Outside is not made for cats anymore. Forcing cats that have been raised to hunt outdoors to stay indoors can also cause stress. A cat's right to roam, and to search and destroy furry and feathered wildlife, once seemed to me to be carved in stone. You can grow catnip for the cat indoors, and grass or plants for him to digest, cats like to eat a little greenery from time to time. If you asked a hundred, knowledgeable animal and cat loving people whether it is cruel to keep a cat in one standard room I would expect at least 90% of them to say that it is cruel. With that said, if you share garden space with another particularly aggressive cat, then it may get to the point where something has to be done. Have your cat checked by a veterinarian. When I got my shih tzu pup I had to leave door open a lot for the toilet and just thought if the cat goes out then so be it. I have 2 male cats & I keep them outside in a pen along the side of my house. Humane ways to keep cats away from dangers in your garden include: citrus fruit peel (cats don't like the smell) chicken manure; lion dung pellets; You could also try materials that feel uncomfortable under their paws, such as egg shells, stone chippings and prickly plants (but make sure the plants are not poisonous). It is cruel to keep cats indoors they are inquisitive and like to roam around with the others on the estate. If you decide to provide feeders and baths, please keep our winged friends safe by keeping your cats inside at all times. Most problems, such as getting hit by a car or having a wild animal like a coyote after them -- it seems most of the problems occur at night,” says Bernadine Cruz, DVM, associate veterinarian at the Laguna Hills Animal Hospital in Laguna Hills, Calif., and member of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Re: Is it cruel to keep a cat outside in 19 F degree weather? 3. Our topics include Conspiracy Theory, … “We treat him for fleas every 30 days, and we take him to the vet for his regular check-ups.” Those check-ups include vaccinations for diseases such as rabies and feline distemper, as well as heartworm medications. If you shut one of those cats up then they are likely to get pretty stressed. Vertical scratch posts; Cat trees; TV program or music; Bird feeders outside the window “Allowing cats outdoors increases their risk of being injured and exposed to infectious diseases such as feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV),” says Jane Brunt, DVM, veterinarian and owner of the Cat Hospitals at Towson and Eastern Shore, Md., and executive director of the CATalyst Council. “And outdoor cats bring you home dead things and I don’t like that either.”. But maybe your outside has plenty of comfortable cat-houses, in which case it's not really an issue, unless your cat is a "hot weather" breed, of course.. huh I really don’t think so. “They have blankets in the wintertime and lots of food and water,” McWhorter says. “Cat TV”: Provide entertainment for your cat by placing a bird feeder or birdbath in your yard within view of the windows. Independent Premium Comments can be posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Premium. You can find our Community Guidelines in full here. Are you sure you want to mark this comment as inappropriate? 01 of 12. That’s why it’s important to keep indoor cats active by providing scratching posts, perches, and a variety of toys to get them running and climbing. I ask Bradshaw if I I'm allowed to stop feeling guilty. But is denying cats 'the outside' also cruel? My friend’s OH prefers to keep her unneutered male kitten at home but why she is at work, others let him out to roam the street. Thanks! I have 2 male cats & I keep them outside in a pen along the side of my house. “Considering the potential dangers outdoors, an indoor lifestyle is much safer for cats,” Brunt says. Is it cruel to keep a cat inside when they grew up outside? Or, they may think it’s cruel to keep cats cooped up inside, forced to spend their days staring out the window. Due to the sheer scale of this comment community, we are not able to give each post the same level of attention, but we have preserved this area in the interests of open debate. Those who really want to pamper their pets can attach cat enclosures to their home, to give their cats the feeling of being outdoors without the dangers of being exposed to the outside. Although living inside is generally considered healthier, indoor cats need special care, too. Re: Is it cruel to keep a cat outside in 19 F degree weather? Sign Up to Receive Our Free Coroanvirus Newsletter, Slideshow: What You Need to Know About Fleas and Ticks. Many cats lives outside as well as inside, but in some circumstances, an owner may need to keep their cat inside. Sigh. I took her to the vet and the vet said she was perfectly healthy. Many people feel it’s cruel to keep them locked up indoors where others feel that it can shorten their lifespan and since Bengals are […] But sometimes I think I'm being tight on her keeping her in all the time. It's very important that each dog can comfortably walk, run and wag their tail within the walls of their kennel, and to play, stand on their hind limbs and also stretch and lie down without touching another animal or kennel. They tried taking him outside with a harness, but he slipped right out of it. To Monitor Your Cat's Urinary Tract/Bowel Health. Most vets will recommend keeping your cat indoors, but if you do want your cat to stay outdoors, make sure your pet is safe by keeping up with all scheduled vaccinations, parasite prevention, and bringing your outdoor cat indoors at night. No it's not natural. So it's attached to me and i feel bad leaving it out and no argument will win my parents, you don't know what it's like with them but at least they feed him. Having an indoor cat does of course mean that you have to try harder to make sure your cat stays stimulated. In Britain, cat owners are more likely to let their pets outside than some European feline fanciers. It’s a pity the U.S. doesn’t feel that way." WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. 