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AndyTiedye

(23,538 posts)

30. Some Cats are Outdoor Cats and Will Never be Happy as Indoor Cats

Tue Jan 10, 2012, 01:28 AM

Jan 2012

If I don't let DuPree out, he exacts "kitty revenge" on my stuff. Not only did this lead to hundreds of dollars of ruined electronic gear (cat pee instantly destroys any circuitry with which it comes into contact), but he would have electrocuted himself eventually if this continued. This cat will not tolerate being kept indoors.

We live in the country, at the end of a dead-end road, and I fenced-in the yard to keep out any critters big enough to be a threat to our kitties. This is a smart kitty, if he wants to get in, he bumps up against the wind chimes to let us know. When I was growing up, we had a cat who used the door knocker.

(It's nothing to do with the litterbox, we have 3 for 2 cats and keep them clean. He's quite willing to use the catbox when needed except when he is retaliating for not being let outside for an extended period).

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A resolution for cat people [View all] XemaSab Jan 2012 OP

I have no cats handmade34 Jan 2012 #1

I have 3 cats and they are indoors kitties and always have, and will be. They live longer, teddy51 Jan 2012 #2

I've had cats ate by animals ,poisoned by anti-freeze orpupilofnature57 Jan 2012 #3

My kitties never go outside. smokey nj Jan 2012 #4

Mine neither. Except my super old one which sat on the porch with me and I watched glinda Jan 2012 #15

K&R!!! My cat wants no part of being outside nor do I for him. As a child RKP5637 Jan 2012 #5

AND DONT LEAVE CAT FOOD ON PORCH!! ErikJ Jan 2012 #6

That's why I keep my babies inside. But even with that, there are plenty of hazards within the house Liberal_Stalwart71 Jan 2012 #7

Growing up in the country, we lost three cats to engine fans. evilkumquat Jan 2012 #8

sorry no Kali Jan 2012 #9

Rats and mice in the barns and outbuildings are no good... hunter Jan 2012 #91

My geriatric cat is an indoor only kitty Warpy Jan 2012 #10

Living in a big city, both of my cats are strictly indoor pets. racaulk Jan 2012 #11

I have mixed feelings. I have never let my cats outside. mucifer Jan 2012 #12

It doesn't have to be boring. GoCubsGo Jan 2012 #19

Enrichment!!! arcane1 Jan 2012 #22

If you can, get them something like cat television. There are videos that can be looped that give freshwest Jan 2012 #21

A window with a birdfeeder outside it Mariana Jan 2012 #46

Yes, they'll have a great time! Here's a video of that: freshwest Jan 2012 #47

Mine like to watch squirrels and birds in the trees outside my windows. nt tblue37 Jan 2012 #60

It is the same for my cats. Jamastiene Jan 2012 #65

Cats love a good view Merlot Jan 2012 #26

I can recommend a toy called the feather cat dancer. My cats are crazy for them. tblue37 Jan 2012 #61

Oh yes, the flying mice are a big favorite around here Merlot Jan 2012 #96

Thank you for reminding people about dangers Curmudgeoness Jan 2012 #13

My cat is an indoor cat. Puregonzo1188 Jan 2012 #14

Years ago, my mom killed a neighborhood cat by starting her car in the winter arcane1 Jan 2012 #16

Both my kitties are indoor only ragdolls marlakay Jan 2012 #17

We have 3 cats who have never spent a day outside tularetom Jan 2012 #18

All my cats have been indoor cats. Except Lucy. cliffordu Jan 2012 #20

All indoor cats for over 20 years now catrose Jan 2012 #23

My cat preoccupies himself when he's not with me, he likes to look out RKP5637 Jan 2012 #25

My former strays are like that too catrose Jan 2012 #79

I found a cat that had crawled into my car one winter abelenkpe Jan 2012 #24

I'd never let my cat roam around outside. Withywindle Jan 2012 #27

We lost our precious cat... CoffeeCat Jan 2012 #28

Good for Sacramento! Wonderful resolution! countryjake Jan 2012 #29

Some Cats are Outdoor Cats and Will Never be Happy as Indoor Cats AndyTiedye Jan 2012 #30

Intact males have wanderlust and disappear for days. Doremus Jan 2012 #66

He's Already Fixed, and the Vet Gave Him a Clean Bill of Health AndyTiedye Jan 2012 #75

An indoor cat can't kill outdoor gophers. Trillo Jan 2012 #31

You have a cat to kill gophers? Doremus Jan 2012 #67

That is One of the Many Useful Things that Cats Do AndyTiedye Jan 2012 #77

Other things that wandering cats kill aren't quite so useful unfortunately. Doremus Jan 2012 #80

