A HOUSE CAT - CRUEL OR KIND?

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the dog from that film you saw - 28 Oct 2004 19:16 GMT

just about to leave home (yay!) and into a place of my own.
i've always loved cats - i'm like a surrogate owner - i fuss over the
neighbours cats and love to do so.
so.... i'm thinking of getting a cat, to live in my flat, but it's a town
centre location so i think letting it out would be a no no.

that being the case - is it fair on the cat to keep them in at all times? -
will they get the exercise they need in a house?

if i thought it wasn't I'd simply go without.

and how about taking them for walks on a lead like a dog - realistic or
nonsense? - and would they go along with the idea?

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Gareth.
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M. MacDonald - 28 Oct 2004 20:02 GMT

I know several people who walk their "house" cats. Some use regular collars
and some, the ones with the fat necked and small-head kitties, use a
harness.

However, in all cases their "house" cat walks them. They don't walk it.
They kinda let the cat smell and go where it wants to. Walks aren't very
far and usually around their yards. All know where their leashes are kept
and are on the counter ready to get dressed to go out.

So yes, it's possible.

Mack

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kaeli - 28 Oct 2004 21:16 GMT

> just about to leave home (yay!) and into a place of my own.
> i've always loved cats - i'm like a surrogate owner - i fuss over the
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> and how about taking them for walks on a lead like a dog - realistic or
> nonsense? - and would they go along with the idea?

Millions of cats in the States are indoor-only their whole lives and none the
worse for it.
You do have to take time to interact and play with your cat when it is indoor
only, though. If they go out, they find entertainment (as well as danger, of
course). If they stay in, they need you to make their environment fun for
them. Get kitty condos or kitty trees for inside for them to climb and
scratch. Get toys for them to play with. Play with them with interactive
toys.
And yes, you can teach them to walk on a leash. My Rowan loves it.
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart/cat_harness.html

It's even easier to teach a cat that is already used to being outside.

Good luck!

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Ashley - 29 Oct 2004 07:00 GMT

> Millions of cats in the States are indoor-only their whole lives and none
> the
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> It's even easier to teach a cat that is already used to being outside.

I actually just found quite a good article on the differences in attitudes
to this - written by a Briton, and the Brits have a very similar attitude to
us Kiwis. It's interesting reading for both sides of the debate.

http://www.messybeast.com/indooroutdoor.htm

Ashley
(who would not own cats if she couldn't allow them relatively risk-free
access to the outdoors)

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anon - 25 Nov 2004 07:22 GMT

/snip/

> I actually just found quite a good article on the differences in attitudes
> to this - written by a Briton, and the Brits have a very similar attitude

to us Kiwis. It's interesting reading for both sides of the debate.

> http://www.messybeast.com/indooroutdoor.htm
>
> Ashley
> (who would not own cats if she couldn't allow them relatively risk-free
> access to the outdoors)

Well, I've always put my energy into getting myself a place with a safe
outdoors for them. :) I wouldn't want to live without plenty of grass and
trees myself. On the occasions when I had to live in an unsuitable place, I
left my animals with family with a safe outdoors.

However I'm sure there are cats who have already been raised in an
indoor-only home, and perhaps leash-trained -- and now for some reason need
homes. Imo the OP should shop around till he finds one (or a pair) who
already prefers that kind of life.

Marianne

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Monique Y. Mudama - 25 Nov 2004 16:54 GMT

> Well, I've always put my energy into getting myself a place with a safe
> outdoors for them. :) I wouldn't want to live without plenty of grass and
> trees myself. On the occasions when I had to live in an unsuitable place, I
> left my animals with family with a safe outdoors.

[snip]

> Marianne

Well, there are properties with trees and grass and whatnot around here; the
trouble would be the foxes, coyotes, and mountain lions. When they're hungry,
they're not picky. You see a *lot* of lost cat signs around here.

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Zythophile - 18 Dec 2004 11:00 GMT

>> Well, I've always put my energy into getting myself a place with a safe
>> outdoors for them. :) I wouldn't want to live without plenty of grass and
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> hungry,
> they're not picky. You see a *lot* of lost cat signs around here.

This article is an eye opener, I didn't realise that there was such a
different cat culture in the US.

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Z
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kaeli - 20 Dec 2004 15:14 GMT

> This article is an eye opener, I didn't realise that there was such a
> different cat culture in the US.

Don't feel bad; most US people don't realize there's such a different cat
culture in Europe. :)

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Dragon - 29 Oct 2004 14:29 GMT

If you're going to be at work for a hunk of the day, be sure to get
two kitties when you decide to become a cat slave. As others have
noted, lots of toys and climby things will keep a cat happy and busy,
but nothing works as well as having a pal of their own kind to play
with. Two cats will keep each other company and you'll have less
destruction and depression to deal with. Two cats will be great
entertainment for you as well, as they're playing can be funnier than
the best sitcom. It doesn't take any more work to care for two, so be
sure to invest in two when you do :-)

dragon

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the dog from that film you saw - 29 Oct 2004 16:48 GMT

>> just about to leave home (yay!) and into a place of my own.
>> i've always loved cats - i'm like a surrogate owner - i fuss over the
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
>
> dragon

heh - sounds good - my family will stop thinking i'm insane now and become
convinced of the fact instead.

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Gareth.
Quote of the day.
You're disgusting! you say he is sex lupines and sweep him away.
A chinese actress suffers the indignity of bad subtitles in the film 'red to
kill'

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