Am I being cruel?

[waterflow]

Ok, feeling guilty about not letting the kids run wild and free. Did build them a small outside enclosed play area, which they seem to like, but not big like I would love for them to have. Plus no climbing levels either. I do live out in the country but I just don't feel right letting them run free. Of course I would feel the same about kids if I had any. Had planned on letting them run free after they got spayed but I changed my mind. They seem happy but do get depressed. Exspecially when it's really hot and humid. My vet says to keep them in or use the outside cage. They also have the enclosed porch with lots of windows. I have no clue why I feel this way with them. :loco: Had dogs and they were chained outside. Got walked so not just left out there by themselves and forgotten and if I oculd do it they were walked twice a day for 1/2 hour. I sure got my excising in back then. 1 1/2 hours of walking one time. Maybe it's old age thinking?? :rolleyes:

[kadi]

My cat is indoor only, because I've always lived in city areas with lots of cars on the street. Many of my friends though have indoor/outdoor cats & they've had big problems from letting the cats outside. Some of their cats have gotten sick from things they've eaten, they've come home with ticks & fleas that are not good for humans either, and some have been attacked by other animals leading to very bad injuries & huge veterinarian bills. Even here, our neighbor's dog was out on the porch & was attacked by a very large raccoon. Huge vet bill, big emergency room bill for the neighbor who was injured trying to get the dog away, and many many rabies shots for the neighbor over a two week period. I know the decision to keep pets indoors is controversial, but my cat is perfectly happy to be pampered indoors & I'm very glad not to have the risks & expenses.

[dyno]

I know a lot of people who just have indoor pets. So I wouldn't feel bad about it at all.

[ICNDonna]

Your kitties have been confined all of their lives --- it would be cruel to put them out to fend for themselves --- they are just where they need to be.

Donna

[Zygala87]

Your cats are lucky to have an enclosed porch with windows. I would never let my cats outside. No matter where you live it just is very unsafe for them. Cats are very special and find being around familiar things comfortable. Your cats are very lucky as you love them so much. I know that and would feel terrible should something serious happen to any of them. I wish everyone loved their pets as much as you do. Hugs, Ziggy

[tigger_gal]

Cats are indoor pets, so do not feel bad, you take them out and they have a lot of beautiful sunshine in your sun prorch. You are donig the right thing keeping them in, Like Donna says then have never ran free, I think its safe to say they need you as much as they need you. The don't know how to defend themselves in the unknown woods.

[GPat]

My cats have always been indoor pets. I think they seem pretty darn content! In the nice weather I open up the windows and place a chair that they can jump on and look outside. I'm sure they'd rather be running around outside chasing birds and squirrels, but the thought of losing one from an animal attack or getting hit by a car is enough to keep them in.

It's totally your decision of course. Do what you think is right for the kitties.

[theclownster]

Hi there! The safest place for cats is indoors - it's not cruel at all to keep them inside.

My cats are mostly indoor cats. Well 3 of them really are. The fourth one, Tuxx, is an indoor cat too according to me. However, he thinks differently sometimes and escapes as often as he can. I'm usually good an not letting him out, but he's really clever. I used to chase him and get super worried trying to get him right back in the house. I've learned over time, that it's best to let him go - cause chasing him makes it worse. He knows he's in trouble and runs far away and I'm afraid he'll run in the street. I've come to the conclusion that he is trying to be an indoor/outdoor cat. I do let him and one of my other cats out supervised in the fenced in yard. When he first started to escape, I trained him to go to the back yard. So he would walk to the gate and wait for me to open it (sort of like a dog would). That's when I decided to give them supervised outdoor time with me - thinking maybe he'd stop trying to escape. Well, over the past year he's gotten even sneakier and he now climbs the neighbors privacy fence and escapes that way too. The funny thing is he is one of the most scared cats I know - being outside freaks him out most of the time. But he still tries to get out every time someone opens the door. Once I stopped chasing him, he comes back on his own. I hate when he escapes - I really worry about him. He has all his claws and has been vaccinated for feline leukemia so I'm hoping he stays safe when he does get out. My other cats are mostly good about it. The other one that gets supervised time outside - likes to be outdoors but doesn't try to sneak out anymore. My other two have expressed no interest in going outside - which is great for me.

Please decide whatever is best for you and your little ones.

Take care,
Jennifer

[valerie michele]

You are not being cruel at all. We have packs of coyotes around our area and even though everyone knows of them, and can hear them howling at night, I still see "MISSING CAT" or "MISSING DOG" posters on the telephone poles. Our cat was abonded at a horse farm across the street. The people sold the farm, took the horses, and left the poor cat. We took in "Sputnik" five years ago. He had to get used to many changes (getting neutered and no more going outside). He is doing very well. He would never have lived this long outside. And when he still has his moments of wanting to go out. My husband will pick him up and take him for a walk in his arms. It took a little while but he adjusted well and I'm sure when he hears the coyotes howling at night and it's only ten degrees out, he is happy to be safe in a nice warm home.

[mary124]

I agree the best place for a cat is in doors.
I live out in the "Country" close enough to the city but far enough not to have neighbors where you can see them do their business-if you know what I mean!
I have a dog and she is inside all the time, except for when we take her out to do her job/walk which is about 2 times a day for 15 to 30 minutes each.

[waterflow]

I solved the problem and built them a small outside cage. Nothing vancy, just two by 4's and fencing. They seem to like it. Got to thinking another reason not to let them run would be poison. Know someone (not well) who let their cats run. (in the country) One is sick and near death from getting into something. Vet couldn't figure it out but they don't think the cat will make it but get this. Is it just me......they are going on a picnic!! The cat is sick and they should at least give it comfort until the end and they are going on a picnic!! How cruel???? Anyway, mine are not running lose and will go out in their cage and nothing more.

[waterflow]

I must have been biten by dracula too many times. "vancy" and should be "Fancy".....he sucked all my brains out along with my blood. Geesh......