I know I'm going to get flamed for this...

but I'm so upset about it so I have to say something!

Why do people insist on letting their cats out? If you love your animal, why not keep it protected? If your cat is out all the time, what is the point of having it? They just come home to eat?

This morning I cried in my car because I saw a dead cat in the middle of the road, run over by someone. This isn't the first time I've seen this and it really breaks my heart.

For the love of God, if you love your animals, please keep them indoors!

Okay, rant over!

Re: I know I'm going to get flamed for this...

Why would you get flamed for this?

You are 100% right.

Message edited 3/13/2007 8:51:38 AM.

Re: I know I'm going to get flamed for this...

I think there are many ppl on the board that let their cats out, just from what I've seen posted here and there.

Re: I know I'm going to get flamed for this...

I agree with you 100%. I think it's a shame and completely irresponsible.

Re: I know I'm going to get flamed for this...

Living in a neighborhood where I see tons of feral cats, and I am near a parkway, and I am near a park with wild animals, I agree 100%. I get so upset when I see a house cat get victimized by the elements here.

Re: I know I'm going to get flamed for this...

Re: I know I'm going to get flamed for this...

When i was growing up, we lived on a big piece of property and all of our cats went outside and then came back in. Never thought that there was a problem with that!! We didnt leave them out on bad weather days, they went out, hunted, played in the sun, visted the neighbors and came home....

Re: I know I'm going to get flamed for this...

I grew up with two cats that were indoor/outdoor. Admittedly, I used to think that keeping a cat indoors all the time was just a mean thing to do...especially if they had been a stray.

My last cat, Smudge, lived to be 18 years old, and she was an indoor/outdoor cat. However, during the course of her life, she came home with a broken pelvis, a broken leg, fleas, worms (more than once), and a bunch of cuts from getting into fights.

When we decided to get a new kitten about 8 years ago, we waited until she was fixed, and then we started letting her out. One night, she didn't come back. My mom had heard rustling in the bushes, but thought she was just climbing the tree. We found her dead under the bush...looked like a raccoon had gotten to her.

That was the last time my mom ever let one of her cats outside. Her cat now is 7, and has never been outdoors unless she's on a leash.

I guess what I'm trying to say is...I agree with you now, but I wouldn't have 10 years ago. I've had too much happen to my cats. Every time I see a cat that has been hit by a car, I cry. I can totally understand where you're coming from.

Re: I know I'm going to get flamed for this...

awww I am so sorry to hear about your kitties

Re: I know I'm going to get flamed for this...

I never understood that either.

People wouldn't let a dog roam free - you put him on a leash or in a fenced in yard.

And cats are less likely to come in when you call them and more likely to run away.

Re: I know I'm going to get flamed for this...

Posted by MrsRivera

I grew up with two cats that were indoor/outdoor. Admittedly, I used to think that keeping a cat indoors all the time was just a mean thing to do...especially if they had been a stray.

My last cat, Smudge, lived to be 18 years old, and she was an indoor/outdoor cat. However, during the course of her life, she came home with a broken pelvis, a broken leg, fleas, worms (more than once), and a bunch of cuts from getting into fights.

When we decided to get a new kitten about 8 years ago, we waited until she was fixed, and then we started letting her out. One night, she didn't come back. My mom had heard rustling in the bushes, but thought she was just climbing the tree. We found her dead under the bush...looked like a raccoon had gotten to her.

That was the last time my mom ever let one of her cats outside. Her cat now is 7, and has never been outdoors unless she's on a leash.

I guess what I'm trying to say is...I agree with you now, but I wouldn't have 10 years ago. I've had too much happen to my cats. Every time I see a cat that has been hit by a car, I cry. I can totally understand where you're coming from.

Re: I know I'm going to get flamed for this...

Re: I know I'm going to get flamed for this...

Posted by Lisa

When i was growing up, we lived on a big piece of property and all of our cats went outside and then came back in. Never thought that there was a problem with that!! We didnt leave them out on bad weather days, they went out, hunted, played in the sun, visted the neighbors and came home....

Re: I know I'm going to get flamed for this...

Posted by LaurenExp

Posted by Lisa

When i was growing up, we lived on a big piece of property and all of our cats went outside and then came back in. Never thought that there was a problem with that!! We didnt leave them out on bad weather days, they went out, hunted, played in the sun, visted the neighbors and came home....

