Indoor or Outdoor

greencolander · 07-13-2003, 09:06 PM

I'm a tyrant when it comes to the indoor cat vs. outdoor cat debate. I'm all for keeping cats indoors, in an enclosure or on a harness when outside. Not only do I have the Humane Society of the United States (www.hsus.org) and the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies on my side, but I see, day after day, the results of allowing cats outside.

This is going to be gorey. You have been warned.

- I have seen injured baby bunnies, squirrels, groundhogs, birds and other wildlife that have been critically injured, maimed and killed by outdoor cats.
- I have seen cats with fight wounds and abcesses due to bite wounds.
- I have seen cats poisoned and dying.
- I have seen cats, still somehow alive, screaming in pain, lacerated by fan belts.
- I have seen cats after being hit by cars. The results include: road rash; minor breaks; gashes; broken teeth; cats being eaten alive by maggots from old injuries; cats with their eyeballs knocked out of their sockets; cats with their guts hanging out; and dead cats.
- I have seen cats tortured and killed by the hands of sickos (after discovery).
- I have seen a cat who was raped by a human.
- I have seen countless children, women and men cry over their beloved pets who have arrived at our shelter dead.

All of those suffering creatures. And they all could have been prevented from their suffering by either being kept inside, on a harness, or in an enclosure. Please please please, keep your cat inside.

pamm013 · 07-13-2003, 09:45 PM

Aspen stays inside, he would realy like to go outside alot of times. we do let him out, BUT only when we are outside with him and watching him. and he knows when he is going too far.. he will crouch down and try to sneak away. but doesnt go too far.. knowing that he will be in trouble. he isnt out for very long.. just about 5 mins or so. then its right back inside. and he is fine with that.

ghostdesire · 07-14-2003, 12:15 AM

My cat who is I think 7 or 8 now has always been an outside & inside cat, she doesn't go out side as often anymore but she still goes out , She is spayed so I'm not worried about her getting pregnant and she also gets all her shots, has been since she was a kitty, so we check her often and she is a healthy cat. I think you shouldn't let your cat out if he/she isn't spayed or neautred and those that don't get their shots or check ups by vets