Cats going outdoors - UK and US opinions?

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Emma Rose

New member
Here in the UK I've never ever heard of anyone keeping their cats indoors, it's considered cruel! Vets say they need to be out and theres even an advert on TV saying they miss out on nutrients if they don't go out.
My friends family have always had a minimum of 6 cats at a time and they all go out, but none have ever been run over or fallen ill and are happy cats!
I didnt let my pedigree out to begin with but he was misreble so I started to let him out and hes a great cat now.

I noticed on here the majority of you are American and seems most of you think they should be kept indoors and get quite upset at the thought of any cat being out!

We don't really get strays here, most cats are fixed as it can be done for free. I live in the countryside and theres hardly any roads or cars and everyone drives slowly. I fail to see the danger! I dont think Im being irresponsible to let them out, they are vacinated and have been going out from a young age. They come help me with the gardening too its really sweet!

I was just finding it interesting :)
Definatly sounds like if I were in the US they would be indoor only cats as well I definatley see your point!! We haven't really got any preditors here, maybe badgers if they attack cats? I doubt theyre fast enough though!
Thanks for all your answers it really is interesting! I am pretty lucky here that I can let them out. We have no dangerous preditors here, despite what you say CTU there are no preditors big enough to eat a cat live!! We have no wild dogs other than foxes. They're reintroducing a few wolves to Scotland, they also have wild cats there - but I'm in Nottingham, not much of anything here really

Anne - thanks for the advice, I'll not comment if people ask if they should let their cats out! Don't want to cause offence :)
 
Well im in the US, and I didnt used to let my cats outside, but, my boyfriends sisters cat was ALWAYS out. Well one day when i was at work, she let my kitties out. I was always paranoid of them getting run over, or disease, or Anything bad. But my babies love being outside. They come home when i call thier names, they are always home for thier meals, they come in and out whenever they please. The way i look at it now, is as long as i keep all of thier shots up to daye, and i check them daily for any cuts or scrathes, and i make sure thier behavoir doesnt change, they are fine to be outside. But that is because i live in a nicer area now. Before, i would never dare let my kitties outside. Too much garbage everywhere, too many uncared for ccats, n strays. It all depends on the area i suppose. Lots of feline AIDS in my old neighborhood, sadly :(
 
A lot of people do keep their cats indoors in UK. Our local rescue always has several that need an indoor home only, either due to a nervous disposition or illness. Certain pedigree breeds are not designed for an outdoor life either.

If you live in a safe area there is absolutely nothing wrong with them going out. However some people are not as lucky as you home wise. My first two went out to wander free. I have now compromised by cat proofing my garden, I have a couple of kittys on meds. This way they can go out, but are always obtainable when needed. If I couldn't do this they would have to be fully indoors.
 
Here in the States cats cannot be fixed for free, the few animal cruelty laws we have are very rarely enforced, people do not drive slowly, we have many more large predators happy to snack on cats, and there are all kinds of terrible illnesses running rampant that the UK does not have (it's much easier to control disease when you are a small island). So there's your reasons. I'm glad your cats are happy and healthy but the environment they're living in is quite different.
 
Obviously the environment in which you live is completely different from which most cat owners in the USA live. What you describe is ideal. It is not here in the USA. Traffic is horrendous here, stray dogs and other animals are a huge threat to the kittens and cats here. Not to mention mean spirited people, the list of dangers for them is endless.
 
I've always had cats (fixed, of course - if you can't afford to neuter your pet, you can't afford a pet) here in the US, and they have always been able to go in and out at will (cat doors or a window). When I lived in the mountains I locked them in at night because of coyotes prowling close by. I live in the city, but with a yard, and they are content and safe year after year.

Some people in the US "declaw" their cats, perhaps to protect their furniture. It's becoming less popular and more vets refuse to do it because it is stupidly cruel. Once declawed the cats can't climb trees well and so are more in danger from predators and unmaimed cats, so they 'have' to keep them in.

I know people who have indoor only cats, though, and they seem to not know what they're missing (the cats, I mean).
 
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