 

[Pepsi90919]

yep my cat is about 14 and he's always always been an outdoor cat. he actually came to us in 1991 and we fed him so naturally he kept coming back. we later found out that he belonged to someone across the street and said we can have him because they were moving to a place where they couldn't have pets. so i guess it's a good thing he was an outdoor cat, otherwise we wouldn't have him now.

 

[LordMaul]

Originally posted by: eakers
people who put their cats outside piss me off.

they get into my garage and tear up our garbage or will do it on garbage day. they poop in my nephews sandboxes.

they kill birds and rabbits and squirrels.

they run across the road at bad times.

why should i lisence my dog when it stays in my backyard when cats run around free?

*kat. <--- anti cats.

Woohoo! Eakers rules!

Well..

I couldn't give a flying fsck about rabbits, squirrels or birds, but I hate cats just the same!

 

[Wallydraigle]

people who put their cats outside piss me off.

they get into my garage and tear up our garbage or will do it on garbage day. they poop in my nephews sandboxes.

they kill birds and rabbits and squirrels.

they run across the road at bad times.

why should i lisence my dog when it stays in my backyard when cats run around free?

*kat. <--- anti cats.

It's not that most people "put" their cats outside, that's just where they live. I have four cats inside already. There's no way I can take ten more into my house. So they live outside. I feed them, and they are free to stay or leave any time they wish. If one of them gets run over, it's sad, but whatever, it happens to strays all the time. Are you suggesting that I should kill all the cats I cannot take into my home?

 

[JonathanM]

I'm cats are indoor/outdoor cats... they spend most of the time indoors and about maybe 1 to 2 hours outside a day, as they got older, they started going outside less and less... but then again, everytime we move, there are more cats outside, and a smaller yeard.

 

[trikster2]

Last cat was an outdoor cat.

Wish I was home instead of my wife when the crying lady showed up at the door with our dead cat she had just hit with her car (residential street 25mph speed limit).

Current cat is an indoor cat. Seems just as happy as the last cat, maybe happier since it is alive.


Here's the Humane Society Statement on Outdoor Cats

 

[Wallydraigle]

Don't really care what the Humane Society has to say. Trap, sterilize, and release programs, WTF?

All of my inside cats are sterilized, and most of my outside cats are as well. All the males are, and all but two of the females are. They never leave our property, but there is certainly nothing stopping them from doing so. They all get yearly vaccinations as well. I would consider them "mine"; I feed them daily, and they mostly just stay around the house. If they weren't here, they would be somewhere else most likely not receiving the level of care they do here, or else they would be dead. Still they're just strays that hang around my place. They don't harm anyone else. If licnensing them became mandatory I wouldn't do it. Why should I have to pay Uncle Sam to care for a few stray cats? It's bad enough I have to pay Uncle Sam to keep a dog in my house. Am I being irresponsible?

 

[Lucky]

As of 6/22/02, my user rating is 3.60

As of 5 seconds ago, its 3.54.

 

[Isla]

It depends on how domesticated the cat is. It also depends on whether you live in the country or the city.

Just try to take in a stray that has grown up free-roaming and make it an indoor cat! If you have a cat that was originally a stray, you may never be able to make it an indoor cat. Please do not declaw a cat unless you are SURE it will be happy living indoors for the rest of its life.

Kittens are another story. If you aquire your pet as a kitten, try to keep it indoors, for its own safety.

Personally, in the country, I think cats should be free. They don't roam in packs like dogs do. As much as I love dogs, I don't think they should roam free anywhere because of that reason. A pack of dogs is a dangerous thing.

 

[Wallydraigle]

As of 6/22/02, my user rating is 3.60
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



As of 5 seconds ago, its 3.54.

Heehee, thanks

At least I know you care.

 

[Shelly21]

I love cats. My cat is indoor cat. However, when she grows up a bit, I will walk her with a leash, perhaps once a day.

 

[Lucky]

Originally posted by: Shelly21
I love cats. My cat is indoor cat. However, when she grows up a bit, I will walk her with a leash, perhaps once a day.

do most cats mind being on a leash?