I think it's one thing if you live in a rural area with lots of property. It's something else if you live in a busy area, IMO.

Re: I know I'm going to get flamed for this...

Posted by Lisa

but you said in your first post you dont understand how ANYONE can let thier cat outside....and I didnt grow up in a rural area...I grew up on LI...just had a nice big yard.

Remember, some people regard their cats as animals and animals are outdoor creatures...

Re: I know I'm going to get flamed for this...

I agree 100%, we have new neighbors and every time I turn around one of their cats is making on our front lawn. Now, not to be rude, but I dont let my two dogs make on anyone else's yard, they have a run in my backyard.

I want to say something but my dh doesnt want to "start" with the neighbors.

Re: I know I'm going to get flamed for this...

I had a cat that we let outside, she was the first one we had that wasn't strictly an "indoor" cat. The reason why we let her out in the first place is because she was peeing all over our house. We took her to the vet, did everything he recommended but it didn't help at all. Letting her out was the last resort. It was that or bring her back to the shelter, which we absolutely didn't want to do. She wasn't outside all the time, just to go to the bathroom, and she would like to lay out in the sun too. She was never out once it got dark out. She lived to be 15 years old and never came in with even a scratch on her. She also had a collar and tag and was always up to date on her vaccinations. So from my experience, I can understand why some people would let the cat out.

What I dont understand is people who have cats who live only outdoors, who don't put any kind of identification on them at all and basically take no responsibility for their pets.

Re: I know I'm going to get flamed for this...

I don't get it either. I live upstate and since I moved here in October I've seen several dead cats on the side of the road.

Re: I know I'm going to get flamed for this...

Dead cats on the road is also a sign of ferals and strays... which leads to breeding and kittens being born and the chain continues.

If anyone has a problem with ferals, please look into Trap Neuter Return. The cat is humanely trapped, fixed and released back into the wild. It can't reproduce.

If anyone needs more info about this, please fm me. I can help you locate free or low cost spaying centers.

Re: I know I'm going to get flamed for this...

I cry all the time when I see a dead cat. It just breaks my heart.

Re: I know I'm going to get flamed for this...

My cat Gunnar used to be an outdoor cat. He would come and go as he pleased. He was even *gasp* declawed.
He took care of himself though. He got into some fights here and there, but nothign terrible, and he always came home.
When I moved, I kept him indoors because I was in a busier area and I didn't trust the neighbors. he got used to it.
Now that he's going to be 17 , even though we're in a more seculded, safer area, I keep him inside because he's just to old to be getting into fights. I feel badly for him though, becasue he does love the outdoors.

i think every situation is different. Cats have such strong personalities that sometimes, you can't keep them indoors!

Re: I know I'm going to get flamed for this...

I agree! I would never let my precious kitties roam freely outside.

Re: I know I'm going to get flamed for this...

When me & the kitty's lived in England I used to let them out - I had a catflap and they came & went as they pleased, BUT I lived in a wooded area without traffic.

As soon as I moved here I kept them in. After a long chat with my vet (who is married to a Brit) As we don't have possums & racoons in UK he advised me to keep them in, to be honest at first I felt a bit mean. Now after 7 years of them being inside I would never let them out.

It hate seeing a dead cat it makes me cry, heck I cry when I see a dead squirrel! I must say I also don't miss the dead mice being presented to me after they have caught them, now I just get the litttle wool pom poms they seem to love!

Message edited 3/12/2007 10:12:28 PM.

Re: I know I'm going to get flamed for this...

I don't know, I mean, I am a HUGE animal lover but I see cats out and about all the time and I never worry about it...they are so crafty and smart, it's pretty rare to see one in the street like that (but very upsetting of course ). My cats got out last week (yep both of them at the same time, brats) and I was worried bc it was cold out but I knew they would find their ways home...and they did. With cats it is just different, I dont know how to explain it.

Re: I know I'm going to get flamed for this...

I agree.

I had an outdoor/indoor cat that lived until she was 18. The extent of our outdoor exploration was the front porch. She never really went further than that. The birds used to attack her. One day she got chased by two huskies and damaged her back leg muscles forever. She lived 12 years after that happened.