Greetings, UK cat lovers!

Reading descriptions of what it's like from a cat's point of view makes
me wish I could move me and my 10 furry purries over there RIGHT NOW!!!

I live in Los Angeles, in the San Fernando Valley, which is a very hot
and unfriendly place for animals, esp. cats.  I would never dare allow
my cats to go outside.  There was a time, in the 80's, when I did allow
my two cats to roam around my apt. complex, but it was enclosed and
they could not get out to the eight-lanes-wide boulevard the complex
was situated on, where cars move along at speeds of 50 miles per hour
and upwards.  And people will aim for a cat if they happen to  see it
in the roadway. That frame of mind is very unfortunately prevalent
here.  It sickens me, which is part of why I still live here:  I just
want to help kitties.  I work for the city and make good money and I
can afford to help. I live on the same street as I did in the 80's, but
in a different apartment complex a half block down...I don't have
access to an enclosed courtyard any more, but even if I did, I would
not let my cats out in it...it is so overwhelmed with people and cars,
so much more than in the 80's...this city is literally overwhelmed with
illegal immigrants to the tune of about 10 million extra (totally
unwelcome) people, and the city is literally flooded with people,
people, cars, cars, cars, everywhere, and it is just no place for
animals.  On top of all that, there is a macho attitude among these
immigrants to the point where many of them won't neuter their male
animals because they think it's not MACHO!!!  I don't even want any
arguments from anyone about whether or not this is true, because it IS.
I've heard it from the horse's mouth, so to speak, many times over the
years, and they will not budge from that attitude.  I have kidnapped
and had their male cats fixed without their knowledge many times.  I've
kidnapped females and done the same thing.  I've found loving forever
inside only homes for all their kittens.  After a while I just set up
my own rescue organization.  My mother said, "You're every kitty's
fairy godmother! " so I named it Kitty Godmother Rescues.  I have had
wonderful luck finding fantastic homes for all ages and sizes of
kitties.  I sometimes recue from the shelters.  I currently have a
13-year-old black cat that I sold my CD collection to rescue.  She can
stay with me as long as she needs to, as crowded as my tiny apartment
is.  I also have three 4-week-old kittens that I am bottle feeding.  I
know I won't have any trouble finding homes for them.

Still, a part of me wishes for wide open spaces with lots of green and
fun places for kitties to explore in relative safety to their heart's
content.

I envy you!

Valerie

Whats to doubt? A cat thats been used to wandering around isnt thrilled
to be indoors. It might be necessary but its not fun.

Even my allways-indoor-never-outdoor cat would get out if it had an
opportunity. One week we let it into the garage while we were working
there and there were no cars in it. That was 3 years ago. Now its not
allowed into the garage, its too dangerous. But it lurks by the door
and tries anyway and once in a while it gets out there. We keep the cat
in because it has no roadsense and anyway its too dangerous out and it
doesnt get fleas and it doesnt get exposed to other cats with diseases
and those kinds of reasons. It is happy enough because it is a people
cat and it doesnt know any other life.

But its not the best option. For a cat that has been out for years I
think it would seriously affect its quality of life. It cant hunt. It
cant prowl.

After this cat I would not get another indoor cat.

Anyway, how do you keep a cat indoors except where you always use
heating and air-conditioning? If windows are open the cat will get out.

US might be more dangerous. More cars, going faster on wider roads,
some bordered by unclimable fences or walls that can trap animals in
the roadway.

Houses may not have fences round the gardens or climable trees cats can
use as places of safety.

In the country, predators such as racoons, coyotes, and dogs.

There are lots of country roads where its not safe for people to walk
either because there is no sidewalk or shoulder.

The UK has very different topography. Even highways are narrower and
cats can cross them if they have roadsense. Fences, trees,
garden-sheds, accessible roofs all provide a landscape with safe places
for cats. And no racoons.