Outdoor cat, all the time

[Anonymous]

OP, are you prepared to spend $800 to treat abscesses from the fight wounds your garage kitties will have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Outdoor-only cats (aka "ferals" not "pets") are also likely to have fleas and worms. And aren't going to be around people enough necessarily to want to be picked up and petted.

OP, I think you should get fish. You don't sound like you're ready for a mammal.

No, don't tell OP to get fish. She will put the fish tank outside too!

OP here, I would put a fish in its natural body of water. I feel theh same way about cats and dogs, they need to roam. Of course we have to do the vet visits and shots, and ensure reasonable physical health, but mental health matters more, and what I saw on the farm, the cats looked happy.

Are you allergic, or do you not want the cat to damage your furniture? We had an indoor/outdoor cat. Because he preferred to be outside, he never scratched anything in our house; the only time he came inside was when he wanted food and warmth (he also preferred to sleep indoors, probably because it was safer). He was a lovely cat, but he disappeared when he was about 2 years old. It was heartbreaking, especially for my kids. Now that we are contemplating getting another cat, my kids specifically asked if we could have an indoor cat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends entirely on the cat. Some cats and some breeds are smart and savvy.

We had an indoor/outdoor cat growing up (suburbs), who lived to be 18. They were indoor/outdoor (any time they wanted to be let out, any time of year) since they were a kitten.

Occasionally they came home with a scratch from some animal fight, but nothing serious.

They always buried their poop well, occasionally brought us a chipmunk, and helped shoe away the annoyingly chirping birds, so we could sleep with the windows open sometimes.

As far as sometimes catching birds go, eh, that's the cycle of life. Birds aren't exactly vegetarian.

Outdoor life is not for every cat. But I'm convinced it makes for a happier, as well as longer (due to aforementioned happiness) life for some cats.

Actually, cats are non-native predators for which reason it is not the "cycle of life." We have a major problem with native bird populations being killed off by non-native cat-predators.

Your comment reflects your ignorance.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/outdoor-cats-kill-between-14-billion-and-37-billion-birds-a-year-study-says/2013/01/31/2504f744-6bbe-11e2-ada0-5ca5fa7ebe79_story.html

Um, we have highrises and skyscrapers that birds fly into, cars that hit them on roads and highways, and manmade chemicals that they fatally ingest. There is no such thing as a "native" habitat anymore, and humans -- not cats -- are primarily to blame.

Your comment reflects your human bias.

Seriously, you're blaming the cats? LOL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends entirely on the cat. Some cats and some breeds are smart and savvy.

We had an indoor/outdoor cat growing up (suburbs), who lived to be 18. They were indoor/outdoor (any time they wanted to be let out, any time of year) since they were a kitten.

Occasionally they came home with a scratch from some animal fight, but nothing serious.

They always buried their poop well, occasionally brought us a chipmunk, and helped shoe away the annoyingly chirping birds, so we could sleep with the windows open sometimes.

As far as sometimes catching birds go, eh, that's the cycle of life. Birds aren't exactly vegetarian.

Outdoor life is not for every cat. But I'm convinced it makes for a happier, as well as longer (due to aforementioned happiness) life for some cats.

Actually, cats are non-native predators for which reason it is not the "cycle of life." We have a major problem with native bird populations being killed off by non-native cat-predators.

Your comment reflects your ignorance.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/outdoor-cats-kill-between-14-billion-and-37-billion-birds-a-year-study-says/2013/01/31/2504f744-6bbe-11e2-ada0-5ca5fa7ebe79_story.html

Um, we have highrises and skyscrapers that birds fly into, cars that hit them on roads and highways, and manmade chemicals that they fatally ingest. There is no such thing as a "native" habitat anymore, and humans -- not cats -- are primarily to blame.

Your comment reflects your human bias.

Seriously, you're blaming the cats? LOL.

Researchers from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Found that cats are responsible for losses of native bird populations ranging from 6.9 billion to 20.7 billion annually.

Of course there are native habitats. Have you never studied environmental science?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Outdoor-only cats (aka "ferals" not "pets") are also likely to have fleas and worms. And aren't going to be around people enough necessarily to want to be picked up and petted.

