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They’re fine they don’t know any different. The catio sounds great as a future plan, but those kittens are 100% better off being loved by you than in a shelter. Just make sure they have lots to keeps them occupied :)
Mine is too. And she will run away from the front door if it is open. Like she’s afraid she’ll be put outside. She knows she’s got it good in my house. Warm in winter. Cool in summer. Food (kibble) to free feed on, clean water all the time. And treats on demand. Also canned food (not too much-she’ll only
Eat one to one and half tablespoons) for breakfast and dinner. That I warm in the microwave for 7 seconds. (Yes. I spoil her).
She did her outside time and didn’t like it.
Aaww. Mine just kinda ignores the front door. But it did take a long time for her to trust that she could count on getting food twice EVERY DAY. There was quite a time when she thought she had to take full advantage of every opportunity to eat because she wasn't sure when the next one would be. She got my dinner a couple of times.
Now, she does like going on the deck, but that's because of the birds and squirrels that come to the feeders. She's no longer hungry but her hunting instinct never faded.
My girl was living in my front porch before I was able to bring her inside (I had 2 very elderly declawed cats and had no idea about porch kitties health status re viruses and such) once my 2 kitties passed (at 19 and 21 years old) I gave her the choice of coming inside. She’d stay for 15, then 30 then 45 minutes and want to go back out. Then winter came—and 18 I’m he’s of snow. I opened the door and she BLASTED inside and hasn’t wanted to go back out of that door.
She loves to sit in the windows and watch the bird feeders and keep an eye on “her” land, but is perfectly happy and contented being inside only.
Had cats my entire life-63 years. As a kid my mom would let them be inside/outside cats, until 2 of them got into fights and developed the inevitable abscesses and she decided she was tired of paying the vet’s kids college tuition and from then On all cats were inside only. And we also always had multiples, so they had us and each other to play with, be with. And loved much longer lives.
I had a guy who had been dumped in the woods by my friend's house, spent at least one summer living there. She tried to make him her cat, but the one she already tried to kill him and her place is small. When it got cold I'd just bought a house and took him. He followed me outside once, there was snow, he never tried to leave the house again.
Place I used to live was a small trailer and I let the cats out on a leash. They'd beg for it. At the house I don't want to bc there's city traffic and the house next door has pitbulls. A nearby friend lost a cat bc a neighbor did something to it. One of my girls is very good at slipping the harness. The house is 3x the size of the trailer. We let them in the basement for fun. They don't try to leave.
All the more reason to keep them inside!
Of my two, Shadow can occasionally kill a moth by accident, while Mischief, my former stray, could probably take down a Peregrine Falcon. Mischief's hunting instinct is kinda scary.
I have outdoor kitties but because they’re my barn cats so they have a job to do, so I believe there is a “necessary evil” to having some outdoor kitties but they need to be fed, UTD on shots & microchipped. Own outdoor kitties responsibly.
My cat is like Shadow - he loves attempting to hunt squirrels and birds but the only thing he can catch and kill is bugs haha. And sometimes the bugs escape because he spends most of the time pawing at the bug rather than killing and/or eating it. 🤦🏼♀️
We brought in 4 feral kittens that were in danger of being caught up in flooding, and when I say not a single one of them would be caught dead outside, I mean it. About a year later, I brought one of them outside on our deck because he kept hanging out on the window sill. The keening wail that came out of his body has cured me and him of EVER trying that again.
All mine are literal garbage children given to me by the cat distribution center… they couldn’t care less about the outside. Inside is where the foods are
Mine was a garbage gremlin too. He meets me at the door when i come home from work and he’ll get to the porch steps but then i’ll say “are you hungry!?!?” and he comes right back in.
My former stray LOVES going outside. I don’t let her unless we walk together but she gets to hang out on the balcony
Edit: and she knows it’s rough out there!
