A reader mentioned that it’s about time to let Boots out . . that he should know where “home” is now. We live very near a road with quite a bit of traffic and there’s no way I’d let him out here. I do struggle with whether it’s “fair” to keep a cat inside all the time. In Texas, when he showed up as a small kitten, we figured he would last long in the woods out there. Some days I wondered how long I was going to last out there! 🙂
He’s never been out much since we got him. In the sewing room, a few times he thought he wanted out and if I was going to be outside, I’d let him out, and a few times he ran out on his own. He’d take about 6 steps beyond the sewing room and turn and run back in there.
He went out that one time here and did the same thing. Late at night when I take Rita out, there’s better light if I go out the front door so I make sure Boots is way back and I cautiously go out. He sits way back and never seems to want any part of going outside.
I’m sure that’s just learned behavior but he seem happy inside o all I can do is hope we’re doing the right thing to keep him safe.
He has not yet been microchipped. With Covid raging, I’m not willing to go anywhere and having him microchipped would meant a trip to the vet. Both of them need their nails trimmed so . . sooner or later I’m going to have to make a run to the vet . . two I guess because I can’t handle them both together.
Sara Fridley says
Our indoor cat survived for 19 years without being able to spend any significant time outside. We did let him out on the deck a few times when we knew we would be there. But having spent all that time indoors we knew he wasn’t “smart” about avoiding traffic or predators. He never seemed to mind being indoors, and he was much safer.
Dottie Newkirk says
I know in/out for cats is a personal choice for the cat owner. After “losing” a cat (when we first married 50+ years ago), I couldn’t “handle” losing another one to the outdoors if I could help it.
Our most recent (now at the rainbow bridge) cats lived 18 years in the house. A couple of time I put a leash on them to be outside for a bit and they didn’t care for that at all – they were pretty insistent that they wanted back in the house. They were just as content to look out the windows or sliders and I was just as happy to have them do that, LOL.
vivoaks says
Growing up with kitties, we always let them outside. More than one ended up flat on the road….and we lived out in the country. My last two kitties we owned never went out, and I now live in the woods, more than 300 feet back from the country road. If I ever have more kitties, I wouldn’t allow them outside at all. They don’t miss what they’ve never known and cats live longer if kept inside than those allowed outside. Boots may have started outside, but it’s been so long, I don’t think he’d miss it any.
Cindy F says
Keeping Boots inside keeps him safe and keeps birds safe. About vets….we’ve had our dog to the vet several times during covid and our vet makes us stay in the car and they come get the pets. Cats need to be in a carrier but they will come get the carrier. Maybe you could ask a vet there about that kind of service. I wore a mask when they came to get Bridger out of the car and had them use the furthest door from me. They spoke to me about any issues I had and I also paid over the phone. They brought out any meds and receipt with Bridger when they were done.
Helen says
I am an indoor cat kind of woman. I never had a cat growing up and when our children twisted my arm enough to get me to agree to getting a cat, I did much research.
My husband grew up with cats that were outdoor cats and they were always bringing “treasures“ home with them. Snakes, mice, birds – – no thank you I cannot handle that.
My cat is completely satisfied being indoors. Once in a great while she will run outside to the steps that lead into the house. That’s enough for her!
I live in the city — college town, on a street that has a good bit of traffic. I am not willing to look outside and see her laying on the street flat as a pancake.
Rosalie says
I have strictly indoor cats, in and out cats and outdoor cats. I live a good distance from a county road and even so I have had family members run over a cat in the driveway. So I am very protective of my indoor cats – they are not street savvy. Once a cat comes inside they have to convince me that they should go out. Currently I have 3 neutered males who go in and out. They don’t go far and know where the good food is!
Gwen Kuchevar says
We have always kept our cats inside, for 40 years. To our way of thinking, cats are for companionship and to catch mice. Birds live outside. We take much pleasure from feeding the birds and can’t let our feeders turn into lures for the cats.
Judy Laquidara says
You’re right. Thank you for reminding me of that. My parents feed birds and their new neighbors have cats who roam the neighborhood. They are not very happy with their neighbors.
Suzanne Golden says
Yes, you are a better fur parent by keeping Boots inside. There are people out that do not like animals and have no problem hurting them. Also with the traffic he is safer indoors. If we let our cat out, he is on a leash and only out with us.
Deborah Rhodes says
I have never had a cat but we feel better neighbors keep the cats inside. We have a sandbox for grands we have had to fence to keep outside cats out of. The neighbor beside us complains often about cat prints on their vehicles and they have kennels for bird dogs and cats can sure rile them up. If we could have kept our dogs inside we definitely would have. They are both over the rainbow now. Their old age and ours has kept us from getting another. Loving hearing about your move We have been in the same house over 30 years.