It is true they kill some birds, but mostly they try to catch them, unsuccessfully. Trillo Jan 2012 #84

Our Cats Have Reduced the Local Blue Jay Population by 2 AndyTiedye Jan 2012 #94

No. I didn't say that. Trillo Jan 2012 #85

I don't have a cat, but I do have neighborhood cats who Liquorice Jan 2012 #32

I wish mine would, too. GoCubsGo Jan 2012 #34

throughout my childhood barbtries Jan 2012 #33

We got this for our yard 4 years ago, and it has worked beautifully distantearlywarning Jan 2012 #35

My dad ground up our cat in the fan when I was a kid but he lived. Kablooie Jan 2012 #36

All of our three are indoor only. Arugula Latte Jan 2012 #37

my cats choose for themselves.... mike_c Jan 2012 #38

Same here sakabatou Jan 2012 #44

Same here. woo me with science Jan 2012 #53

Same here. Matariki Jan 2012 #54

Cats are as incapable of making informed decisions as human toddlers 'deciding' to Doremus Jan 2012 #69

Not These Cats AndyTiedye Jan 2012 #78

what makes you say that? mike_c Jan 2012 #88

Great post. Trillo Jan 2012 #89

Humankind has also been making habitat choices since the caveman. Doremus Jan 2012 #93

well, your experience obviously differs from mine.... mike_c Jan 2012 #100

shocked that people admit letting cats go outdoors? Kali Jan 2012 #97

It's as shameful as allowing your dog to run into the street because he "wants" to chase cars. Doremus Jan 2012 #98

like I said, your experience clearly differs from mine.... mike_c Jan 2012 #101

Impossible for me because Raven Jan 2012 #39

What do you do if the cat will not use the litterbox? Nictuku Jan 2012 #40

Have you tried TuxedoKat Jan 2012 #59

I've never heard of it before... Nictuku Jan 2012 #73

Good luck TuxedoKat Jan 2012 #74

Agreed...they're not outdoor pets...knr joeybee12 Jan 2012 #41

Thank you! Thank you!! Thank you!!!! hamsterjill Jan 2012 #42

My one cat goes outside with a harness & a leash. CrispyQ Jan 2012 #43

I keep mine indoors, and still have a cat who's over 18 years old now... cascadiance Jan 2012 #45

We Have Had Several Outdoor Cats Live to 18 or So AndyTiedye Jan 2012 #76

Our two Kittys work for a living. bvar22 Jan 2012 #48

Mine also. Thy keep the mice under a bit of control. Eldest is over 15, all are quite coyote savy uppityperson Jan 2012 #55

Wish I could keep my 4 inside. However, they all showed up as feral/strays sinkingfeeling Jan 2012 #49

One of my cats ellie Jan 2012 #50

Wife's fat cat doesn't go outside, it's too "dirty", my cat does every day..stays on our lot snooper2 Jan 2012 #51

I already do this.. AsahinaKimi Jan 2012 #52

My cats are indoor-only now. They used to be "indoor-outdoor", but we moved and I used the move as TwilightGardener Jan 2012 #56

Both my cats are indoor only rox63 Jan 2012 #57

Cats are outside creatures.. especially here in Florida. ddeclue Jan 2012 #58

The OP isn't advocating for declawing. EFerrari Jan 2012 #63

We don't have coyotes in Florida and cats are usually smart enough not to get run over unlike say ddeclue Jan 2012 #70

Searching "cats run over by cars" gets hundreds of millions of hits. EFerrari Jan 2012 #82

Do a search for "People run over by cars". bvar22 Jan 2012 #86

I know you're not seriously comparing the way people evaluate cars EFerrari Jan 2012 #87

What? Everything in Florida is poisonous. LeftyMom Jan 2012 #92

Not true. Do you even live in Florida? ddeclue Jan 2012 #99

A resolution for DUers slutticus Jan 2012 #62

My two are indoor only cats. Jamastiene Jan 2012 #64

AND DONT LEAVE CAT FOOD ON YOUR PORCH! PASS IT ON!! ErikJ Jan 2012 #68

My cat is an indoor cat. Marrah_G Jan 2012 #71

Nope, not for me. My barn cats have all lived into their late teens riderinthestorm Jan 2012 #72

Two cats, both indoor only... SidDithers Jan 2012 #81

If you have never walked through The Woods with your cat... bvar22 Jan 2012 #83

We took the other tack beardown Jan 2012 #90

I've learned my lesson: Feline Leukemia Virus justiceischeap Jan 2012 #95

there is immunization available.... mike_c Jan 2012 #102