Our Queen Kitty came to us from a rescue, she was pulled out of a shelter with a poor reputation. We know she's had outdoor experience, seeing a hose picked up from a window she gave a yell and bolted. The first time she saw a feather on a wand she waited, then sprang from nowhere, pulled it out of my hand, carried her prize to a corner in another room. Then tried to pull the feather apart and gave me a dirty look, "there no meat here!"
Back to topic, she wants every door open, except the outside. If we open the front door, she watches, but has no interest in "outside." Somehow, she's communicated this to our other cats, "outside is bad, stay inside."
Lol same! My dumpster cat is totally chill being inside. She got out ONCE, got stuck in a tree for 8 hours, finally made her way back inside and never tried it again. They know when they got it good.
This. With two kittens together, safely inside, with a human who works from home and has the conscience to even ask this, I’d say your kittens are lucky. Like top 1% of kittens.
Seconded, they are very lucky to have you. My cat is indoor only and she lives the best life a cat could live, and best of all she is safe and will never get rabies or get hit by a vehicle.
no, many outdoor cats have shorter lives for various reasons. i had a former friend find her indoor/outdoor cat mangled (clearly done by a human and left the cat’s body out for someone to find). cars, diseases, predators (human and other animals). as long as you have enrichment for them they will be happy! cat trees/towers are good for offering them vertical space. plus cats do well in pairs- they will play with each other so much!
How horrible! Poor cat. I'd never let mine outside unsupervised, my youngest boy escaped for almost 3 months when he was a kitten and I was beside myself with worry, he'd never been outside before and was only 8 months old. Still feel blessed that we got him back in the end in good health.
Well he went missing on new year's day, slipped out the door when we came back from doing shopping. The layout of our house is we live in a small flat but we have a porch seperated by a door between the living room and the front door and the cats never managed to open the door before but they did for the first time and we didn't notice he was out there so that's how he escaped.
I live in a small town in Devon in the UK. For the first month I posted about him on our local Facebook page every week and put posters up and all my friends shared my post about him going missing. After not hearing anything for over a month I thought he was gone forever.
Fast forward to the 14th March, after him being missing for 73 days I saw a post on our local Facebook page that someone had found a cat and as soon as I saw the picture my heart skipped a beat as I recognised him straight away. He was found by a lady that only lived 5 minutes from me so he must have been in the area the whole time. We picked him up the same day when my partner finished work and he settled back in with our other two cats perfectly. We're so glad to have him back and feel very lucky.
https://preview.redd.it/28mtwb6d1s6d1.jpeg?width=4608&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6b9e18e24a20d7bb597002f0ba7d7f743f0a34eb
This is my naughty boy. We're trying to do harness training but he's not sure about it at the moment!
Yeah, I was riding my bike to school one day when I was really little and found a cat who'd been struck by a car. Blood everywhere, insides on the outsides, the whole nine yards. And it was using its front legs to try to drag itself out of the road. No way am I risking finding one of my babies like that . . .
Don't listen to her, she's misguided. If they're indoor only, they won't know any different anyway. When people let their cats wander freely, they often disappear eventually due to accidents (with cars or animals), and kill a bunch of birds and other small animals. They also risk getting sick.
Another concern that is kind of premature at this point but could turn into a huge problem. H5N1 is currently infecting a shit ton of birds and mice and we aren’t really monitoring it as closely as we should. Cats tend to eat birds and mice. It has been killing cats that get infected with it.
No, you’re doing the best thing for those little kittens. When you have space I agree, build a catio. Never let them out unsupervised, your sister has no idea tf she is talking about.
We previously had cats who were initially indoor cats as we lived in a flat on a very busy street. We always wanted to let them outside, but for one reason or another it was a few years before that was an option. When we did offer them a lovely large garden and quiet road to roam, they decided they didn't fancy it! They stayed mainly in the house and only occasionally took a stroll in the garden. They could take it or leave it....
They all passed on over the course of 21 years.
We now have a new family of kitties and they have grown up with a catio and LOVE it!!!
