Three of our formerly indoor cats are enjoying Spring outdoors today.

[bertha katzenengel]

All by themselves. With no one to let them in if they come to the door. And you know what? I have no fear. They know where to go to be safe (good, safe spots around our home). They will not go far. They have very sharp claws, good teeth, and are in excellent health.

I can't wait to get home to hear their purrs!

[MissB]

1. You must not love your kitties

:evilgrin:

[bertha katzenengel]

4. Heh. I only love two things more than my kitties:

The birdies and the critters. But it's natural selection, don'tcha know!

Of course, the only things I love more than my kitties are Mrs. V. and my family. :7

[Mr.Green93]

2. Why do you Hate Birds?

and all other wildlife?

[bertha katzenengel]

5. I don't know, but it's clear from this thread (see link) that I DO:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x2943778

[Texasgal]

3. OMG!

They are gonna kill all of the SONG BIRDS which I purposely bait with my bird feeder! :sarcasm:

[bertha katzenengel]

6. Mmmm.... song bird....

:bounce:

[Bridget Burke]

7. Four & Twenty Blackbirds...

Baked in a Pie.

[mike_c]

8. this year I'm going to lower the hummingbird feeders an inch a day...

...until the late afternoon cocktail hour entertainment begins in midsummer. I have so many hummers it's a wonder no one has lost an eye in my backyard....

[mike_c]

9. indoor/outdoor cats are so much happier....

I would NEVER live someplace where my cats were not safe outside.

[politicat]

10. You've never met our cats, then...

Neither of them like the outdoors, and never have. Sunshine's fine, as long as it comes through a window. Grass is good, if it comes from the grass bed. Dirt is fun if it's been previously gathered up with a broom and mommy's looking for the dustpan that we so cleverly hid.

But take us outside?? Like, by ourselves? Or even with supervision and on a leash, or in the cover-pen? Are you insane? It's yucky out there!

We take them out occasionally, and both spend all of their time yowling to get inside. Your cats may be happier as indoor-outdoor, but ours would strongly disagree. The few times they've been outside - when a door has blown open and they've decided to take advantage of it - they've been scared to death.

They'll have good, long lives and I don't have to worry about psycho-neighbors or idiot drivers or disease.

[crispini]

11. Mmm.... Nice Fresh Bird!

[bertha katzenengel]

12. Poor bird... but damn, that's a happy cat! ;-)

I saw a kestrel lunching on a hapless sparrow once. :cry:

(I want the Lounge to know there's no way I could banter about this without the advent of Cymbalta. Better living through chemistry, indeed!)

[DinahMoeHum]

13. My sentiments exactly!

:evilgrin:

[blindpig]

15. asshole n/t

[Radical Activist]

14. That's beautiful.

My Mom tried to make her cat an indoor cat recently even though its used to being an indoor-outdoor cat. The cat is getting old and got hurt one day. This is MY cat of my teenage years when I still lived at home. I'm happy she finally gave up. The cat was miserable not being allowed to go outside. Once her injury healed up she was fine and back to going outdoors.

[bertha katzenengel]

16. Some enjoy the outdoors, some don't. Two of ours are too timid

to stick their heads out an open door. :)

[sybylla]

17. All I have are outdoor cats

I have allergies and loads of field mice and moles. Cats are really my favorite pet but I can't live with them indoors very well. They are well cared for, have a wonderful heated "cathouse" and really enjoy my gardens 9 months of the year. And I rarely find bird parts in my yard. Too many other goodies to hunt and chase.