General Discussion

mike_c

(36,969 posts)

88. what makes you say that?

Wed Jan 11, 2012, 05:07 PM

Jan 2012

Cat's, like most animals, make "informed decisions" constantly. And they've been making habitat choices since long before domestication. (I'm not anthropomorphizing-- just the opposite, actually. Human nervous systems are built upon the common foundation that all mammals share, cats included. And my cats are WAY more capable than a human toddler!)

I offer my cats care, attention, kindness, and love. I don't require them to live the way I want them to live any more than I have too-- they are mostly rescue kitties who are quite capable of choosing whether they want to sleep indoors in a sunny spot or prowl the backyard. Trust me-- these cats let you know when they're unhappy, in no uncertain terms. They are absolutely happier when they can come and go than when I confine them, as happens occasionally when one is sick, or when we're out of town for more than a day or two.

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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