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Should cats be allowed outside?

starbuck

This is an ongoing battle in our household. Our adult kids kept our two cats inside after one was run over outside the house and another one vanished into the ether.

We now live in a different house with a large garden. It is close to a busy road, down a driveway. The cats have been escaping because my husband has to have the windows open as the heat affects his epilepsy but it's causing huge arguments as the kids say the windows should only be opened as far as the window locks allow so the cats can't get out.

I can see both sides as I was devastated when we lost the other two but the heat in the house is unbearable and when the cats are out they love climbing the trees in the garden and playing in the grass.

We're hopefully having building work done soon to build an extension so I don't know how we'll keep them in then with builders coming in and out the house. I suggested the kids buy a catio but that went down like a lead balloon.

I know this is going to be a polarising post with some people thinking they should be able to run free and others thinking it's cruel to local birdlife etc and they should be kept in.

What are other people's experiences with your cats?

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Comments

Gemmabelle17

I think you can buy screens to put on the windows so you can have them open but it stops the cats escaping.
maybe look on Temu or amazon x

jud1e

hi, you could put chains on the windows so they only open so far. Like the door security chains.

We have one indoor cat and now our older cat is indoor only too as he was attacked by another cat outside and decided for himself that he don’t want to go out anymore.

There are cattio erections that can be put around a window so the cat has choice of indoor or out. It’s also possible to cat proof a small garden with fencing that curves inwards.

My view is that it’s safer to keep cat indoors if in busy areas or cannot be contained in garden.

mokki

Statistically windows kill more birds then cats, however I personally have rescued cats for over 10 years

I personally feel cats should be cats in the outside world, however, naturally they would never really encounter busy roads so I understand the fear of safety.
you mention builders, this could scare them away permanently.

You really need to sit down together and come to some common ground, the health of yourselves and the safety of the cats. Ideally as you have a large garden, second hand bird Avery make good safe outdoor play areas for cats. It would keep them safe while building continues and give them the best of both worlds while getting used to their surroundings. Cats need outdoor stimulation to thrive. Good luck my friend.

GalDriver

I've only ever had outdoor cats. There was no trend for keeping them in when I was a cat owner (30 years ago). I'd definitely opt for the catio. Cats need fresh air too. I hope you come to an agreement.

Sandy_123

Hi there, I have always let my cats out, but a lot of people leave them indoors, a cattery might be an idea, so cats can have both, or there are special fencing you can put on the fence to stop them getting out. If you want them in doors then the windows will have to be open to not let them get out.

WhatThe

Yes, especially if they can see the garden! I lost two kittens to the road but the mother was not a lap cat and they all needed to be outdoors.

It depends on the breed. Your kids aren't kept indoors in case something terrible happens to them and might understand it's not so different for pets.

🐱

MCMikey

My pennies worth.

Difficult. I live in a similar situation. I'd suggest always letting them out at the back and always letting them in at the back, even if the cat is sat on your front step and you can see it through the front door window. The cats will be more inclined to stay at the back of the house.

You can get cat screens but that requires quite extensive changes to the outside and in some circumstances depending on the nature of the outside of your house and possibly neighbours may not be appropriate.

Counter intuitive, but if the road is very busy cats will tend to avoid it. The road is probably most busy during the day, 7am to 7pm perhaps. It might be best to let the cat out during portion of this time. At night, sure there's less traffic, but cats are more likely to wander and explore, on top of this vehicles tend to go faster, and together together with the poor light drivers are also less likely to see a cat. What I have written above is just by observation of my cats over the years and the fact that the two that have been killed on the road occurred at night.

Lastly, one of my previous cats would never go past the edge of my garden and was extremely timid of other people. Safe from traffic and the other risk, rickshaw later point alluded to, if your cat is one which will go up to strangers and let itself be stroked or picked up, there's the more modern day risk of it being snatched (for potentially cruel treatment such as dog fighting). You probably have a good idea of your cat's personality in this regard, maybe go out into the back garden with your cat on a sunny day, stay out with for a while and see how they behave.

PS. Hungry cats are more likely to come back in when the bowl is tapped.

Littlefatfriend

I suggest it's entirely up to you starbuck. Cats are supremely adaptable animals. That's in part why they're such popular pets.

When I was a lad (I haven't changed my gender but I'm old now) we lived with 12 and more outdoor cats. Over the years a couple were killed on the road at the first house but that didn't happen at the second (we had very large gardens). In fact we were adopted by a couple of local strays.

My sister and her partner (who live next door to each other set back from the nearest road) have let their cats out for decades without problems. Coincidentally just last week they both saw one of his young cats get mauled and killed by a dog. They both hurried outside and the dog's owner swore abuse at them and walked away.

My two cats here (and the previous one before them) are house cats. There's a fairly long, straight road beside me and County Durham is full of aged boy racers (like me!). There are also lots of foxes in the forest behind me.

If you're having them indoors I suggest making at least one desktop style fan available on days like this (imagine wearing a full-body fur coat inside in this weather!).

Unless his epilepsy is photosensitive a fan may also help your husband cool down. If it is there are ways around that (positioning, avoiding fans with rotating blades and lighting, etc).

My 12" desktop fans are very powerful and can cool my room/house surprisingly quickly. My cats demonstrably lie downwind of them, they're there and enjoying the breeze right now (on the chair, left and bed, right).

A scratching post will help keep their claws in good condition. I also have those moving fish toys which jiggle when the cats touch them. They get played with every day.

My cats really aren't any trouble near the doors, they don't seem to have much interest in going outside although they regularly watch the birds at my feeders.

If I have things/lots of people going on here I can just put the cats (and water and a tray) in one of my rooms whilst it's busy. They get over it as soon as I feed them or give them a treat. Safe, adequately fed cats are absolute mercenaries for themselves!

Otherwise let's remember they'll be asleep 15 hours a day and likely napping for up to 20.

My apologies for the weighty tome of a reply, but you asked!

😇

starbuck

Thankyou for all the opinions (and the picture of the cat tucked up in bed 😍)

WhatThe

starbuck, can you create a scented boundary between your house and the pavement? Spray the danger crossing zones; walls, pillars, gates, with lemon juice and throw ground pepper around. Plant catnip in the safe zone and install motion flashlights where they are not to cross.

starbuck

He's gorgeous 😍

WhatThe

Another thought, starbuck..

Cats eyes or similar reflective strips at the 'border' might deter them from crossing. The children could draw big chalk eyes for daytime use 👁️👁️

kreacher

personally i think cats should be allowed to roam outside

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