OP, I think you should get fish. You don't sound like you're ready for a mammal.

No, don't tell OP to get fish. She will put the fish tank outside too!

OP here, I would put a fish in its natural body of water. I feel theh same way about cats and dogs, they need to roam. Of course we have to do the vet visits and shots, and ensure reasonable physical health, but mental health matters more, and what I saw on the farm, the cats looked happy.

Are you allergic, or do you not want the cat to damage your furniture? We had an indoor/outdoor cat. Because he preferred to be outside, he never scratched anything in our house; the only time he came inside was when he wanted food and warmth (he also preferred to sleep indoors, probably because it was safer). He was a lovely cat, but he disappeared when he was about 2 years old. It was heartbreaking, especially for my kids. Now that we are contemplating getting another cat, my kids specifically asked if we could have an indoor cat.

You are the sole source of the heartbreak.

If you adopt another cat (if you are permitted to do so given your history, which you should disclose), any reputable shelter will require you to sign an agreement stating you will keep the cat indoors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends entirely on the cat. Some cats and some breeds are smart and savvy.

We had an indoor/outdoor cat growing up (suburbs), who lived to be 18. They were indoor/outdoor (any time they wanted to be let out, any time of year) since they were a kitten.

Occasionally they came home with a scratch from some animal fight, but nothing serious.

They always buried their poop well, occasionally brought us a chipmunk, and helped shoe away the annoyingly chirping birds, so we could sleep with the windows open sometimes.

As far as sometimes catching birds go, eh, that's the cycle of life. Birds aren't exactly vegetarian.

Outdoor life is not for every cat. But I'm convinced it makes for a happier, as well as longer (due to aforementioned happiness) life for some cats.

Actually, cats are non-native predators for which reason it is not the "cycle of life." We have a major problem with native bird populations being killed off by non-native cat-predators.

Your comment reflects your ignorance.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/outdoor-cats-kill-between-14-billion-and-37-billion-birds-a-year-study-says/2013/01/31/2504f744-6bbe-11e2-ada0-5ca5fa7ebe79_story.html

Um, we have highrises and skyscrapers that birds fly into, cars that hit them on roads and highways, and manmade chemicals that they fatally ingest. There is no such thing as a "native" habitat anymore, and humans -- not cats -- are primarily to blame.

Your comment reflects your human bias.

Seriously, you're blaming the cats? LOL.

Researchers from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Found that cats are responsible for losses of native bird populations ranging from 6.9 billion to 20.7 billion annually.

Of course there are native habitats. Have you never studied environmental science?

How many are killed by or related to manmade interference? Where's your outrage about human destructiveness? Cats are barely a *dent* to that caused by humans.

Good lord, crazy bird people are worse than crazy dog people.

[no, I'm not a crazy cat person - don't even own a cat!]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you offer the cat some sort of heated shelter in the winter, this is cruel. Straw in the garage is not enough.

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.

My parents in the midwest always have an outdoor cat.

They have an unheated cat house with a piece of fabric over the door and some old towels inside.

Except for subzero nights, the cat sleeps in that outdoor house. They have never had a cat freeze or get frostbite or even sick from the cold.

My father will stick his hand inside the house to pet the cat, and even on the coldest nights inside the house is toasty warm.

Subzero nights he will bring the cat indoors, I think mostly for his peace of mind vs the cat's well being.

His cats always grow a nice, luxurious, thick coat of fur over the winter. Nature knows how to take care of things better than people do.

FWIW, their outdoor cats have lived anywhere from a year (complete accident involving a collar that could have happened indoors or outdoors) through arounf 17 years. Tue smart ones lived longer than the stupid ones.

[Anonymous]

You sanctimonious bird people get on my last nerve. What about THE WORMS!?! My God, THE WORMS!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends entirely on the cat. Some cats and some breeds are smart and savvy.

We had an indoor/outdoor cat growing up (suburbs), who lived to be 18. They were indoor/outdoor (any time they wanted to be let out, any time of year) since they were a kitten.

Occasionally they came home with a scratch from some animal fight, but nothing serious.

They always buried their poop well, occasionally brought us a chipmunk, and helped shoe away the annoyingly chirping birds, so we could sleep with the windows open sometimes.