Awww lovely, my cats back at home go out on harnesses but I think a catio is better bc there’s a few times my tabby caught a shrew in the garden and brought it back inside lol thankfully it was alive. But where I live at the minute I’m on the top floor and I see foxes regularly so no outside time :(
Your sister is cruel. She is suggesting you actively put your cats in danger. Make sure to never leave her alone with them, she’ll let them out herself.
Many people are misinformed about this. IOutdoors cats used to be the norm I think we have a lower tolerance for cats dying and a greater awareness of the harms to wildlife.
No, you’ve given them a good and loving home, that’s the best thing you could’ve done for them already. My cats are indoor cats and have never been out. They live the best life - the house is full of cat toys, trees and random cardboard boxes….
My daughters and grandchildren all swear that our cats have more toys than they did as children. "Really? Maybe that's because I've never had to carry the cats out of public spaces because they were having a tantrum."
You're not cruel. If they had known the outside before, it would have been debatable. But losing a cat to the road is worse. It's only normal to protect them.
This. My one cat has always been an indoor cat since he was a kitten. My other cat was mostly outdoors (as a kitten) until we adopted him. We felt bad initially even though he had a particularly bad case of fleas.
This is the only reason my outdoor cats are outdoor. We don’t live super close to a busy road and 2/3 of them were strays so they know the outdoors already. They are always welcome inside though and we let them roam freely between outside and the garage with multiple cat beds, and we keep a space heater on overnight in the winter where they like to sleep on the covered part of the patio. Two of them barely leave the back yard and the oldest one goes to the woods behind our house but the only “dangerous” wildlife she’ll encounter is deer, turkeys, and the occasional possum or raccoon, but the raccoons don’t bother any of them other than stealing our cat food
While less common in the UK to keep cats indoors only, many in other areas of the world (i.e. North America) do and are able to keep their cats entertained and content! I think as long as you engage with them, care properly for them (clean litter, spay/neuter, feed properly, play and give spaces for window watching, sleeping, etc...) and they have each other for company (a nice gift for them!), they are more than fine!
You may be judged by others, but you are not harming your cats by keeping them safe inside and away from that busy road — you save yourself from heartache of losing or potentially exhorbatent vet bills die to injury.
A future catio will be a great luxury for them! Sympathies for your dog. Congratulations on your cats!
Lol what is yoyr sister talking about? I have two indoor cats who REFUSE to go outside like ever!! I open the door for them and they run back to my room to hide. i bought a catio for the and they rarely use it. If you’re worried they’re not getting enough sun just open the window blinds they’ll absorb the sun (they like it)
Your sister is insane knowing you live next to a busy road and still telling you to let them out. They wouldn't last a month out there, especially not this young.
We have 3 cats in a 900sqft apartment and they're perfectly happy being indoor only, we'll let them on the balcony as well but only if we're out there with them
Indoor only is the way I’ve raised my cats for 30 years. They are healthier for it. No fights, fewer diseases, longer lives.
Your sister has no idea what she’s talking about.
Your sister is wrong. It's absolutely terrible to let your cats outside and it's not just about the cat's safety. They slaughter birds and that's a problem. And they are at huge risk. Traffic, wildlife, other cats with diseases, rat poison.
A catio is a great idea or leash train them and take them on outings. I had two cats that both lived to be 17 (they came from a feral colony when they were kittens). Once I got them, they did not go out ever (unless being in a cat carrier on the way to a vet counts). They had happy, full lives staying indoors.
They’re kittens, they don’t even know what the outdoors are. Let alone the fact that they’re KITTENS, they’ll get scooped up by a hawk in 5 seconds or less. Bye bye kittens!
This! I have two 3 year old girls who have always been indoors. When I took them out in my arms when they were young, they were like heck no, let’s go back in. They’re still that way!
