Cats going outside

As much as my cats would love it, one is a former barn cat, the other I adopted from animal control-picked up as a stray, I just can't let them roam the 'hood. We have coyotes, dogs roaming around, my psycho dog lol, road isn't real busy but people drive reallly fast on it, they get fleas/ticks/worms, plus some people really hate cats and do mean things to them. One of my cats is potty challenged, and started peeing on stuff in the house, so tried giving them their own room. Got too stinky. Now, I've actually bought/paying 90.00 a month for a storage shed-more a playhouse room in the yard for them, along with my ferrets, & Pepe La Peu. I call it the Stinky House lol. They got their playhouse, and shelves to jump on to look out the windows. Only thing it doesn't have is electricity, so had to run a long extension cord to put the window a/c unit in. We put linoleum down on the floor, insulated it and put some cheap plywood up. Here's a picture of it, looks small, but pretty decent inside for them. They're older cats too, so they don't run around and play anymore. Go out and let the ferrets run around for a bit, and antagonize the cats lol. I've seen little set ups you can attach to your windows so cats can go "outside" but they're still confined, probably end up getting or making something like that for them as well.

I have a story about this too.:) Yes they do have a higher chance of getting injured outside, but being from the country I can understand them being out. How is a farmer supposted to keep all of his barn cats inside the house? They are part of the farmers help. They keep the farm rid of rats and mice, etc. They have to be able to come and go to do their work. The farmer is depending on them. Plus, I have known cats that would not use a litter pan, no matter what you would try, they just would not us it! They would go to the door and meow to go out, and if you didn't let them out then they would run out whenever the door opened, or take spit out on your window screens, and then meow to come back in. We always called them a free spirit. My son had one once and I know of others that have had the same situation before. Keeping them inside in this type of situation would be cruel wouldn't it?

I think a female cat should get spaded or newter. That become pregnat to fast. I had a cat that got pregnat every 3 or 4 months.

I am alergic to cats but I still had them,as far as people letting them out,and getting into all that stuff,hey my kids got into the trash and into fights,they didn't get hit by cars however the funny thing about cats,no matter how hard you try to train them and keep them locked up they are still wild creatures and will alwaye find a way to get out..It's in their nature to do so, they will tend to leave, but no matter how great it is on the outside they still will come home to their milk,tuna,toys,catnip but most of all to their loving masters

I don't like the idea of them getting hit by a car that's why all my cats are indoor cats, but it's in their nature to fight and roam around, outdoor cats get more exercise. I've never heard of anyone having a problem with cats getting in their trash though.

Personally, I think cats should be kept indoors. My cats are spayed and neutered indoor cats. It is better for their health, extends their lives. As you said, reduction in fights, no risk of getting hit by a car. Also, you don't have to worry about fleas and spread of disease, etc. It is a personal decision, but after having cats for a lifetime, I value them so much that I want to do what I can to protect them and keep them safe.

i don't imprison my cats inside the house. i make them free to go around the yard. but they don't go beyond the gate. they love to sleep on the yard especially in the afternoon since it's colder outside under the trees' sheds. i have seeing cats going to trash bins and look for their food there. i mean, where are their owners and why can't they feed their pet cats? i just hope that people these days are more responsible.

I do not think people should let their cats outside, especially in a very wooded area like where I live. This happens frequently and have cats that come up to me when I get home from work. There are wild animals out there and one of the cats got messed up pretty badly by a possum. If I had a cat, it would stay indoors with me where I know it would be much safer and not get into trouble or harms way.

I have always had cats as pets and I currently have two girls. Both are spayed/neutered and neither get into serious fights, maybe a bit of hissing and growling and the odd scratch. Quite frankly I think it is very restrictive on the cat if you force her to stay indoors. Cats love to roam and play outside. They are naturally curious and they like the freedom to come and go. I have a catflap so mine can come and go as they please. Except at night times when they are restricted to the indoors. This is because cats are quite nocturnal and prefer to hunt at night, so they are more likely to roam, and get into bother. My older cats rarely ventures out except to go to the toilet, the younger likes to go out quite frequently. As far as I know, they don't interfere with anyone's rubbish or trash, I would be very surprised if they did as both are well fed and wormed on a regular basis.

I think it's wrong. I see so many cats that are ran over, stolen from there homes, and then you have the strays. Those are the worse, you don't know if they are sick, will attack you if you try to help them. Then once your kids gets attached, gives it a name, It stops coming to your house. Hard to explain to a four year old why a cat didn't want to live at her home. If your going to let your cat outside, don't let the poor thing stay out forever. Unless you live on a nice sized farm where the cat likes it better outside than the inside. That's what I think about cats going outside.

I think pets need there time be alone , but not so long . And not in that big space like city . I don't have pet but i don't let my pet go out alone . And if he does not for very long .

Yeah, I've had some neighbors who have "indoor cats" and "outdoor cats." Most of the outdoor cats seemed to come back and not get hurt, but I can see the concern. I'm not a cat person myself but if I were I wouldn't let me cat roam around outside. They could eat something and end up really sick. But I guess the owner has to decide.

My back yard was a gathering place for the neighborhood cats. They would make a mess digging in the flower beds. Sometimes the Toms would get into fights in the middle of the night waking everone up. I finilly got a big dog to keep cats out of my yard. Cats like dogs should be licensed and restrained. Not running arround free.

I have two cats and they are indoor cats. One is very allergic to fleas and I would just rather they both stay inside. I feel they are healthier and safer. They go out on our screened in back porch everyday it isn't too cold to sit in the windows and get some good fresh air and watch the wildlife.

I think that if you have a pet they should be kept indoors. We got our cat many years ago..and she was an inside/outside cat. However..since we have had her..she stays indoors. I see so many cats just roaming around from people who just let them out. Then they are meowing..fighting...getting into the trash and lord knows what else. I think if you have a pet you should take care of it..and keep it indoors...

I have two beautiful cats and they are my babies well of course besides my own children i live way out in the woods so in my oppinion i see no problem letting them roam around outside. I felt mean when i first got them and tried to keep them inside all the time after all it is there nature to roam around freely.

I think people shouldn't let their cats outside at ALL because cats can easily get out of the yard and get hit by a car, or get into a fight with another cat, or get chased by a dog and killed. Dogs should only be allowed in a yard that the person is sure the dog can not get out of.

I think it is quite aggravating when people let their cats roam outside. I have had two different neighbors who did this. The first one had about 16 cats that roamed outside all the time. They got into my garbage, made complete messes in my yard, and considered my flowerpots their own personal litterboxes. They would fight continuously underneath my bedroom window at night. Then, I moved and had a second neighbor who also let their one cat roam. I can't tell you how many times I have had to clean up garbage that the cat decided to get into. Then, I cannot have outside planters for flowers...the cats use them for litterboxes (yes...again). So, in short, I find it incredibly annoying that people let their cats roam. I know if I let my dog roam, animal control would be out in full force.

I think sometimes it's cruel to keep an animal indoors at all time, but you need to keep them outdoors in a contained area when they are outdoors so they can't wander and cause problems for others.

It all depends on how much a person loves their cat. Letting a cat roam outside can literally cut their lifespan in half. Feral cats only live 3 - 4 years. Pet cats that are allowed to roam have an average lifepan of 7 years. Housecats that stay inside have an average lifespan of 13 - 14 years. Of course there are exceptions to every rule, but if you love your cat you will keep them safe indoors and provide entertainment for them. They don't need to go looking for it.