Should cats be allowed oudoors?

Dear Karen: I'm a dog person, which is why I have a question about cats. Specifically, is it a good idea to let them roam free outdoors? When I was a kid this was common, but I thought it wasn't considered ...

[Pachacutec]

RE the cats; in spite of the dangers of predators I can see why people would want to have cats running free around barns and farm buildings to keep the rodent population down. However, in more populated areas, I'd definitely say keep the cats inside. Not only is there the danger of the animals getting hit by cars, but they're more likely to get parasites, fleas, illnesses, etc., if they're running around loose.

[JRR11]

If dogs can't roam the streets then cats can't either plain and simple. Keep your animals (property) on your own property.

[ANIMAL LOVER]

I use to help raise cats.Me and my friend would never let them outside.We use to live in the vicinity of north 8th st inbetween washington and green sts in allentown pa.Sometimes one of the cats would sneak outside,...so we wre very quick to bring him back into the apartment.Their are some people in this world who love abusing animals.For those of you who have cats and/or dogs please keep them inside.They are more safe being inside.

[i say no]

One of my neighbors has 3 indoor/outdoor cats. Every spring when I clean up my flower beds I find cat poop. I wish the neighbor would keep his cats in the house!

[LV Guy]

I live in the city and not far from a major highway. We have three cats and they would not survive a week outside left free. I am sure people living near me do not want our cats pooping around thier homes. We do let our cats go outside in our fenced yard and they use running lines like dogs do.

[Suze]

i say no wrote:

One of my neighbors has 3 indoor/outdoor cats. Every spring when I clean up my flower beds I find cat poop. I wish the neighbor would keep his cats in the house!

poop is fertilizer... you should be thanking your neighbor for the free stuff.

[Pachacutec]

LV Guy wrote:

I live in the city and not far from a major highway. We have three cats and they would not survive a week outside left free. I am sure people living near me do not want our cats pooping around thier homes. We do let our cats go outside in our fenced yard and they use running lines like dogs do.

Sounds like you have the right idea; I also know people who have the stockade-type fences; they keep their cats' nails trimmed so they can't climb over the fences, but they're able to enjoy a certain amount of freedom in their own yards. One of my neighbors lets her cats run loose; I see them jumping in and out of our apartment dumpster all day, then she lets them back in at night; eeeew, I hate to think of what kind of germs they're carrying from their daytime activities! And I've known far too many people over the years who've said stuff like "my cat will NEVER leave the yard," and their cats end up getting hit by cars...

[John]

My neighbor used to have two outdoor cats I warned serveral times to try and keep it on here yard. I have two labs that are hunting dogs that would love nothing better then to corner a cat out in my yard. She didn't heed my warning untit after my dogs had one of her cats cornered. I called them off, and the neighbor ended up bringing it to a local farm.

[Mr Rogers]

Come on boys and girls in our invisisble neighborhood, we have cats that roam the streets to clean up the rats that are there that are brought in on the ships with the american wannabees.

[Suze]

Pachacutec wrote:

<quoted text> Sounds like you have the right idea; I also know people who have the stockade-type fences; they keep their cats' nails trimmed so they can't climb over the fences, but they're able to enjoy a certain amount of freedom in their own yards. One of my neighbors lets her cats run loose; I see them jumping in and out of our apartment dumpster all day, then she lets them back in at night; eeeew, I hate to think of what kind of germs they're carrying from their daytime activities! And I've known far too many people over the years who've said stuff like "my cat will NEVER leave the yard," and their cats end up getting hit by cars...

I had a cat who refused to be an indoor cat... and since we have groundhogs and raccoons that hang out in the woods behind our house, we started tying him up with a long piece of rope. Hw was able to roam the yard but yet I always knew where he was.

[Palmerton]

Cats shouldn,t be allowed to run around the neighborhood.What if one person has 20 cats running around. I have one house cat and every summer I have my downstairs windows open And outside cats smell my cat. and a few times have jumped up and hung onto my window screen .From them jumping up it has left holes in my screens and even scratches on my siding.I should not have to keep my window closed or chase someones cat away from my window.If they want them they wouldn,t be outside.

[Verna Herbenfickle]

Cats belong indoors period. They will have a far healthier and longer life. They won't get hit by cars, be attacked by other animals etc. They also won't catch FIV or any thing else. If you must get them declawed, then do it. And, to those who won't declaw a cat ( that will be strickly an INDOOR cat) using the argument that it's inhumane and cruel. Well, if you will have a cat spayed or neutered that's alo painful to the animal. And, what is worse. Being left outdoors because of destroying furniture etc. Or, getting a cat declawed giving it a wonderful indoor home for the matter of a few days of discomfort? Which any vet gives pain meds for.

