Cat walking?

[ellokittee]

We have a 10 month old kitten who we are raising as an indoor cat. Like all cats, she is fascinated with looking out the window, and sometimes even goes so far as to try and climb the window frames. My mother-in-law purchased a small cat harness and suggested that we take her out in the garden from time to time, but I am afraid that we will be opening Pandora's box by doing so (trying to escpae out the door every time it is open and wanting out all the time). Any advice?

[Litchick]

I used to take my kitty out for a walk just with a lease attached to his collar. HE HATED THE HARNESS!  At first he didn't like the leash but after a while he got used to and did enjoy being outside.  However, it is true that once you do this, every time you open the door you face the possibility that he will bolt.   And he did sit by the door and cry to go out from time to time.  I took him out once a day in the nice weather, twice on weekends.  When I moved in with my now-husband it was in an apartment on a high floor and he stopped crying to go out.  I guess because he couldn't see the outside anymore.  I know I'm not really offering you advice, just my experience so it's a question of how much you want to put up with.  Good luck. 

[silly moo]

How cruel.
Cats are not intended to be kept indoors.
They are wild animals who choose to live with us.

[FP]

It is very harsh to call it 'cruel' to keep a cat indoors silly moo.  A cat who is brought up indoors is perfectly happy - I have three cats, two of which are indoor cats for their own safety - one is blind and one has fragile bones.  Both are rescued.  Domesticated cats are not wild animals any more than we are cave men!  As long as indoor cats have plenty to amuse them, company and food and drink, they are very happy.   More and more people are keeping cats indoors because of the danger from traffic. 

[delilahcat]

No, we aren't cavemen but neither are we locked up indoors for the whole of our lives. Cats have chosen to become domesticated for the benefits that entails, but they still retain many of the instincts of the wild. I know that many people choose to keep their cats indoors but I can't help feeling that's for their peace of mind rather than what's best for the cat. If cats were completely happy inside, why would they cry to go out or make a bolt for the door when it's opened?

I agree with sillymoo, I think it's cruel to keep an animal which retains a lot of wild instincts locked up - but that is only my opinion and I know a lot of people will disagree.

[Clare A]

I've had both indoor and outdoor cats. I don't think there's great psychological harm done in keeping a cat indoors from kittenhood. The problem may be with the intermittent going out on a harness or lead. Whereas a dog will await a 'walkies' signal from its human, a cat's not quite like that, and will expect to go out as and when it pleases, once introduced to the outside. Hence the very real risk of the kitten 'doing a runner' just when you have a few minutes (not!) to spare before going to work. If the problem is traffic on a busy road, I understand completely that kitten must be kept in. If there's any space at the back, however, she'd easily learn that that's the 'only' exit as far as she is concerned.

[ellokittee]

Cruel to keep my kitten indoors? How little you know about my situation! We rescued her from a shelter here and she was rife with health problems, she easily woould have died there had we not adopted her and spent �100's to get her back into tip-top shape. We live near a very busy road, and nearly every week there is a new dead animal body lying in the gutter. She has never been outdoors in her life, its not like I am taking something away from her that she previously had. Cats have been domesticated animals for quite a long time, if I wanted to foster a wild animal I would send my money to the plains of Afica and adopt a tiger. But, alas, I have chosen to save the life of a purr-fectly happy cat, happy to be dry and warm, have a full belly, plenty of toys and interaction, and a mummy and daddy who love her to bits. If that's cruel, then just call me Cruella DeVille.

[FP]

Well said ellokittee.  Congratulations for providing a home for this poor little mite.  I have rescued cats and dogs for years, I have also been a volunteer in an animal shelter.  I am quite 'matter of fact' about animals and do not see them as toys or for my own amusement.

I have seen the result of 'cruelty' to animals.  It is wrong to label what you are doing as 'cruel'.

Good luck with your kitten and well done for rescuing her and giving her a wonderful life.

[Noweia]

I agree with litchick.  If a cat has never been outside, it won't miss it.  The window will be a source of fascination but the cat won't have any understanding of what outside is like.  Once you take your cat out, you may find her scratching at the door!

As FP says, as long as cats have plenty of toys and scratching posts, company, food and water, they will be happy - just remember to keep your cat stimulated :)

[Englishbird]

I don't think it's 'cruel' but i do have to admit I don't think it's quite right to keep a cat indoors - but as you rightly say, we don't know your situation fully.

