Outdoor cat, all the time
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Anonymous
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I know I will get flamed, but here goes.
I live in Potomac, and my dc wants cat. Our relatives live on a farm and have kittens (they always have kittens). For reasons that are too long to go into, I will not let cats in my house. The relatives on the farm have never ever allowed cats in the house. The cats winter outside and are healthy. I know the research about lower life expectancy with outdoor cats, but they seem happier outside. What would happen to us here if we did the same. We thought of taking two kittens from the farm and giving them the same set up here that they have there. Garage access instead of barn access, and a little house with straw in the garage. I know the research about lower life expectancy with outdoor cats, but they seem happier outside. Will the humane society come after me? |
Anonymous
| I think barn cats are fine, but in the 'burbs or the city they are dealing with many more vehicles as well as strange dogs. |
Anonymous
| We have a former barn cat that we "adopted" after the neighbor "saved" it then ignored it. We built it (he's fixed) a heated insulated cat house that he uses in the winter and purchased a heated water dish. He's about 8 years old, and when we move he would have to stay with the house as the entire street is his territory. We took the responsibility. Despite being fixed, he marks everything, and can never be an inside cat, we tried. We have also had vet bills twice because of fights he's been in and cuts that got infected. He's more work than our lazy indoor pussycat. |
Anonymous
| Unless you offer the cat some sort of heated shelter in the winter, this is cruel. Straw in the garage is not enough. |
Anonymous
The barn cats in that part of PA are not in heated rooms during their colder winter. The owners say that the straw and heavier winter coats are enough and they have never had a frozen cat. Our garage is warmer than outside by about 8 degrees. |
Anonymous
If that's your standard, I guess cats will be fine. But cats will be freezing cold though and you are a cruel person. |
Anonymous
| The cat will, eventually, get hit by a car. You may or may not ever find its body. If you're ok with that, then go for it. |
Anonymous
| This is called feeding a stray cat, not having an "outdoor cat." |
Anonymous
| A farm isn't the same as a suburb. Cats here have a lower life expectancy when they live outside because they're hit by cars. Poor kitty! |
Anonymous
+1 |
Anonymous
I don't see it that way. This is the life for most cats around the world, and I am not sure they are any happier pent up inside all day. The farms all over the US have outdoor cats. It is not like these cats have been living indoors then are suddenly asked to adjust to something new. They have been outdoors for generations and have probably built up what ever characteristics are needed to survive. Look every animal rights person thinks animals should be inside. The new trend is bunnies inside. That is one domestic animal that has never been indoors until about the 1950s when people started keeping them as pets. Now all of a sudden, the large rodent is seen as a social animal and needs the company of humans. Look I sometimes think that we torture animals more by having them adjust to our ways. A long life is not necessarily a happy life. I don't call an animal a pet if it has to stay in a cage. Let the cats roam, and if they get hit by a car, it will be a quick end. Potomac roads are not like DC rads anyway. |
Anonymous
| What's the point of having a cat if you're not going to keep it close by to cuddle with and provide companionship? I guess I agree with the stray cat poster above. |
Anonymous
| Nah, let it stay on the farm. |
Anonymous
OP's DC will be traumatized though. |
Anonymous
???all pets die... |