Spin-Off: Outdoor Pets vs. Indoor Pets

[Shannonigans]

Should pets be kept inside or outside? In your mind does it matter if the pet is a cat or a dog? What do you think of cats roaming free outside? Would you feel differently if the cat lived in a subdivision versus outside with room to roam? I know a lot of cats can cause havoc with lawns, jumping on neighbors' cars and getting into trash cans.

For me, I don't like having outdoors-only animals. I think cats should be kept inside unless you have a large plot of land and even then, it makes me leary. I think dogs can be happy both outside and inside as long as they have a large fenced-in yard to roam in and plenty of shelter outside.

I've had cats that have gone outside and it's been disasterous unless I've lived on a large plot of land. And even then, I've lost one cat to a snake bite and another one to a stray dog. Living in a subdivision is horrible for outdoor kitties. I've seen 2 cats almost get run over just in the past few months. We lost a wonderful cat 2 years ago to antifreeze poisoning and my DH had a cat get run over as well. Until we get moved, our cats do NOT go outside. I might not even let them go outside when we do get moved. I'm thinking of having my DH build a large pen for the dogs and cats and even having the top of it enclosed as well, like with sheet metal and chain link..taht way the cats can't climb the fence and nothing can get in to the animals either.

[Clio]

I would never have a cat unless I felt able to leave it outside whenever it wanted to go. I have had a cat killed on the road by a truck but I would still not want a cat to have to live indoors unless it's what it wanted.

Dogs should be strictly indoors or outside in a very secure area.

[bRATmom]

I think cats should be indoors.... I think dogs should be indoors at night, have a large fenced in roaming area during the day if they want to go outside.

My pets are also my kids... I wouldnt leave my children outside 24/7.....

Im quite sure if skeeter could talk.... he would tell you how much it means to him that his mommy cares so much about him, that he resides indoors, with the comfort of central air surrounding his butt, food and water always available, and a nice cozy cat bed in the garden window for his pleasure of watching the outdoors if he chooses.

that he needent fear cars, bugs and people poisoning him....he cant get lost, he can eat whenever he wants, he doenst have to search for food, its always in the bowl.... right next to the fresh daily water he gets.... Im sure a puddle of muddy water is the farthest from his mind as acceptable.

[Echo2]

My personal belief is that since we have domesticated dogs and cats to the point where they can no longer live a decent life in the wild, it is our responsibility to see that they have what they need to be healthy and happy.

Dogs need room to run and people to be around as they are pack animals and do not do well being kept alone and away from interation with people. A fenced yard during the day, inside at night. Big dogs need lots of room to run.

I have 2 cats. The are inside only. My vet told me that inside only cats have an average life expectancy of 17 years and outside cats have a life expectancy of 3 years. I make an effort to have lots of cat toys and interesting stuff for them to play with. They have a three level house to run in and lots of bay windows to lay in. I ocasionally take them out in the backyard with me but they NEVER get out of the yard or are allowed to go out alone. I imagine their life isn't as interesting as it could be if they were alowwed to roam, but they will live a lot longer and be healthier and safer. Sometimes I feel guilty because they don't get to roam free, but then I see road kill cats and hear about dogs mauling a cat or young boys being sicko's and torturing animals and I don't feel too bad. My brats are healthy and happy.

[Melinda-Q]

It does however make a difference WHERE you live.

Growing up we had both inside and outside dogs. The dogs that lived outside had a very large pen for the night time, completely enclosed with a nice doghouse inside. During the day they had runs, so they could be tied but still have freedom to roam. If course when we are out in the yard with them, they run free. We are considering a dog soon for the children and I would definitely do the same type set up my parents had for our dogs frowing up.

As for cats, the only place I want them is outside except for coming in to visit. The main reason for this is selfish, I hate the odor of cats. I think cats have a very dostinct smell and even when litter is changed as often as it should be, there is still an odor. I can tell people have cats the second I step into their home. And to give you an idea, this is even in houses where the litter is changed daily. In fact, we brought one of our cats in for awhile and I changed the litter completely twice daily (and bleached the pan between changes) and "scooped" several times between that and there was still a detectable odor. I am very smell sensitive.