In answer to your question though, I think if you take her out for 'walks' she will get used to this and imho i think this is preferable to her never being allowed out.

[gingerflaps]

trust me, wether u take her 4 walks with a lead or just keeps her inside all the time she's gonna try n escape at every oppertunity. i know coz my baby is 2 yrs old her name is hugs, and wen ever the back door is open she makes a dart 4 it, she even jumps out the top windows if there open. 2 days ago i got her spayed, coz she's like hudini, she hasnt been done b4 or had any jabs coz i dont want her goin out, u never know wot will happen or wot kind of deseases she'l pik up. but i got her done to calm her down, in n out of heat every 2 weeks, get annoyin after a while

[gingerflaps]

by the way, keepin a cat indoors is just alot of peoples preference, i keep mine inside because when i was a child we had 6 or 7 cats 1 after each other, my mum let them all out and evey 1 of them died, either gettin run over or pickin up some disease after they have had their jabs. do u know wot it feels like to have half a dozen diffrent cats die in ur arms on the way to the vets to try n save the little mites. im never goin thru that agoin. my cat is perfectly happy in stayin indoors, although she'd like to get the birds in the garden. she's my baby-girl and im her mummy, and she acts like it too. she makes me laugh

[delilahcat]

OK, I admit the word cruel was extreme. It's obviously better for a cat to have a loving home than no home. All of my cats are/have been rescue cats as well.

A better way of expressing it would have been to say that I don't think it's ideal. I do think to say that if a cat has never been outside, it won't miss it is not true.You wouldn't think it was okay to keep a person locked up (for it's own good) all their life, so how can it be ideal for an animal which has far more wild instincts than humans to be similarly confined.

When ginger flaps says it's a lot of people's preference, that's exactly my point. It's people's preference, not the cat's. I just think that animals are healthier and happier being treated as animals, not as substitute babies (and there is no-one who adore their cats more than I do).

Like I said before, this is just my opinion (and I've had very happy cats all my life).

[ellokittee]

I have to say, it has been a learning experience, reading the answers to my original question. Talking with people in the UK and Ireland, I am learning that very few people keep indoor cats, whereas in the States (where I am from) it is quite a common occurence. Most cats in America, especially in city settings, that are found running free are considered to be strays or wild cats and are usually picked up by animal control officers and put up for adoption or euthenised. Multi-story apartment buildings, or buildings with common lobbies make it impossible to keep an outdoor cat.  I never realized that it would be any different here in Europe! By those standards, there wouldn't be ANY cats in New York City or any other major city! But now that I am not in a big city, I will maybe consider looking at things a different way when I am not living off of a dangerous road. Thanks for the opinions and info.  =)

[delilahcat]

ellokittee, whatever you decide I wish your cat a long and happy life. I'm glad you've adopted a rescue cat and I know she'll bring you a lot of love and happiness.

All the best for the future,

Delilahcat

[chrisandbex]

hi!

I have a 3 year old show cat called "miffy" ,he is a perfect puss  and would never hurt a fly and have a perfect attitude ! I tryed him once with a harness and leash and he hated it ,he got all depressed and violent ! so i have never used it again !! So i personally would not reccomend a cat harness and leash !

chrisandbex 

[jasperandmoo]

Hi all,

I'm going to throw another question in here...I've got 2 indoor cats both aged 4 and from a rescue centre also.  I have always felt bad (especially when other people condemn me for keeping them in) that they haven't been able to go out.  I have recently moved to another area and am considering letting them roam.  I am very converned howvever that because they are VERY friendly and docile that they may get hurt (and also a dog lives next door).  Can anyone advise how to best tackle this?  They have been out on a harness, one cat loves it the other not but they haven't caused any trouble trying to get out since!!  How can I believe they would come back!!! Thanks

[josaphine32]

I had a beautiful 5 month old kitten that i bought my daughter,unfortunately he got killed at the end of my road and we were devestated, we then made the decision to have another but it would be kept in doors, even with 2 activity centers and many toys it still got bored, cats need to be occupied as they are so inquisitive, We managed to overcome him wanting to go out with a female cat and now he is not intrested in going out as they run riot through the house.. but wouldnt try a lead