controversial topic: indoor v. outdoor cats

alafairnadia · March 2006

okay, I'm not trying to blame victims here. but I'm trying to understand something. it seems that most of the folks who are missing cats on this board or on posters around the neighborhood say something like "s/he was last seen in the backyard" or "s/he was last seen on our roof/stoop/porch". growing up, my family had pretty firm rules about cats. outdoor cats that adopt us are desexed and then, if too feral to be brought inside, are left in the yard to deal with vermin and are firmly Outdoor Cats. if the cat isn't feral, can figure out the litter box thing, etc, it becomes an Indoor Cat and doesn't go back outside, unless it's in a carrier (or a leash, or some other form of restraint/supervision). what I can't figure out is why someone would let their Indoor Cat also go outside. ESPECIALLY in NYC. what are your explanations, folks? why do you do this? it seems to bring a lot of angst into your lives.

whyfi · March 2006

Pets are really pampered in this city, I'm sure that most people that let their cats out do it simply because their cats seem to want to go out... and who can deny their pampered pet?

apollonia666 · March 2006

I can deny MY pampered pets, honestly. I strongly feel that the population is just too dense, there's just too much traffic, and there are too many rats and stray animals to safely let cats go outside in this city. Letting your cats go outside is, in my opinion, really irresponsible.

If your cats don't like it, tough. They'll live. Which they may not do if you let them go outside.

brookfetish · March 2006

I only let my cat out on the fire escape when I am out there...kinda funny watching her try to walk without her feet falling through the grates.

She be not an outdoor kitty.

whyfi · March 2006

apollonia666 wrote: I can deny MY pampered pets, honestly. I strongly feel that the population is just too dense, there's just too much traffic, and there are too many rats and stray animals to safely let cats go outside in this city. Letting your cats go outside is, in my opinion, really irresponsible.

If your cats don't like it, tough. They'll live. Which they may not do if you let them go outside.

Oh, yeah- sorry, I completely forgot to up the snark-factor of my post. I am 100% for not lettin' 'em go out as well, and for the same reasons that you mentioned. That, and if my wife and I come across any more nice but homeless cats... well, she has a hard time sayin' "no." That + number of cats in this neighborhood = "crazy cat people." We're actually going to be helping with some TNR efforts in the coming weeks in an effort to keep the stray/feral population in check. Anybody else wanna help?

emily · March 2006

The organization we adopted our cat from had us sign documents promising not to let her out. I wouldn't do it here in the city, anyway--the traffic scares me and since we have an apartment, not a whole house, there'd be no way to let her in and out.

When I had a cat growing up in the suburbs, we let her out. She prowled around the yard and almost never even crossed the street!

alafairnadia · March 2006

nybt wrote: We're actually going to be helping with some TNR efforts in the coming weeks in an effort to keep the stray/feral population in check. Anybody else wanna help?

I'd love to help out!

terra · March 2006

Subject: lAnother perspective

All pet guardians (just like all parents) have different visions of what is best for the animals that came to live with them (or children that they bore/adopted). Invariably, these visions reflect personal philosophies of pet guardians--some people value safety over freedom, some value freedom over safety.

In our opinion, it is unfair to deprive a cat of his or her own life, the opportunity to enjoy the outside, to communicate with his own kind. There are risks, because the cat does not have our feelings in mind when he goes outside (he wouldn't keep himself safe to spare us anguish). But ultimately, we made the choice based on what we would want someone to do to us, if that someone had complete control of our lives. Personally, we would want to be allowed to make our own choices, to have risks and adventures, and not have the existence entirely for the sake of our humans.

These are very personal choices. The more we think about it, the more we lean towards the opinion that any pet "ownership" is wrong and unfair to both parties (again, personal opinion). Deciding on a certain course of action to spare yourself future emotional pain seems at least a little selfish. Making crucial life decisions for another person where you can have no idea what that person may truly want (purely because of the species gap) is too much of a burden.

For what it's worth, there is a vibrant cat community in our backyards (some members of which have been going outside for over eight years). The particular risks probably vary with the specific cat, based on his or her personality and adventurousness.

We realize that only a small minority may share our particular views, and this is not meant to fuel arguments--just to give another perspective.

Elena & Bill (still looking for Charlie cat)

alafairnadia · March 2006

thanks for sharing that, Elena & Bill.

I really was trying to get the perspective of people who let their cats outside - I have my own views that are pretty strong and I just wanted to know the reasoning of people who feel differently.

thanks again.

drano · March 2006

Hi all,

Speaking for myself and my family, I would never let a cat out of doors in NYC - there is just too much crap that could go down. I will say, however, that I grew up in Maine and had an indoor/outdoor cat that just died recently at the age of 23 years. We had about 5 acres, and if he wanted to go out, he'd just hang by the door - if he wanted to come in, same thing, other side. If I wanted him to come in, I'd call him - he'd generally come, but sometimes it took longer than other times. He was housebroken, and the litterbox didn't get used except in emergency situations; the bad news is that he loved the vegetable garden for those purposes. He had a couple cat buddies, "our" outdoor cats that helped him with his territory and stuff, as well as a couple of stout dogs he was friendly with that kept potential encroachers at a respectful distance. Nevertheless, in an area where fox, coyote, and feral dogs were a problem, other ctas were the biggest threat, and he had his retirement fight in the "vibrant" cat community at age 14. He won, but at pretty awful cost, and we kept him indoors after that unless accompanied by his dog bodyguards.