We have a lot of room for outdoor cats. Our own acreage is ample and our only neighbors are family. Right now we have three cats. We also have no traffic passing by.

Over the course of my lifetime I have had many healthy, happy outdoor cats. In fact, many of our cats seem to outlive our friend's cats who are kept indoors. Right now, my oldest outdoor cat is 17 years old!!!!

[OnederWoman]

Outdoor cats in neighborhoods are one of my biggest pet peeves in the entire world! They crap in Jake's sandbox, piss all over everyone's porches, etc etc etc. I regularly take neighbor's cats to the pound if I catch them. I cannot express my loathing for outdoor cats. Unless one lives in the country or on a large large lot with everyone else far away, cats should be kept indoors, otherwise, don't frickin' get a cat!!!

As far as dogs being kept indoor or out, I guess that's a personal preference for the pet owner. Our dog is a member of the family, so he's an indoor dog who spends some of his time outdoors. He sleeps inside and the like.

[Echo2]

Onderwomans post is a very good example of why I keep my cats inside. I do not want some cat hater taking them to the pound where they may get euthenized or worse yet, harming them just because they are cats.

(My cats have chips but I still wouldn't risk it).

[Clio]

It does however make a difference WHERE you live.


Exactly.

We live in a rather remote area and I know that my cat is the only one in the area. She has never been in a fight and has no interest in roaming. My only concern for her being outside is she has no fear of strangers.

My cat expressed a great interest in going outdoors wheh she was very small so I let her. She has great "street-smarts" put rarely goes any further than the end of our garden to sit on the wall.

If she had wished to stay inddors then that would have been perfectly fine too.

Unless one lives in the country or on a large large lot with everyone else far away, cats should be kept indoors, otherwise, don't frickin' get a cat!!!


Uh, no. I grew up on an estate and there were a few cats aroud, all outdoor cats. Nobody ever had any problems with them and they were considered the neighbourhood pets. I don't even know of any cat here that's strictly indoors. It's just not done here.

[emilina]

I live in the country and I still only have indoor cats (well, we also feed outdoor feral cats and strays but they're not "ours" per se). I take them on walks and we spend time outside, but they don't go out alone. My goal is to build an enormous outdoor cat enclosure so the cats can have an "outdoor" room all of their own. It's just so much safer for my kitties to be indoors.

[bRATmom]

hhhmmmm guess none of you have had the pleasure of witnessing an attack on some poor cat that becouse of his owners negligence....was killed by two husky dogs....

Here is what I witnessed.... what a sight. My parents own two syberian huskey. Beautiful dogs.... however... they do not like cats. Not in the least, and rabbits and whatever other animal crosses thier path either. Now, my parents, by knowing this, have fenced in thier entire backyard with 6 foot high chain link fence, one, for keeping dogs from running, two, from keeping other animals out.

enter... the neighbors cat, who squeezed though the gate.... and those dogs.... well, lets say, no one could get there fast enough, and the cat was a goner. (yes since that time, the gates have been modified to prevent this from happening again. )

however, I only can imagine that this happens tons in the wild all the time, bigger dogs, wolves.... what have you, attacking your pet cat. Not gonna happen to my cat.

I dont fault my parents, they have done everything possilbe to keep thier dogs safe, and keep other animals safe from them... and I cant fault the dogs, who go on instinct to kill other animals...

the cat in the back yard was lucky (I guess if you can call it that) he died right away.... image if the cat didnt... lying hurt and in pain somewhere in the woods.... to die a painful death.... thats what happens daily becouse of irresponsible pet owners. Fix your pet to prevent unwanteds, and take care of them, or dont get them.

[OnederWoman]

I do not want some cat hater taking them to the pound See, that's just it, I'm not a cat hater, per se. I'm just sick of owners who let their cats roam around pissing and crapping in everyone else's yard. If you can't keep your cat ( or dog for that matter) out of other people's yards on a regular basis, don't have them. I feel the same way about dogs roaming around. I will make an attempt to contact the owner via their tags, and if that doesn't work, I will take them to the pound. The majority of outdoor cats I've seen don't have tags other than a tag with their name.