As far as sometimes catching birds go, eh, that's the cycle of life. Birds aren't exactly vegetarian.

Outdoor life is not for every cat. But I'm convinced it makes for a happier, as well as longer (due to aforementioned happiness) life for some cats.

Actually, cats are non-native predators for which reason it is not the "cycle of life." We have a major problem with native bird populations being killed off by non-native cat-predators.

Your comment reflects your ignorance.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/outdoor-cats-kill-between-14-billion-and-37-billion-birds-a-year-study-says/2013/01/31/2504f744-6bbe-11e2-ada0-5ca5fa7ebe79_story.html

Um, we have highrises and skyscrapers that birds fly into, cars that hit them on roads and highways, and manmade chemicals that they fatally ingest. There is no such thing as a "native" habitat anymore, and humans -- not cats -- are primarily to blame.

Your comment reflects your human bias.

Seriously, you're blaming the cats? LOL.

Researchers from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Found that cats are responsible for losses of native bird populations ranging from 6.9 billion to 20.7 billion annually.

Of course there are native habitats. Have you never studied environmental science?

How many are killed by or related to manmade interference? Where's your outrage about human destructiveness? Cats are barely a *dent* to that caused by humans.

Good lord, crazy bird people are worse than crazy dog people.

[no, I'm not a crazy cat person - don't even own a cat!]

You are moving the goalpost. Your above point was that the many deaths cited in the study couldn't possibly be from cats alone. And I pointed out that indeed, the study says just that.

So now you are asking where my outrage about human destruction of native animal populations are. How is that relevant to the above? It is indeed a worrisome issue, but unrelated to the above, which relates solely to the deaths caused by cats alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you offer the cat some sort of heated shelter in the winter, this is cruel. Straw in the garage is not enough.

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.

My parents in the midwest always have an outdoor cat.

They have an unheated cat house with a piece of fabric over the door and some old towels inside.

Except for subzero nights, the cat sleeps in that outdoor house. They have never had a cat freeze or get frostbite or even sick from the cold.

My father will stick his hand inside the house to pet the cat, and even on the coldest nights inside the house is toasty warm.

Subzero nights he will bring the cat indoors, I think mostly for his peace of mind vs the cat's well being.

His cats always grow a nice, luxurious, thick coat of fur over the winter. Nature knows how to take care of things better than people do.

FWIW, their outdoor cats have lived anywhere from a year (complete accident involving a collar that could have happened indoors or outdoors) through arounf 17 years. Tue smart ones lived longer than the stupid ones.

Irresponsible to have an outdoor cat and not have a breakaway collar.

[Anonymous]

I let my cat outside all the time. He seems much happier. Dh was against it but he admits our cat seems happier. I don't think it's a good idea for them to be indoors all the time. They get bored and fat from it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Outdoor-only cats (aka "ferals" not "pets") are also likely to have fleas and worms. And aren't going to be around people enough necessarily to want to be picked up and petted.

OP, I think you should get fish. You don't sound like you're ready for a mammal.

No, don't tell OP to get fish. She will put the fish tank outside too!

OP here, I would put a fish in its natural body of water. I feel theh same way about cats and dogs, they need to roam. Of course we have to do the vet visits and shots, and ensure reasonable physical health, but mental health matters more, and what I saw on the farm, the cats looked happy.

Are you allergic, or do you not want the cat to damage your furniture? We had an indoor/outdoor cat. Because he preferred to be outside, he never scratched anything in our house; the only time he came inside was when he wanted food and warmth (he also preferred to sleep indoors, probably because it was safer). He was a lovely cat, but he disappeared when he was about 2 years old. It was heartbreaking, especially for my kids. Now that we are contemplating getting another cat, my kids specifically asked if we could have an indoor cat.

You are the sole source of the heartbreak.

If you adopt another cat (if you are permitted to do so given your history, which you should disclose), any reputable shelter will require you to sign an agreement stating you will keep the cat indoors.

Keeping a cat indoors all the time should be considered animal abuse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Outdoor-only cats (aka "ferals" not "pets") are also likely to have fleas and worms. And aren't going to be around people enough necessarily to want to be picked up and petted.