[Amused Crack-er]

"...I'd find it both risky and rude to allow my kitties to roam on others' property, soil their gardens, irritate other pet cats,..."

Excellent answer!! What a lot of these inconsiderate cat owners should also know is that there ARE people there who are highly allergic to cats. Trust me... I am one of them! By letting their cat roam free could also be detrimental to a person's health. If people have a problem with that, I would be more than happy to stop over and smoke in their house. Pretty much the same concept.

[Amused Crack-er]

Suze wrote:

<quoted text>
poop is fertilizer... you should be thanking your neighbor for the free stuff.

Incorrect. Fecal matter from dogs and cats are NOT good fertilizer due to the fact that they are meat eaters. Cows are good since they are vegetarians.

[Responsible Dog person]

I have 2 dogs which I clean up after whether we walk in the neighborhood, the park, or the woods. In Allentown it's the law to clean up after your dog...so why then is it alright to let cats out to roam and poop anywhere they go. Whenever I garden I must first "clean the litter box" before I can enjoy the garden. It's disgusting and unhealthy and if you are pregant and like to garden, you'd better give it up for the 9 mos. because the cat litter you come upon can cause you harm.

[Scarletts Plantation]

Jonny Rotten wrote:

Absolutely, they make great target practice!

That is exactly what folk do to them especially in the country where dumb folk drop them off. Predators like fox go after them too or dogs tear them up. Or they get hit by cars...

[crazycatlady]

"If you must get them declawed, then do it. And, to those who won't declaw a cat ( that will be strickly an INDOOR cat) using the argument that it's inhumane and cruel. Well, if you will have a cat spayed or neutered that's alo painful to the animal. And, what is worse. Being left outdoors because of destroying furniture etc. Or, getting a cat declawed giving it a wonderful indoor home for the matter of a few days of discomfort? Which any vet gives pain meds for."

Declawing a cat and spaying/neutering a cat are two totally different things. We spay/neuter to cut down on the population of unwanted cats...also if a female cat is not spayed and does not have a litter, she has a high risk of developing cancer.
Declawing has no purpose except to appease a selfish owner. Declawing a cat is inhuman and complete mutilation. There is no reason for it.It does not cause the cat pain for just a "few days" it complicates balance for the lifetime of the cat. Declawing consists of removing the first knuckle of the digit. How would you like that?

On the topic...No, I do not think it's a good idea for cats to roam free. People should keep their pets indoors or safely in the yard (the run line is a great idea). If you want a pet, then take care of him/her!!!

[a mom]

if you own a pet...be responsible...what's the point of having a pet to let it run about outside?? letting a dog out to do it's business is one thing. it's just common sense.

[Jen]

crazycatlady wrote:

"If you must get them declawed, then do it. And, to those who won't declaw a cat ( that will be strickly an INDOOR cat) using the argument that it's inhumane and cruel. Well, if you will have a cat spayed or neutered that's alo painful to the animal. And, what is worse. Being left outdoors because of destroying furniture etc. Or, getting a cat declawed giving it a wonderful indoor home for the matter of a few days of discomfort? Which any vet gives pain meds for."
Declawing a cat and spaying/neutering a cat are two totally different things. We spay/neuter to cut down on the population of unwanted cats...also if a female cat is not spayed and does not have a litter, she has a high risk of developing cancer.
Declawing has no purpose except to appease a selfish owner. Declawing a cat is inhuman and complete mutilation. There is no reason for it.It does not cause the cat pain for just a "few days" it complicates balance for the lifetime of the cat. Declawing consists of removing the first knuckle of the digit. How would you like that?
On the topic...No, I do not think it's a good idea for cats to roam free. People should keep their pets indoors or safely in the yard (the run line is a great idea). If you want a pet, then take care of him/her!!!

I 100% agree if you get a pet why would you want it outside,cats being left outside is dangerous a dog can get a hold of it,a car can hit it.cats also are very curious animals i know because i have 3 that i rescued from people that thought it was a good idea to be left outside the one i just rescued in 2007 my baby he was only 9 weeks old a kitten deffently wont survive.and all of them are neutered and spayed i have 2 males and a female and i would never get them declawed either that is cruel theres stuff in petstores you can buy for your furniture so they dont claw it. and also a waterbottle works fine my cats learned from it.and if yous arent a responsable animal owner then yous shouldnt get a animal.

[cindy]

Under no terms should any cats be allowed to roam anywhere outdoors. It is rude and a nuisance. Two of my neighbors feed strays, and they have cause numerous amounts of money in property damages. The pilfer through my trash, piss on my front doors, patio furniture, and my car. They also use my rose garden as a litter box, and my whole front yard reeks of cat shit. I am severely allergic to cats, and cannot use any cushions that go on my outdoor furniture because it causes me to break out in hives. I am soon attending a city council meeting to make this problem aware.