Onderwomans post is a very good example of why I keep my cats inside. See, to me it's common courtesy to make sure my pets don't mess up other people's property and become a nuisance to the neighbors. So while my cat's (or just pet's in general)protection would be a factor, common courtesy would come into play as well.

[Echo2]

I feel exactly the same way about peoples children. I'm just sick parents who won't keep their brats in their own yard. LOL But that's another discussion.

And I stand by my post. I keep my cats inside so that they do not have to interact with cat haters who would do them harm for being a cat and doing what cats do.

[OnederWoman]

I'm just sick parents who won't keep their brats in their own yard. I'm actually with you on this. Our front yard is not fenced, so Jake wanders into the neighbors yard on occasion and tries to play with their rocks. He gets reprimanded for this and dragged back into our yard. However, he doesn't pee on their doorstep or poop in their recreational areas. :)

[bRATmom]

let the boy pee on the rocks!!!

my brats are contained in my yard by a fence as well... and if I had a dog... I choose not to, becouse dog shit bugs the hell out of me, cant stand to think MY kids are rolling in the grass the dog crapped on. So, needless to say, Im less then pleased when the neighbors fido craps in my yard. Only a portion of the back yard is fenced in.....

and I dont like it when the ferrel cats piss in my kids sandbox..... GROSS!!! its a breeding ground for some diseases...So MY kids must suffer becouse I have to buy them a smaller sand box so that the box can be covered at night so I dont have to worry about some lone cat pissing in my sand box. Which, takes away from the rights of my kids in my yard to have a good time, becouse someone is to lazy to properly care for thier pet..... sad, very sad.

[Melinda-Q]

let the boy pee on the rocks!!!

my brats are contained in my yard by a fence as well... and if I had a dog... I choose not to, becouse dog shit bugs the hell out of me, cant stand to think MY kids are rolling in the grass the dog crapped on. So, needless to say, Im less then pleased when the neighbors fido craps in my yard. Only a portion of the back yard is fenced in.....

and I dont like it when the ferrel cats piss in my kids sandbox..... GROSS!!! its a breeding ground for some diseases...So MY kids must suffer becouse I have to buy them a smaller sand box so that the box can be covered at night so I dont have to worry about some lone cat pissing in my sand box. Which, takes away from the rights of my kids in my yard to have a good time, becouse someone is to lazy to properly care for thier pet..... sad, very sad.

Why would you have to buy a smaller sandbox? Just have a custom cover made. If you can not affod a custom cover, you can always buy a tarp. I have three outdoor cats and there is never any animal feces or urine in it! :) And I would want it covered anyway because there is nothing grosser than what happens to nice sand in a sandbox after it has rained a time or two. It's never quite the same.

By the way, if you study up some you will find that cat urine doesn't contain much bacteria if the cats have had their shots. NOT as big a breeding ground for disease as your mouth! LOL (Not an attack, just putting things in perspective).

Define "properly care for" their pet. My outdoor cats are taken better care of than many indoor cats :nono:

[OnederWoman]

By the way, if you study up some you will find that cat urine doesn't contain much bacteria if the cats have had their shots Doesn't mean I wanna smell it when I stand at my front door, or let my kids play in cat fecal matter in their own sand box.

To me "properly care for" means that you take measures to make sure your pets (at the very least, their waste) are contained to your property unless they are leashed.

edited for spelling.

[Clio]

becouse someone is to lazy to properly care for thier pet

You assume an outdoor cat is neglected??

My cat wants for NOTHING! She has the best of both worlds, indoor life when she wants and outdoor life when she wants. She has all her shots, is fed several times a day and meows for a cuddle which she always gets.

PLUS she sleeps in the garage at night. Do you know how many nights I have been playing hide-and-go-seek with her around bedtime for anything up to an hour becasue she thinks it's a game? If I didn't care about my cat or her wellbeing I'd just leave her out and let her fend for herself as so many cats do. She gets put in at night because if she ever got in trouble I wouldn't hear her cry.

I'm too lazy to care for my cat how exactly???

[Melinda-Q]

Doesn't mean I wanna smell it when I stand at my front door, or let my kids play in cat fecal matter in their own sand box.

To me "properly care for" means that you take measures to make sure your pets (at the very least, theie waste) are contained to your property unless they are leashed.


