Cat in a Wheelie bin

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Actually, come to think of it, I'm angrier at the owner for letting the cat run loose outside than I am at the woman for putting the cat in a trash bin. We own a cat, and the only time it goes outside is when one of us is with him, and even then it's only in the back yard.

 

Splunge, I pity your cat. I can't imagine owning a cat that was locked indoors all the time. I know some cats learn to like it, but it just seems wrong to me. Like clipping a bird's wings or something.

 

NOG, domestic cats are that : domisticated house animals, a house cat is a loving cuddly creature. street cats are not, they are an anti social nuisance, they dig up people's gardens, rip open bins for scraps of food and they make alot of noise.

 

Depending on where you live, it can be a necessity. In fact, here in Houston, one of our largest and oldest neighborhoods, The Heights, has been plagued for the last several months by a cat serial killer. Really. Friendly, domesticated cats are turning up dead (in rather gruesome ways) several times a week there, their corpses left in places that guarantee they'll be found. Worst of all, the sick bastard is unlikely to ever be caught. This doesn't happen everywhere, mind you, but it just shows you how vulnerable human-friendly animals can be in an urban environment.

Most vets actually recommend, for the cat's health, that you keep them indoors all the time for a number of reasons (exposure to diseases like feline leukemia, getting in fights with strays, cars, etc.). And aside from the desire to chase birds and bugs, they really are fine to be in all the time. I do know what you mean, though.

 

I agree. I suspect that allowing a cat to remain sedentary all the time wouldn't be good for its health either.

 

I don't know. Every outdoor cat my family has ever had met an untimely death (none live beyond seven years -- cars, coyotes, dogs, hooligans, etc.). Every indoor cat lived to be at least 15 years old and stayed healthy (except my ex-in-laws who fed their cats too much and the things looked like furry beach balls).

 

@NOG (and mordea) - Shoshino, DR and T2 summed it up pretty well. In fact, when we got our cats (down to one now), one of the conditions of the purchase was that we not let them run loose outside; and as DR pointed out, most vets recommend the same thing. Our cat(s) love going outside, but they don't like to be out alone. Basically, because they were raised as indoor cats, they were used to it.

 

Yeah. And about the sedentary lifestyle part, I will say this. I had a cat named Gizmo (yes, I got her when Gremlins came out) who was a big, lazy turd. Slept all day, overweight pretty much from the day we had her spayed onward (very common for female cats). Lived her entire life indoors and sedentary. She would venture into our enclosed backyard occasionally, but even then, she'd find an expensive garden plant to lay on and stay for hours. She died a couple years ago at the ripe old age of 22. I'll say that again: 22. That's insane. Our other cat, Lucy, died shortly after at the age of 19, same lifestyle. Few outdoor cats make it past 10 years. Even lower for feral cats.

In my experience, for cats, a safe environment and regular human affection are far more essential to the cat's wellbeing than the freedom to climb trees and patrol the neighborhood.

 

a cat doesnt require alot of room to run around, a house or flat can provide plenty of opportunity for a cat to exercise itself.

 

I didn't know know it was possible for a cat to be non-sedentary.

 

It's much easier for a female cat to be indoor than a male cat. The female cat's natural territory isn't very large to begin with, whereas males naturally roam several times that size.

As for lifespans, I've had 4 cats. All have lived outdoors. All have lived long lives. The first actually was shot, which was very sad, but he was 16 at the time and loved the outdoors. The second lived to 18 and died of kidney failure after going half-deaf, having arthritis, and a couple years of thyroid problems. The third lived to 18.5 and died of (likely) a lung problem after going blind, half-deaf, having a couple years of thyroid problems, and arthritis. The day before he died, he snuck out of the house for one last outdoor excursion (came home at the end). He was catching squirrels just a few weeks earlier (mostly blind!). The third is currently 14 and in perfect health (which all the others were at 14 as well).

DR: I'm impressed with the 22, that's a very long life for a cat. My vet said his record was 23, and he was quite impressed that the second and third cats lived as long as they did (and in great health until the last couple of years).

Yes, there are risks to a cat living an outdoor life, but every cat I've had has loved the outdoors so much that I couldn't bear denying it to them except in the most dire straights. The third cat we actually did that with, since he was kind of wandering aimlessly, but he still managed to get out and enjoy himself.

 

NOG, responsible pet ownership issues aside, you're ignoring the nuisance factor of letting cats run loose.

 

The nearest thing to cats in my world is smoking. Just about as (un)social and inconsiderate to your surroundings, ESPECIALLY if you let the cat outdoors alone.

Yet, I don't go around throwing cats into garbage chutes or hunt them with pea-shooters ever since I grew out of it somewhere around the age of five. But it's still just a cat.

 

Splunge, just about everyone in my neighborhood either has a cat or a dog, all outdoors animals (dogs limited to back yards). I don't think anyone thinks of them as nuisances, though in a different neighborhood I could understand how they may. It all depends on where you live.

 

This. In every neighbourbood I've lived in, cats could go outdoors as they pleased, and they were never a nuisance. In fact, I'd pet a few when I came home from school late. I think people like making a big deal out of nothing.

 

I do remember back ten years or so we had a neighbour who used to build traps to capture cats that strayed into his backyard. He seriously hated them, he saw them as pests. In a way I can actually see his point. His methods though where somewhat excessive.

In any case if you can't keep your eyes on your pets then it's always your fault if they disappear or cause damage. Personally I find keeping cats outside to roam freely just irresponsible and keeping non-sterilized cats outside freely downright criminal.

 

Why?

 

I don't know, I never asked him. Maybe he did not like them urinating on his sandpit or something.

 

It is a pest when you have to check your garden for their mess before your kids can go out and play

 

I have several cats come into my garden, they dont come for food, they come because I give them attention - and, are desperate to get into my house, but then Ive always said, a cat knows a cat lover.

Like I said, I like them coming to see me, but it will not stop me from cursing when they dig up my plants - they are a nuisance. I also miss the birds, where I lived before moving here didnt have so many street cats, so birds were a common sight, but not here.