Whistling Wings Outfitter
September 25, 2011 at 7:31 pm
filed under Outdoors
I have just taken on two rescue cats who have never been outdoors in their lives and they are both fully grown, will they be okay if i start letting them out. It just seems cruel to keep them cooped up.
cats can’t be confined in the house all the time. they need fresh air and exercise. however, making them an outside cat permanently, is a bad idea depending on the environment outside. example, no fenced in yard, other cats.. ect.
but if your yard does have a fence. here are some suggestions:
1. leave the door open when the cats are near it. cats are VERY CURIOUS, so they can’t help but not at least look outside. if they act like they’re not interested, leave the room and let them explore by themselves. but check on them.
2. step outside and call them to you. talk in a very gentle voice. if they are still hesitant, sit in a chair or on the ground/grass and act very comfortable and pretend not to pay attention to them. they’ll wonder what you’re doing and slowly go up to you.
3. repeat these steps everyday so they’ll get used to it. but do NOT force them. cats are also very stubborn, so if they feel you’re pushing them too much to go out, they may refuse. always talk sweetly to them.
p.s. if your yard does not have a fence, please do not keep them as outside cats! but a few hours a day with supervision (to make sure they don’t go into the streets) is fine.
good luck! and kudos to you for adopting!
petloveragain
Are you also hiring the tire that will be ending their lives?
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honeyswife
Most people will say letting them outdoors is cruel..to me some cats prefer outdoors and some prefer always being indoors. We have two outdoor cats….just let them go out a little on their own, leave the door open a bit so they can gradually venture out since they will be wary at first until they get the feel of the surroundings. We also have two strictly indoor cats as well, but they always look out the windows like they want to be out there chasing birds and climbing stuff.
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Cheekalicious
I dunno if they are comfy inside its always safer,
think about it they havent delt with cars, other cats, dogs, or poisons like out side cats have, and if they are declawed then they have no defenses to protect themselves, also if this is a new place then they might just run away.
If you want them to go outside start with you back yard so there is nothing for them to get hurt with, and leave the door open so they can come in and out and get the idea of being out side.
My cat is an inside cat, he looks out the windows like he wants to be outside but when we take him out side he freaks out and wants to be in the house, he is a scardy cat, and likes to hide from alot of things because of his personality being like I would like him to stay inside because if not he will freak out when he hears a car or anything even though he has heard it all his life. I dont want him getting squashed, eating something poisoness or having someone get ahold of him that might be cruel / mean to animals.
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Denise P
no it would be cruel to let them out, they have no idea what to do out there, they could freak out and run off, no cat should be outside, only lion and tigers
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Alex
Nah, cats are better off only being inside. As long as they have plenty of love/toys/attention, they’ll be fine!
It’s much safer for a cat to be inside anyways. Not nearly as much danger!
Best wishes!
References :
http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/our_pets_for_life_program/cat_behavior_tip_sheets/your_cat_indoors_or_out.html
http://cats.about.com/od/indoorsvsoutdoors/tp/keepindoors.htm
Ani
No, keep them as indoor cats only!
First off, these cats won’t know how to cope outdoors. For example, something may spook them and they could take off and run in front of a car.
Second, cats that live outdoors, even for only part of the time have a shorter life span because they get exposed to a lot of stuff that can make them sick (or they get run over by cars).
They are inside cats, leave them inside.
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Keza
My advice would be to keep them in specially as there older and used to being kept in there much safer and will live much longer. Outside they got the risk of being hit by a car, injured by other cats in the area, hurt by humans the list goes on. When cats are outside cats there are high vet bills and endless problems.
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Trainee veterinary nurse and cattery assistant
A M
Don’t let them outdoors. It puts them at risk for being hit by a car, being attacked by other animals, or getting lost.
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LAURIE
.It’s more cruel to let them out in this day and age. Too many disasters: cars, cruel people, dogs and diseases can shorten their lives. My cats are indoor and they have shown no ill effects and enjoy there long healthy lives. It would even be more hazardous since they are used to the protection you have provided indoors
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xyzzybaluba
It is only OK if you have a fenced in yard where other animals (especially dogs) cannot get to the cats. When you first start letting them out…make sure you are home so they can come in when they want.
Some people will demonize you for wanting to let the cats outdoors. Don’t listen…there are safety measures that you can take to protect them. The main one is a fenced yard for them to safely play in.
The majority of my outdoor cats stay within the fence. Only the younger males venture into the front yard, and rarely do they cross the street. The street is where their main danger lies. I let most of them come and go as they please inside and out. There are a couple that want nothing to do with the outside world. Even have a couple that are happy living outside. They have a safe, fenced in yard; plenty of shelter and fresh food and water…they are in kitty heaven.
But remember…they may not want to be outdoor cats. Please do not force the issue.
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Owned by Indoor/Outdoor cats
BVC_asst
Please, keep them inside. The cruelty would be to allow them to roam, especially if you are in a suburban area. For their sake, keep them as indoor cats or do give them back to the rescue. I’m pretty sure if the rescue thought they would be outdoor cats, they wouldn’t have allowed you to take them in.