1 decade ago . “We don’t let him go outside when it’s dark,” she says. Bottom line: Ultimately, the decision of whether to have an indoor or outdoor cat is up to you. Cats are very territorial and a neutered cat even if allowed out will only have a territory 10% of that of an unneutered cat, and a female much less than a male. To help you make an informed decision that is first and foremost best for your cat’s wellbeing, and incidentally a decision you can really live with, we suggest taking a look at some of the most common issues associated with indoor vs outdoor cats. McWhorter is well aware that Hobbes and his sister, Calvin, lead a riskier life than her two indoor cats, Lucy and Ricky, but she inherited them from her home’s previous owner and was afraid it would be hard for them to make the transition from outdoor to indoor cats. Check out activities and cat toys to keep them busy: Puzzle feeders; Toys (balls, catnip toys, feather toys, wand toys, mouse toys, food mazes, cardboard boxes, etc.) Identification can increase the odds that your cat will be returned to you if they wander away. It is believed that they may shave as much as 4 or 5 years off its life by being an outside cat. You may not agree with our views, or other users’, but please respond to them respectfully, Swearing, personal abuse, racism, sexism, homophobia and other discriminatory or inciteful language is not acceptable, Do not impersonate other users or reveal private information about third parties, We reserve the right to delete inappropriate posts and ban offending users without notification. You can either buy a collar with a tag (but make sure the collar has a safety clasp that will release if your cat gets caught on something), or invest in a microchip that is implanted between your cat’s shoulder blades. Some indoor cats do seem to yearn for the outside world. Less stress for them and their owners, says a relieved Rebecca Armstrong Spaying or neutering your outdoor cats will not stop them from being effective hunters. Provide a room with a view. The bottom line is most cats can be totally happy living indoors – but owners need to put in the effort to provide for their environmental and behavioural needs. “When I was little, I had indoor-outdoor cats and they all had fleas,” she recalls. These cats have never known any different, and as such are perfectly happy remaining indoors curled up in a nice cozy cat bed. Quiz: Do You Know the Litter Box Essentials? The U.S., indeed, doesn’t. Now, though, it seems as though his house arrest might actually be making him a more chilled-out cat. Although it’s not the lifestyle vets recommend, LaRussell says keeping Odie outdoors has trimmed him down to what her vet says is an ideal weight. VIRGINIA BEACH – A Virginia woman who pleaded guilty to animal cruelty after more than 100 dead and sick animals were found in her home was … It’s much easier to go from an indoor to outdoor cat than to go from an outdoor to indoor cat. The 2-year-old grey tabby would “meow his head off” and tear up the furniture whenever he was kept indoors. Once you have chosen your mouser-to-be, take it to your veterinarian for a checkup. In conclusion, it is not at all cruel to keep a cat inside. It's a relief to be vindicat-ed. Keeping a cat safe by keeping him indoors without the tools to exercise his instincts would be cruel, indeed. In fact, deciding to let your cat outside or to keep her in the house does not have to be stressful for you or your cat. Should we really feel guilty about keeping cats inside? I’ve seen as many cats for behavior issues who are outdoor cats as I have who live strictly inside. A totally outdoor cat (such as a feral or community cat) has certain basic needs, such as a windproof and rainproof shelter, to survive the seasons. It does however depend upon the environment created and the size of the room. Indoor cats have been a staple in Continental Europe countries for decades already, where most people in towns live in apartments. Sure, cats can live outdoors or at least be allowed to go outdoors when they please, but if you analyze the risks they face outside it is clear that keeping them indoors is the more responsible and loving option. An indoor cat doesn’t face the increasing number of cars, toxins, parasites and instances of animal cruelty that a roaming outdoor cat does. It is cruel to let the cat roam, get other cats preggers or get preggers itself, get in fights and have to go to the vet for stiches and to clean out infected wounds, not to mention to get i Outdoor cats like Hobbes also can get wounded in fights with other animals, hit by cars, or killed when they inadvertently drink poisons such as antifreeze, she says. 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Outdoor hazards.” to respect all commenters and create constructive debates for the outside world and lazy life.! Roof w/ open sides neighbourhood cats that have lived on the estate has been spayed lovers! Responsibility is to keep their cats indoors “considering the is it cruel to keep a cat outside dangers outdoors, an owner need! Too cold have seen no data to support the idea that outdoor cats for indoor cats’ longevity that! In person ) cat owners to keep a cat inside inside at all cruel to keep their cats....

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