OP, I think you should get fish. You don't sound like you're ready for a mammal.

No, don't tell OP to get fish. She will put the fish tank outside too!

OP here, I would put a fish in its natural body of water. I feel theh same way about cats and dogs, they need to roam. Of course we have to do the vet visits and shots, and ensure reasonable physical health, but mental health matters more, and what I saw on the farm, the cats looked happy.

Are you allergic, or do you not want the cat to damage your furniture? We had an indoor/outdoor cat. Because he preferred to be outside, he never scratched anything in our house; the only time he came inside was when he wanted food and warmth (he also preferred to sleep indoors, probably because it was safer). He was a lovely cat, but he disappeared when he was about 2 years old. It was heartbreaking, especially for my kids. Now that we are contemplating getting another cat, my kids specifically asked if we could have an indoor cat.

You are the sole source of the heartbreak.

If you adopt another cat (if you are permitted to do so given your history, which you should disclose), any reputable shelter will require you to sign an agreement stating you will keep the cat indoors.

Keeping a cat indoors all the time should be considered animal abuse.

Having dumb owners is probably worse abuse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Outdoor-only cats (aka "ferals" not "pets") are also likely to have fleas and worms. And aren't going to be around people enough necessarily to want to be picked up and petted.

OP, I think you should get fish. You don't sound like you're ready for a mammal.

No, don't tell OP to get fish. She will put the fish tank outside too!

OP here, I would put a fish in its natural body of water. I feel theh same way about cats and dogs, they need to roam. Of course we have to do the vet visits and shots, and ensure reasonable physical health, but mental health matters more, and what I saw on the farm, the cats looked happy.

Are you allergic, or do you not want the cat to damage your furniture? We had an indoor/outdoor cat. Because he preferred to be outside, he never scratched anything in our house; the only time he came inside was when he wanted food and warmth (he also preferred to sleep indoors, probably because it was safer). He was a lovely cat, but he disappeared when he was about 2 years old. It was heartbreaking, especially for my kids. Now that we are contemplating getting another cat, my kids specifically asked if we could have an indoor cat.

You are the sole source of the heartbreak.

If you adopt another cat (if you are permitted to do so given your history, which you should disclose), any reputable shelter will require you to sign an agreement stating you will keep the cat indoors.

Keeping a cat indoors all the time should be considered animal abuse.

The Humane Society of the United States takes the opposite view - and presumably they are better-informed/versed on the matter than you are:

http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/facts/cat_statement.html

http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/cat_happy_indoors.html

http://www.humanesociety.org/news/magazines/kind_news/2013/08-09/avoid-cat-astrophe-keep-cats-indoors.html

http://www.humanesociety.org/news/magazines/2011/01-02/peaceable_backyard_kingdom_protect_cats_wildlife_01032011.html

So does the Maryland SPCA:

http://www.mdspca.org/programs/behavior/library/happy-on-the-inside-indoor-cats/

And the Virginia SPCA:

http://www.spcanova.org/adoption/catguidelines.php

The Audubon Society agrees:

http://archive.audubonmagazine.org/incite/incite0909.html

You will not find a single humane society anywhere that agrees that (1) letting cats outdoors is a good idea; or (2) keeping cats indoors is inhumane. Not one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you offer the cat some sort of heated shelter in the winter, this is cruel. Straw in the garage is not enough.

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.

My parents in the midwest always have an outdoor cat.

They have an unheated cat house with a piece of fabric over the door and some old towels inside.

Except for subzero nights, the cat sleeps in that outdoor house. They have never had a cat freeze or get frostbite or even sick from the cold.

My father will stick his hand inside the house to pet the cat, and even on the coldest nights inside the house is toasty warm.

Subzero nights he will bring the cat indoors, I think mostly for his peace of mind vs the cat's well being.

His cats always grow a nice, luxurious, thick coat of fur over the winter. Nature knows how to take care of things better than people do.

FWIW, their outdoor cats have lived anywhere from a year (complete accident involving a collar that could have happened indoors or outdoors) through arounf 17 years. Tue smart ones lived longer than the stupid ones.

Irresponsible to have an outdoor cat and not have a breakaway collar.

This was in the 70s. I don't think breakaway collars were available back then for cats.