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frank m
I have a cat who would rather die than be an indoor cat. This cat hunts like a natural born killer in the summer and stays out day and night always close to the house. It’s winter now and it’s like -25 F and I don’t let her out because of the cold and she is tearing my carpets, bedding, furniture and spreads her and the dogs toys all over the house. She doesn’t do this when she has outdoor time. Cats are smart animals and I wouldn’t worry too much about their safety as long as they have claws and are familiar with dogs. If they want to go out, let them, if they would rather be indoors, that’s okay too. Let the cat’s decide for themselves.
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Becksstein
Being inside is safer, but you can always get them a cat harness and sit with them outside….they also sell these contraptions that can be set up in the yard that are similar to dog cages but very big and collapsible that you can leave them in safely if you want to go in the house while they stay outside. Just try to watch them regardless if you use a tool or not for them to be outside.
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Although my current cats are indoors now due to my apartment in the city, I had two outdoor cats that lived to be 18 and 20. I have only had my current cats and the other two my whole life.
jamers
Well keep in mind that letting them out will bring out the wild in them. They will learn to hunt and kill, annoy neighbors… So make sure you dont need to worry about any neighbors that would hurt/poison them and any neighbors that may have outdoor aviaries or bird feeders.
We have one cat that we sometimes let outside, but she goes out and smells other cat’s spray and wants to come in and spray and pick fights. She kills birds every time she goes out and leaves feathers everywhere, poops in the planters… She’s just a pain. Cats will be completely happy indoors if they have entertainment, fish tank to watch, toys, bird feeders outside near the windows…
Otherwise if you are sure you want to let them out, try propping open your door when you are home so they can go in and out as they please. Eventually they may never want to come in. If you make them permanent oudoor cats they may want to come in all the time and start scratching windows, climbing screens… It really depends on the cat
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ToSunnyMexico
It isn’t cruel to keep them indoors. It is cruel to let them out, especially if they are adult cats used to being indoors. They don’t have the necessary survival skills at this point. It will stress the cats out to be put out. Be kind and let them stay indoors.
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ROBIN!!!
nope dont let them out! once an indoor cat always an indoor cat! it will cost more if u let them out!
PLEASE DONT! there is so many dangers!
as long as they r not in one rom they’ll be fine indoors!
i keep my kitty indoors! and she doesnt even seem to want to go out yet! please dont. let. them. out!
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flutter.
cats can’t be confined in the house all the time. they need fresh air and exercise. however, making them an outside cat permanently, is a bad idea depending on the environment outside. example, no fenced in yard, other cats.. ect.
but if your yard does have a fence. here are some suggestions:
1. leave the door open when the cats are near it. cats are VERY CURIOUS, so they can’t help but not at least look outside. if they act like they’re not interested, leave the room and let them explore by themselves. but check on them.
2. step outside and call them to you. talk in a very gentle voice. if they are still hesitant, sit in a chair or on the ground/grass and act very comfortable and pretend not to pay attention to them. they’ll wonder what you’re doing and slowly go up to you.
3. repeat these steps everyday so they’ll get used to it. but do NOT force them. cats are also very stubborn, so if they feel you’re pushing them too much to go out, they may refuse. always talk sweetly to them.
p.s. if your yard does not have a fence, please do not keep them as outside cats! but a few hours a day with supervision (to make sure they don’t go into the streets) is fine.
good luck! and kudos to you for adopting!
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Windi Lea
If they are used to staying indoors, they don’t know what they are missing, and don’t feel cooped up. There are plenty of great toys that are interactive that will give them fun indoors – some of the best are the cheapest. Paper grocery bags, boxes, plastic bottle caps, etc. You can get really creative and glue some boxes together, cutting holes between them for the cats to crawl through and explore, then decorate the outside so it looks attractive and blends with your decor. If you put a bird feeder outside the best cat-sitting-in window, that will be like cat tv.
There are no good ways to educate a cat about the dangers of the outside world – traffic, dogs, other cats, wild animals (there are coyotes living in the middle of San Francisco, there might be more near you than you think). So they will not have the knowledge to keep themselves safe out there.
I have good stout harnesses, with metal buckles rather than plastic sliders, that I put on my cats so I can take them out with me sometimes on a leash. My cats used to be indoor-outdoor cats, but they have successfully made the transition to indoor cats. They appear happy and healthy, and content. Cats that have never been out, can certainly stay in, and stay happy.
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Luna
i think it’s crueler to let them out, you keep them in to protect them from things like cars, poisons, pools, other animals, traps, wires, construction, and just mean people… there’s a huge danger to letting them outside. your doing them a much bigger service keeping them inside. if you play with them and buy them toys they’ll be perfectly happy. my 2 indoor cats have no desire to go outside. whereas my boyfriends family has lost each of their outdoor cats to one of the causes above.
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judyrae41
Since they have been indoor cats & are adult cats, keep them inside.
There are so many dangers to outside cats such as cars, stupid people, other animals & disease.
I have to ask how people keep their cats from climbing over the fence? We have a very large, fenced in back yard & my smallest cat has always been very interested in the fence. We never let them outside unless my husband or I are with them & when we first started taking them out into the backyard, they went on leashes (they are both harness & leash trained)
Give your new cats lots of toys (paper bags are great) & they will be fine.
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