Well,if you don't cover the sandbox, if it isn't cats it can be racoons or any wild animal. I would always cover a sandbox anyway. Wet sand is actually a pretty good breeding place for bacteria. So whether I had animals around or not, it would be covered anyway.

I have no idea, even if you had strays WHY you would be able to stand at the front door and smell it. I am very smell sensitve--part of why I have my cats outside. And even having three cats on our property you can't smell cat urine when you step outside. Most cats don't choose to urinate near houses from what I understand anyway. Most prefer to go into the forest and bury what they have done -- natural instinct. If you are smelling something when you step outside my bet would be that maybe you had a male spray, not urinate.

I agree that people should contain their own animals. I don't understand WHY people's cats stray anyway. If you have them fixed they are not going to want to roam. If you keep their food near to your house and they are fixed and well cared for, I just don't see them roaming.

This thread sure has made me glad though that we have an ample chunk of property.

[OnederWoman]

it can be racoons or any wild animal Acutally, no. We live in a large suburban area. If the windows are positioned just right, we can look into the neighbors homes.

If you are smelling something when you step outside my bet would be that maybe you had a male spray, not urinate. Hadn't considered this, but it still grosses me out.

This thread sure has made me glad though that we have an ample chunk of property. See, to me, ample chunks of property are ideal for cats, because they do like roaming outdoors. It's the folks whose houses are literally 10 feet apart that drives me nuts.

[Book Wizard]

Our dog is an indoor dog. He goes out on a chain to do his business. He is a small dog and I would never let him run free. There is the road in front and the woods in back. If he didn't get run over, he would be lunch for a coyote. We don't have cats and never will. We just don't like them very much. Someday, we want to fence in the back yard, then we can let the dog run free in the yeard, but until then, he stays on a chain.

[bRATmom]

She gets put in at night because if she ever got in trouble I wouldn't hear her cry.

did ya bother to read my post about my parents dogs that killed the neighbor cat????? get a clue, that was in broad daylight! someday, your gonna think that she is just playing with you by not coming home.... and its not gonna be a game!

also, you home 24/7... to hear the cat cry out if its in trouble? I know for a fact day in and day out skeeter is safe and sound. 24/7 wehter I am there or not.


If you are smelling something when you step outside my bet would be that maybe you had a male spray, not urinate.

well isnt that just dandy.... if the cat was kept in its owners HOUSE I wouldnt have that problem around my house now would I??? No I wouldnt. And, yes I do have that problem, and its really nasty after a rain to soak that piss smell into the wood of the deck! YUM! Does MY cat go and spray around other peoples houses? Hell no, his ass is in my house, safe and sound.

tho... I have a terrific idea.... find out who owns the cat, and go dump buck spray or skunk spray that hunters use on thier front porch.... :yuck:

say what you want, think what you want.... I know for a fact, skeeter will never be run over by a car becouse he doenst look both ways before crossing a street. I know for a fact, he will never be mauled to death by a vicious wild animal or dog. I know for a fact that he will never injest poison by either cruel or unthinking people. I know for a fact where he is 24/7 safe and sound. If you ever let your cat outdoors, you will never be able to say any of those things for certainty..... just wonder and pray it doensnt happen to your pet.....

[Melinda-Q]

say what you want, think what you want.... I know for a fact, skeeter will never be run over by a car becouse he doenst look both ways before crossing a street. I know for a fact, he will never be mauled to death by a vicious wild animal or dog. I know for a fact that he will never injest poison by either cruel or unthinking people. I know for a fact where he is 24/7 safe and sound. If you ever let your cat outdoors, you will never be able to say any of those things for certainty..... just wonder and pray it doensnt happen to your pet.....[/QUOTE]


Oh baloney. LOL. Our cats are outside. They will never be run over by a car. The only cars that come here are our guests and ourselves. We all know we have cats and to watch for them, though the cats don't go anywhere near the cars anyway. They run if they hear one approach the driveway.

