is having an outdoor cat cruel?

[Riceball]

My cat is both indoor and outdoor. As for forcing him to stay indoors I'd say its cruel. If I close the back door and he wants to go outside he'll just stand next to the door and beg until someone lets him out. He really only comes home to sleep and eat. He may have a shorter lifespan but he's definitily happier.

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
I have 5 cats. All go in and out at will.

One stays outside almost all the time. He's 9 years old, healthy, and solid as a rock.

He's also Death on the local mole/mouse/bird population.

You can't lay a hand on him outside. He'll come up and talk to you, but you can't get near him....yet, when he comes inside, he's the sweetest cat you've ever seen. Jumps right in your lap and loves to be petted.

Well he does have an image to maintain

 

[BrownTown]

I dunno about the standard for cats, but I had a cat growing up that was a stray that jsut wandered to our door. We jsut put food and water out and the cat was fine (got it spayed too). It would just sit at the door when it wanted to go in or out. And it was fine for about 6 years till it jsut wandered off (ok, so it prolly died and didnt wander off, but i can still rpetend like it wandered off

).

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
I grew up with barn cats. Just get the ah heck neutered and he'll be fine outdoors. Just make sure he has a barn or shed at least that he can get into when the weather is bad.

ZV

Shots and vaccinations are just as important. Indoor cats may only need 2 or 3 shots in their lifetime, but an outdoor feline will need to be taken to the Veteranarian on a regularly scheduled basis or else you stand a chance of getting some serious diasases.

CDC: Healthy Pets Healthy People. (Main Page)
CDC: Healthy Pets Healthy People- CATS SECTION

 

[Vegitto]

It depends on where you live. If I read the stories of ATOT's gun fanatics (I don't have anything against guns or people who use/like guns, mind you), there are people sitting on the porch all day waiting for a cat to shoot. If you train your cat to do it's business in the litter box, and if you don't live near a highway, then I don't see a problem with it.

 

[49erinnc]

I live on a cul-de-sac and there are three outdoor cats belonging to two of my neighbors. Since the road gets very little traffic, they're pretty safe. They have collars/tags and just roam around our homes. I normally get a chuckle out of coming home and they're just sprawled out on the road, at the base of the circle. I've caught them a few times, perched on my fence post, stalking birds. And when I mow, I will occasionally find some bird remains. All three cats seem super happy to be outdoors and come over for some attention whenever someone is working outside in their yards. Personally, I don't think they'd be nearly as happy if they were forced to remain indoors but I do realize that not everyone would feel comfortable letting their pets roam free.

 

[pontifex]

lmao. another perfect example of the weirdness that goes on in atot.

one thread is full of people bashing on outdoor cats and the other is full of people who say its great.

 

[j00fek]

nope, nothing wrong with it

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: pontifex
lmao. another perfect example of the weirdness that goes on in atot.

one thread is full of people bashing on outdoor cats and the other is full of people who say its great.

That's because many of us have accepted that there's no point to discussing cats with someone who hates them so much he'd shoot them.

 

[nsx98]

Most cats prefer to be outside.