Judy Laquidara says
I’ve always felt whatever kind of pet (or kids) neighbors have is fine so long as it stays in their yard and doesn’t make aggravating noise. I can’t stand to hear a barking dog, especially at night, and I don’t want cats digging and pooping in my flower beds/garden boxes.
cindy says
I believe I remember you saying he has been declawed. If that is the case, he really needs to be an inside cat as he has no way to protect himself or climb up a tree to get away from a predator.
Judy Laquidara says
Just the front. Still has back claws, which I guess means he couldn’t climb a tree. I think he’s pretty happy inside and I’m very happy not having to worry about his safety.
Nelle Coursey says
We had an indoor cat that lived to be 24 years old. He never went out and was happy as he could be.
sheryl says
Molly Mae doesn’t go outside anymore and doesn’t want to. We used to let her out but the vet advised us that she’s better off to live inside where there aren’t highways or predators. It also reduces the risk of feline leukemia. Boots is too adorable to put outside. You’ll feel safer if you keep him with you inside.
Kimberly says
Our kitties have been inside cats since we got them. We live on a main road here and I don’t want flat cats! I also think that once a cat is an inside cat, they really wouldn’t be able to survive well outside after being spoiled with heat and food and toys on demand! If you want to take Boots outside, you may want to consider a kitty harness and walk him like you do with Rita!
Donna says
I have a neighbor that takes her cat out on a leash. There was a learning curve but now it’s no problem. She will sit on her deck with the leash under the leg of her chair and just let the cat look around. Before they go back inside she will take the cat for a walk around the yard and then he’s ready to go back inside. She doesn’t do it everyday but a couple times a week.
Elaine says
Keep him in, do not let him out. In the summer open a window with a good screen. Safety, no guilt.
Elle says
I have only had indoor cats since leaving the dairy farm I grew up on where there was little traffic and plenty of company.
My “city vet” is fine with indoor only cats. Small animals can get plenty of activity indoor-they can run a good 40 feet straight shot from one end to the other. We have lots of toys, they have their 5 level “condo” to climb/play and there are big windows to observe the world.
And taking a mature adult cat from indoor only, to outdoors is not a good idea.
Diana G says
All of my cats were on leashes, and did just fine outdoors. But we never left them outside unless we were outside, they had their harness and leash on. No birds were harmed on my watch. They were glad to be back inside after a while and one stayed inside. So it was a win win for both, birds were safe, we watched for predators and they were able to enjoy being outside for a bit.
Lee Young says
We have two kitties, both 9-yrs old, and neither have been outside aside from 1 or 2 accidental events. One was a rescue from a local facility that required a lengthy application & agreement form which states that the cat was to be STRICTLY an indoor cat…or they could return and reclaim the cat! I doubt that would ever actually happen, but I’m good with both kitties being indoor. I grew up in a rural area, cats were rarely INdoors, and previous kitties were allowed out, and I’ve lost kitties to what is outdoors, sadly. I’m in a city’s suburb, with lots of traffic, yet close to a wild area with coyotes, bobcats, and even bear, not to mention predators from the skies, so mine will stay in. Both are chipped, but neither have had shots since they were two—something I should do, but have neglected. I would love to have a safe catio enclosure so they can have fresh air, lay in sunshine, roll in dust/dirt, and chase a bug or two, and any squirrels or birds that might venture into an enclosure.
Linda in NE says
Now days it seems you make a vet appointment, arrive, call in on the cell phone to let them know you are there, wait, they come out to get the pet, you wait in the car and when finished bring it back out. The pet owner stays in the car the whole time. You either get mailed a bill or pay by credit card over the phone.
I think my cats would tear me limb from limb if I didn’t let them out! They were pretty wild when they were little and grew up outside. They want out!! I’ve never seen them go down to the busier street a block down from us & we have open fields to three sides with an abandoned house on the other. My worry was coyotes that have been known to come right into the yard. But the cats have figured out that coyotes are NOT good things and by the time I get to the door to call them in when I hear the coyotes coming across the fields the cats are already on the porch waiting for me to open the door to let them in.
Judy Laquidara says
My friend in Louisiana, that’s how her vet does it but not here.
Rebecca says
Our local humne society used to require adapted cats to be indoors-only. I have seen Boots’s behavior a lot: they think they want to see what’s on the other side of the door, but stop a few steps out!
Another advantage of a purely indoors cat is easier flea control! I guess the early settlers in San Diego mentioned fleas, and they don’t go away, sadly.
Shirley Crawford says
Indoor cats stay healthier too, no fights with other cats, no diseases transferred to your cat. I’ve had indoor cats for most of my life and most of them have lived to be at 15-18 years. We had one that lived to be 20 and we have one now that is going on 19.