An outdoor cat is not very likely to be mauled and killed by a "viscious wild animal". They are pretty smart animals and can protect themselves well and get to place where another animal can not. I've had cats all my life, all outdoor and we live where there are bear, coyote, bobcat, etc. Never have we lost an animal to another animal except for the ducks on the pond (every once in a great while a snapping turtle does one in, such is the natural lifecycle in a pond). I can honestly say that while I can not gaurantee that my cat won't be hurt by some idiot's dog, I know that any dog that comes on my property will be the victim of either the dog-catcher or my pellet gun. Keep your doggie off my property.

I also know that no one is going to poison my cats unless they are trespassing. If they are trespassing they have far greater issues to deal with than my cat! LOL

I know my cats are safe and sound. They are well cared for. They are also far happier than they would be indoors. They come in to play, but after awhile they naturally want out to play and explore.

It's a best of both worlds for me. I have the security of knowing they are safe and no kitty smells in my house!

[Clio]

did ya bother to read my post about my parents dogs that killed the neighbor cat????? get a clue, that was in broad daylight! someday, your gonna think that she is just playing with you by not coming home.... and its not gonna be a game!

I took a valuable 3 seconds out of my life to read your post, 3 seconds that I'll never get back, pity you didn't do the same for my previous posts. I said she doesn't go any further than to sit on the walls around our garden! We have a very decent size lawn so she gets to survey her territory just from being on the wall.

also, you home 24/7... to hear the cat cry out if its in trouble?

She is INDOORS when there's no-one there.

Also, she doesn't even know what the front garden looks like, she's never ventured that far. I carried her in my arms one day when I was going out to see some friends off after visiting and she freaked. I had to take her back inside because she was so nervous.

I'm not going to keep her in for fear that something might happen to her. It goes against her instincts to be inside at times. If that was the case my son woud never leave the house either.

They are also far happier than they would be indoors. They come in to play, but after awhile they naturally want out to play and explore.

My sentiments exactly. My cat at times prefers to be outside. She's a cat for crying out loud, she needs/wants to explore. If I know she's safe outside I'm sure as hell not going to be looking into two little blue eyes begging me to let her out while she does that plaintive meow they do when in distress.


They are pretty smart animals and can protect themselves well and get to place where another animal can not

Pretty smart in an understatement. I've seen my cat get into places that I think she has needed to dislocate her spine to crawl into.

[Epicurus]

It doesn't matter how many people have indoor only cats, there will always be cats roaming the neighborhoods. Stray cats. You can be as mad as you want at whomever you wish but it won't go away.
Having said this I have an indoor/outdoor cat. I live on two acres and I have NO direct neighbors at all:) I live on a dirt road. I have the ideal situation for outdoor cats. He comes in at night because of coyotes. There is always risk in the daytime of course, but I and my cat Blackjack are willing to take this risk for his ultimate blissful happiness. He is the happiest cat I have ever seen. He hunts half of the time and is cuddled by his loving family the other half of the time. He bothers no neighbors. He doesn't even reach the borders of our yard as he is aware there is danger. He is extremely cautious.
In the end it is a waste of energy and bitterness IMO to spend much time being pissed about this. It is not going away. How about trying to like the cats just as something to try that might be a positive experience rather than spending all this time being pissed. It is not good for your health.

Collette

[DiznieB]

I could not imagine having an outdoor pet in this area. There is a field with Coyotes and two very busy roads with speed racers driving (or racing) up and down at all hours of the day and night. I cannot see how any cat could survive outdoors here.

Not to mention, when we adopted our kitty, the Humane Society made it very clear that animals are NOT allowed to be outdoors. We had to sign papers agreeing to keep the cat indoors.

I do believe in certain areas, on farms or large acres of land would be ideal for pets to roam free. In the city, no way.

[HunnyBunnyBoo]

My pets, my responsibility. I keep them under my control, and I'm responsible for cleaning up after them.

I only have a dog now, but she goes outside with me or dh, or in the fenced in yard, and if she poops, it's in MY yard, and I still celan it up.

When I had a cat, she was indoors only, because I lived in a duplex, and I'm sure the landlord and neighbors would not have appreciated having to keep an eye out for MY pet.

[kingclick]

Hmmmm.

Looking at the title of this thread....

My money is on the Outdoor Pets. I think they could kick the crap out of any indoor pets!!

;)