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

I don't have a cat but I totally agree with you

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

I agree 100%. My cat was as feral as feral gets when we got him as a kitten. He still wants to go out at any opportunity...we just don't let him.

I have seen enough dead and/or injured cats to know that mine isn't going out no matter how bad he wants to.

The couple across the street have a cat that is indoor/outdoor and twice I have seen it almost get hit by a car and one time it was fighting with another cat under my window...That was fun!

To me it's irresponsible pet ownership, and I don't really care who disagrees with me. Why would anyone want to take the chance of their "pet" being injured or killed?

Oh and BTW, I have no problem with bringing your cat outside on or off a leash and watching it. I have a friend who brings her cat into the backyard and stays there with her for a little while, then brings the cat in again.

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

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

My cat is an outdoor cat. but he just stays with us when we go outside on the deck. He was a stray and tried to keep him inside but he likes to go out every now and then when it gets nice, but he stays in our yard...which is very big.

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

We let Molly out. But she was a stray who was out on her own for a while before she adopted us, and honestly she would be miserable if we didn't let her outside. I don't let her out when it is too cold out and she howls at the door to go out. We live in a pretty rural area (Yaphank) in a quiet neighborhood.

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

I agree with you I lost 4 cats in one year 3 to feline lukeimia 1 to tumors that (beleived ) to be formed from the lukemia shots. the average life span for an outside cats is like 7-10 years where inside cat is like 14 + so i don't know why you want to cut your pets life like that

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

My family cat growing up did go out. That was my mom's decision,but now that I am responsible for two cats, I would never let them go out. They live a very happy life inside.

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

I have to agree with you Lauren, I drive on the southern state everyday going all the way out east and I see dead cats all the time and I cry
It's awful.. and I think about the families that are wondering when their cat is going to come home and never will b.c its on the side of a parkway dead

Message edited 3/14/2007 12:33:55 PM.

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

I learned this lesson the hard way We had one cat growing up, always indoor/outdoor, lived to be 20 I think, and was never hurt. So I just thought this was what you were supposed to do, until I lost my Kiki at 10, and then another kitten shortly after. i lived upstate, I belive other animals got them.

After this, never again would i let a cat out. It drives my husband nuts, but I would never forgive myself if something happened to them. It was just stupid thinking on my part that made my other 2 lose their lives, I learned my lesson....sadly

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

I've only had one cat who was an indoor/outdoor kind of guy. When he adopted us (we didn't adopt him, he sort of hung around our house until we finally caved and let him in ) he would go absolutely bannanas and attack the indoor cats if we didn't let him out. We tried to re-program him but he was too far set in his ways at that point. He would come and go as he pleased and even "knocked" on the door when he was ready to come in (he would dig his nails into the front storm door and sort of pull at it to make this knocking sound) . He lived until 18, although he did come home with the occasional bruised ego and bum ear, scratches, etc. He was known as the neighborhood bully along with his sidekick from next door! LOL!

I remember how ****** he would get at us if the weather was bad (snow/rain) and he would literally b!tch us out at the door if he couldn't go out.

We had a feral female that would try to sneak out all the time. The few times she did escape, she would come back with live mice, etc. and let them loose in the house!!! We used to tell Noel "To Go Find Jasmine!" and he would fly out the door and be back within 15 minutes; practically dragging her back or swatting her into submission. I swear he was the smartest and most unique cat we had. I miss my old man soo much!

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

my cat thinks outside is the hallway of our building and he freaks out when we open the door

I like having an indoor cat- I can't imagine letting him outside- ever-

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

That is so sad!!!