Is your cat indoor or outdoor?

zumbamama
Member Offline
OK, I guess I won't feel so bad about keeping them inside. They were rescued as kittens, so I don't want them to end up homeless again. And there are lots of crazy drivers on my street. I'll get them a kitty gym or something. Oh and, they are not declawed...I agree!

Just curious though, has anyone used that invisible fence thing?
Anonymous
zumbamama wrote:OK, I guess I won't feel so bad about keeping them inside. They were rescued as kittens, so I don't want them to end up homeless again. And there are lots of crazy drivers on my street. I'll get them a kitty gym or something. Oh and, they are not declawed...I agree!

Just curious though, has anyone used that invisible fence thing?


Though I have never used one, I know plenty of people who have. The vote on them is mixed. If an animal is really motivated to get out, it will (e.g., if they are chasing something). I've had friends whose animals got out of the fence and those who did not.
Another important consideration, though, is that even if your cat/dog stays in the yard, an invisible fence does not keep other animals OUT (foxes, dogs, other cats.) Something to remember with the invisible fence.
Good luck.
Anonymous
My sister has trained her cat to walk on a leash. She is now known as "cat lady" in her neighborhood.
Anonymous
I must be the minority. I have 2 cats, and they go outside every morning for an hour. I agree they get lost (I did lose one cat), but my cats have radar collars on, so after an hour I just go and track them down if they haven't come home (it beeps louder and louder as I get closer). I know they would survive as indoor cats, but I feel like this is a personal decision. My cats only roam in my yard and my 2 neighbors, everyone loves them, and they love sitting out in the dirt. Good luck either way and enjoy the kitties.
Anonymous
I have an indoor/outdoor cat. He was a stray when we took him in and he always had the urge to go outside. Even after we got him neutered he was desperate to go outside and ripped all of our screens out and jumped out of the 2nd floor window. Needless to say, I caved. He is a killer, he takes care of all the mice and rats. But the nice thing about him is that he is very loyal. He stays in our alley (we live in DC) and sits on our fence to observe his territory.

He has gotten into fights when he was younger but now he is pretty established. He doesn't really want to bother dealing with anyone but me in terms of cuddling.
Anonymous
Zumba, I had a big old Tom I used to let go out for all the reasons you cite. I have always regretted it. The dead baby birds (bells don't help them, they are "sitting ducks"). The vet bills - ay! My cat actually cost me hundreds of dollars because mosquitoes chewed up his ears so bad he got a hematoma on his ear! True story: http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=cat+e...um=4&ved=0CBsQsAQwAw

They had to lance it then stitch it like a quilt to put the skin back on the cartilage.... it was awful and expensive. Just one of the many examples of the trouble that cat got into.

Once I started letting him out, he would NOT be satisfied with staying in.

If I ever get another cat, they will be indoor only. Better for me $$$ and better for wildlife.
Anonymous
I'm the one with the outdoor cats (who wear radar collars). I agree that it is really difficult once a cat knows about the outside to keep them in. Mine were also rescues, and it really would just have been torture to keep them in. I think that's the major reason I let them out. Not that other cats are like this, but mine seem to be satisfied with very little outdoor space. Most days they stay inside my fenced backyards, and only occassionally squeeze through to the other yards.
Anonymous
For outdoor time, we let ours on our screened porch and walk him on a leash. It isn't that hard to leash-train them if you start young. Happy time, harness time!

But we never allow him outside alone not least because our neighbors don't believe in leash laws for their enormous dogs (who crap all over our yard, but that's for a different post...)
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I have an indoor/outdoor cat. He was a stray when we took him in and he always had the urge to go outside. Even after we got him neutered he was desperate to go outside and ripped all of our screens out and jumped out of the 2nd floor window. Needless to say, I caved. He is a killer, he takes care of all the mice and rats. But the nice thing about him is that he is very loyal. He stays in our alley (we live in DC) and sits on our fence to observe his territory.

He has gotten into fights when he was younger but now he is pretty established. He doesn't really want to bother dealing with anyone but me in terms of cuddling.


This sounds a lot like my cats. I'm from the west coast where everyone lets their cats out, so I let mine out when we moved here. They stay close to home and the neighbors love them. I couldn't keep my cats inside -- but I think it's a very personal decision. I realize that my decision potentially shortens their life spans, but I also want them to be happy while alive. And my cats would not be happy inside all the time. Good luck with your decision!
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