I guess what I'm saying is this - no matter how long things go well, it's just a matter of time before your animal runs into trouble. It's tougher to keep an eye in New York, and man-made hazards make up for in numbers what they lack in intent. Yeah, missing Fluffy might be alive, living his vibrant existence in the park catching mice and being adopted by bypassing children...but I'd rather not wonder.

whyfi · March 2006

alafairnadia wrote: [quote=nybt]We're actually going to be helping with some TNR efforts in the coming weeks in an effort to keep the stray/feral population in check. Anybody else wanna help?

I'd love to help out!
Excellent! I'll talk to our insider with the TNR and see where they could use help. I know that there's going to be a good-size trapping on my block in the next few weeks, after that, I dunno. It seems like the greatest need is simply a little bit of manpower to help with trapping and loading up the crates. Oh, eyes and ears, too- if you happen to know of any cat colonies out there, let someone know. I'll see if I can find a email address to drop a line.

Getting back to the crux of the conversation, we've been informed that many of the cats that have been trapped in the TNR efforts have come up FIV positive (basically a cat version of AIDS). To me, that's more than enough incentive, right there... No, it's not a death sentence, but it's a serious risk.

vanilla · March 2006

i would also love to help out with the TNR but my life is really busy right now, so if anyone needs someone to help out and NOT be in charge, you know, a helper?

PM me and tell me what to do..

cat · March 2006

Subject: Re: lAnother perspective

Thank you Elena & Bill.

That's really beautifully written and I totally understand.

I have a cat who will go on a leash and he is so unhappy not being outside that it's sometimes heartbreaking but if I can entertain him and get him outside now & again he's happy. My other cats have been really good about staying right by the stoop going to the neighbors - with me there at all times - but no further and i sit outside with them on the stoop sometimes. you have to know your animals also and that's why the male cat would be in manhattan left to his own devices so i do have to keep a closer watch on him.

best of luck to you.

cat.

terra wrote: All pet guardians (just like all parents) have different visions of what is best for the animals that came to live with them (or children that they bore/adopted). Invariably, these visions reflect personal philosophies of pet guardians--some people value safety over freedom, some value freedom over safety.

In our opinion, it is unfair to deprive a cat of his or her own life, the opportunity to enjoy the outside, to communicate with his own kind. There are risks, because the cat does not have our feelings in mind when he goes outside (he wouldn't keep himself safe to spare us anguish). But ultimately, we made the choice based on what we would want someone to do to us, if that someone had complete control of our lives. Personally, we would want to be allowed to make our own choices, to have risks and adventures, and not have the existence entirely for the sake of our humans.

These are very personal choices. The more we think about it, the more we lean towards the opinion that any pet "ownership" is wrong and unfair to both parties (again, personal opinion). Deciding on a certain course of action to spare yourself future emotional pain seems at least a little selfish. Making crucial life decisions for another person where you can have no idea what that person may truly want (purely because of the species gap) is too much of a burden.

For what it's worth, there is a vibrant cat community in our backyards (some members of which have been going outside for over eight years). The particular risks probably vary with the specific cat, based on his or her personality and adventurousness.

We realize that only a small minority may share our particular views, and this is not meant to fuel arguments--just to give another perspective.

Elena & Bill (still looking for Charlie cat)

smokin joe · March 2006

our cats are indoor cats for many reasons but the biggest is for their own safety. not only are there dogs, cars, rat poison and unneutered male cats out there, all serious threats to a cat's well-being, but the city has an epidemic of feline aids, leukemia and peritonitis, which can be passed by a bite or scratch from an infected cat and can be fatal.

cats are territorial and like to explore and if given the opportunity to go outside will happily do so. but if they're kept inside, that becomes their territory and, contrary to our projection that they really want to freely roam the world, they're satisfied where they are.

oceanpoet · March 2006

I agree that, at the very least, outdoor cats should be neutered or spayed. The stray/feral cat population in our neighborhoods is way out of control and it's not fair to the cats or the animal lovers.

leozoeypiper · March 2006

It is never a good idea to let your cat out in NYC ... period. I don't particulary care what the cat tries to tell you (and I know that their reasoning can be persuasive!) - it just isn't smart. We bring animals into our lives to take care of them and make the best decisions for them. This isn't the burbs, this is NYC. I personally think that I have too much emotionally invested in my cats to dare let them out on the streets. I don't want to have to appear on this website looking for my cat - ever. People should take all precautions in order to avoid it. We know good and well what is out there - disease (especially FIV and FELV in our area), cars, rat poisoning (two cats on my block were found dead last week and we think that they were poisoned), antifreeze, and people that will gladly take your pet home to call it their own without responding to your flyers. Do you want your cat to end up living with a feral cat colony in order to survive on the streets? That is what happens a lot of the time. It's unfortunate when people do not keep their cat indoors, they get lost, and then someone else finds your cat and has to track you down to return it to you. Believe me because I find them all of the time. It is a pain to have to house the cat in your tiny little apartment with all of your other animals until you can find the owners. And of course you have to take the cat to the vet before you take it him just in case it has FELV ... this runs around $150 in our area. I do it for the cats, not the owners who let their cats out. If your cat escapes, that is one thing. But if you are intentially letting your cat outside, then I believe that you are just asking to lose. Do yourself and your cat a favor and just keep it inside.

controversial topic: indoor v. outdoor cats

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