Personally, I'm fine with cats going outside if you treat it the same
as you would dogs.  You wouldn't think of just opening up your door
and letting a dog out, hoping that he came home that night, would you?
However, taking them for walks on leash and harness, or allowing them
out into a secure area that they can't get out of, works for me.  Of
course, it's a lot more work, since you will need to either create the
secure area or convince the cat that it wants to wear a harness, but
it can be a good compromise to the indoor/outdoor debate, in my
opinion.

Rebecca

Hi!
Is there any way that you can make it safe for your kitty's to go
outdoors, such as a fenced in yard?  I turned two cats, strays as a
matter of fact, from outdoor to indoor with very few problems,
fortunately.  One, Rocky, did not like it much at first, but he soon
came around and realized that the indoor life, with monitored outdoor
time, was a good life.  As long as I had a fence, I would let him out
unattended.  I think he just enjoyed the fresh air because he never
really went any where..  Once he went into a neighbor's yard, but that
was as far as he ever traveled.  The other, Rambo, was quite content
living indoors in a life of luxury.

How long have you had the kitties?  Have they been spayed/neutered?
Intact cats want to go out so they can roam and find a mate.  One of my
girls did that to me back in May.  I let them all out, as usual, but on
this particular day she decided to take off and explore; two days
before she was scheduled to be spayed.  She came home two days later,
though.  It really scared me because I had not had her for very long
and I was very concerned that she would not make her way back.  But,
thank the good Lord, she did.  We were very close to moving at that
point, so I decided to put all seven of them on restriction.  I could
not take another disappearance.  Believe me, after her little
adventure, she didn't want to go out either.

It takes some time, but it can be done.  I have one now who has been an
indoor kitty since we got him as a kitten and for some reason decided
he wanted to go out a lot when we lived in AL.  I let him out in a
fenced in yard, but he soon learned how to go under the fence and off
he went.  He ALWAYS came back, though, bless his little heart.
Sometimes he would be rather muddy; let me tell you, red mud shows up
quite well on a white cat! :)

Keeping your cats indoors has other benefits as well.  Not only do you
increase their life span, but you become known as a considerate
neighbor.  I do not have children, but if I did I would be pretty
ticked off if my two year old walked up to me with a piece of cat poo
in his/her hand.  Two of my neighbors in AL were afraid of cats;
imagine what impression they would have of me if I were to let my cats
roam in their yards knowing they were afraid of them.  I do not like
for cats to come in my yard either, especially when they start fights
with my cats.

We moved to FL and have a large backyard but no fence.  We do have a
screened in pool and that is where my kitties go if they want to go
outside.  Even if we do put up a fence, I will be hesitant to let them
out because the pond behind our house has gators in it.  There is no
way on God's green earth that my cats are going to be an appetizer for
those gators. :^)
Deeanna

Unlike some, I'll try to make it short:) Depends on a cat. My is indoors
during the night, and is free outside (mostly in our backyard) during the
day. If a cat is satisfied indoors and doesen't show the desire to go out,
than it's not cruel at all, although I still recommend letting it out now
and then to enjoy more space and keep in shape. If he/she however
desperately wants to go out, than it's a torture to be kept in. But that's
just my opinion. Good luck!

If you want to let them out but are worried about them you could tie
them out or walk them on a lease (SP) OR build / buy an enclosure for
them also.

Mine have always been indoor only cats and love looking out the window
but have never tryed to get out.  I took 2 of them in when about 7
weeks old and the 3rd I got from Humane Society.  She was born there
was never out.

The 4th one that was an outdoors cat we took in when she was about 4
and pregnant.  After she had her babies and was fixed she lost all
interest in going out after a while.  We would open the door for her
and eventually she would look out and then go jump in her chair and go
to sleep.  After a while she stopped even going to the door.

My furbabies

http://members.aol.com/larrystark/

Cats are much happier when they are alive and healthy than dead.

It is not cruel at all to change an outdoor cat to an indoor cat. It's the
best thing you can do for a cat. Keep in mind that you can always take the
cat outdoors on a leash and harness, and that indoor cats need stimulation.