A Little Face at the Window
By Val
@valmnz (17095)
New Zealand
October 11, 2015 7:06pm CST
Here in New Zealand it is more normal for cats to be both indoor and outdoor cats. It is quite safe, but I understand many cats in other countries are very much indoor pets, for a multitude of reasons.
Our old ginger boy, Smooch, loves the outdoors, as much as he loves curling up on his Daddy's knee. During the day he often wakes up and wanders out to investigate what is happening outside.
Just now I looked up and there was a little ginger face peering at me through the window. I'd forgotten he was outside and the door to the garage, where his cat flap door is, was closed. At least he has enough sense to come around here and let me know he's ready to come back in.
If you have cats, are they happy both inside and out, or are they strictly indoor animals?
29 people like this
33 responses
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
12 Oct 15
he's a beaut! the cat here roams outdoors quite oft. though not particularly safe due to fox 'n feral cats, folks lettin' their pups roam 'bout untended 'n the increased traffic. but, she's done well fer 'bout 9 years 'n the hubs can't stand to hear 'er howl to go outdoors.
she used to jump up'n the ledge out by the back door 'n peer inside 's a clue to come in. in the past year though, she's figured out how to knock'n the back door. kinda a neat trick she taught 'erself. had one, many moons 'go, that'd actually climb the trellis 'n ring the doorbell.
6 people like this
@jaboUK (64346)
• United Kingdom
12 Oct 15
@crazyhorseladycx What - actually ring the doorbell? Wow, that's amazing.
3 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
12 Oct 15
@valmnz this'un here'll howl like a banshee, lol.
4 people like this
@jaboUK (64346)
• United Kingdom
12 Oct 15
When I first joined Bubblews I was surprised at the amount of people writing about their indoor cats, as I'd never heard of such a thing before. It seems so unnatural to keep them in, and litter boxes sound horrible. However I came to understand that some people's environments weren't safe for cats to be outside. Personally I'd rather not have a cat than keep it inside. It sounds as if Smooch has a lovely life.
4 people like this
@jaboUK (64346)
• United Kingdom
12 Oct 15
@nanette64 Have yours ever been outside? I can understand if they've known nothing else, but it still seems unnatural to me. And all those litter boxes - what a chore for you.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20363)
• Fairfield, Texas
12 Oct 15
With all the outside critters here in my woods @jabo , I'm surprised the 2 outside ferals are still okay. Although 5 litter boxes being cleaned 4 times a day is a pain in the A**.
2 people like this
@allknowing (153544)
• India
12 Oct 15
We have had countless cats both enjoying inside and outside but always returned to be home.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153544)
• India
12 Oct 15
@valmnz They always pottered round the bird bath and have had good meals now and then 
2 people like this
@nanette64 (20363)
• Fairfield, Texas
12 Oct 15
@valmnz What's cool is that your Smooch looks just like my 1 outside feral who I named Big Red.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
12 Oct 15
I don't have cats now but have had both indoor / outdoor cats and cats that enjoyed both.
2 people like this
@jstory07 (148731)
• Roseburg, Oregon
12 Oct 15
There is to many cars on the road here so I do not let my cat outside unless we are out there with her. She comes right back when we call her when we come in.
@GardenGerty (169450)
• United States
12 Oct 15
That sounds perfect @jstory07. Princess comes to a special way hubby claps his hands. That is why we worried the time she did not.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
12 Oct 15
No cats here, but if we did it would def. be an indoor cat.
2 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (54715)
• United States
12 Oct 15
My cats that I had as a child were indoor and outdoor cats, but where I live now it is too dangerous. They are strictly indoors.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
12 Oct 15
I don't have one at my house, but the cat at my parents' is happy both outdoor and indoor.
1 person likes this
@wetnosedogs (1533)
• United States
13 Oct 15
When Felix was alive, he stayed inside. The dogs next door would probably freak him out. He was used to the wetnosedogs.
1 person likes this
@bluesa (15022)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
12 Oct 15
I have my doggy named Daisy, and she is a true homebody, only lying in her garden now and then. And can she knock to let us know she is ready to come back inside, boy oh boy. I am glad Smooch knows to say "hello, yoo hoo, I am out here, let me in please". :-)
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (14805)
• Ireland
12 Oct 15
@valmnz Of our 5 cats 3 have been elevated from the status of inside cats to inside-outside cats I'm happy to say. We live on a main road but the cats mainly stay round the back where we have a big garden leading onto parkland and that's where the mice live.
1 person likes this
@Tita417 (1228)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
12 Oct 15
We have neighbors cats roaming around. All cats here are outdoors. You seldom see cats staying indoors. They have their own lives here and own gangs haha. They travel from one house to another for food and everyone feeds them. whether it be a neighbors cat or their own. I don't own a cat particularly but I always have visitors that we feed every eating time.
1 person likes this
@besweet (9831)
• Ireland
12 Oct 15
My grandparents used to have outdoor cats, they lived in the countryside and they had them outside to protect the house from rats and snakes. They were doing a great job and they were very playful with me when I was visiting during weekends. It is common in the countryside but here in the city people keep their cats indoors.
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
12 Oct 15
we currently dont have cats, but ours have always been both, they loved it too much to force them to stay inside
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
12 Oct 15
Nice looking cat... when we had a cat she was indoors and outdoors... she had several tricks up her sleeves to get our attention to let her in....lol's
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
12 Oct 15
Not sure why, but this little story about Smooch reminded me of those delightful kid's books about Oliver the cat.
1 person likes this
@Missmwngi (12915)
• Nairobi, Kenya
12 Oct 15
I don't have a cat but i see many cats outside and so i believe most cats here love the outside environment
1 person likes this