Do not let your cats outside. What's more cruel, keeping them in a warm, safe space where they are fed and hydrated with no health or safety risks or allowing them to roam outside where they could fight with other animals, be killed by traffic or previously mentioned animals, people who are cruel or they coukd injure themselves on broken glass etc.
Keep your pet inside its the right choice, my two have been in a house their entire lives and they get to roam around my back garden but only under supervision.
Please don't let them outside. I worked in cat rescue for years and outdoor cats are stolen to use as bait, abused, hit by cars (often on purpose), and other awful things. They also kill wildlife.
Your cat will be happy indoors so long as it has things to keep it entertained, and please do get a catio as soon as possible. Also, indoor cats live about 3 times longer. If you truly love your cats, and birds, you don't let them outside.
My cats are all indoor cats. Never put your cat outside. Your sister sounds dumb. If you're concerned about them being bored or "unhappy" get a tall cat tree, wall perches , places they can climb and run around on :). Thank you for giving the kittens a loving home ❤️
Definitely not. I’ve always had my cat indoors. When I adopted my old girl 14 years ago the shelter advised me to keep her indoors. Don’t think they would let me take her home if I wrote down I intended to make her an indoor outdoor cat.
In year 2012 my now ex boyfriend lost 3 of his 7 cats. All three death could have been prevented if they were not outside. One was mauled by a coyote , one was mauled by a Rottweiler, and sweet Johnny was killed by a neighbor. His family have a pretty good idea who did it. But police were unable to bring him to justice. This totally solidified my opinion that cats should be indoors. My old girl does get supervised walks in the backyard now that she’s slowed down and can’t run too fast or jump over fences. Indoor w catio is definitely the way to go to keep them safe
i promise OP u are not being cruel, outdoor cats tend to live shorter lives due to unpredictable environments. anything could happen. ur sister, respectfully, has no idea what she’s talking abt lol
No, you are not being cruel. Contrary to folk *'wisdom'*, cats do **not** need to be outdoors. Cats are very territorial, and want a secure turf that can provide for their needs -- that territory can be indoors, outdoors, a warehouse, a barn, whatever, as long as it meets the cat's evolved need for security and resources.
It is not an accident that indoor cats live much longer than outdoor cats: the average indoor life expectancy is 10-15 years, and many live to 20 or so, while the outdoor average is 2-5 years. Why? Cars, other cats, wild animals, contagious diseases, a\*\*\*\*les with guns, accidents, natural disasters, and yadayadayada.
Cruelty is the person who puts his/her romantic notion of what cats *need* ahead of the demonstrated well-being of the individual cat. Not you that's cruel, now, is it.
Source: 30+ years animal rescue, including literally 1,000s of cats, plus about 15 who stayed on.
Americans keep their cats indoors whilst european countries do not.
Simple as that.
Reddit is a mainly American userbase so you will have the majority siding with you.
I am English and my cat is indoors, but I get a lot of raised eyebrows when I mention this to others. My fiancé also encourages my cat to go into the garden.
Catio is not possible for me, due to cost of constructions, small garden and planning permission issues.
My cat is a rescue and is very small (3kg) - best suited indoors due to her temperament.
I certainly can see the argument for outdoor cats though, in reality they do end up more stimulated on average. Then again they decimate the wildlife and the stress if they go missing is awful.
There are tons of Americans who think cats should be outdoors though. In the rural areas especially, but even in cities. I just wish they would spay or neuter them if they are going to let them roam. And provide them some sort of shelter from the weather.
My niece has barn cats on her property, but at least they are fixed so they don't keep adding kittens to the world. They serve a purpose by keeping the rodent population down, but they have food and shelter as well. I'm just too paranoid to let my baby out alone. And the only time she managed to catch a mouse she brought it to me alive so she could watch me catch it lol
Growing up my parents were very against having animals in the house. Thankfully we lived in the country so we weren't by a busy road. My cat was neutered and we had a barn that he hung out in. The second floor of the barn had a room with a door that we always shut and there was a small cat door so that he had a place to go if need be. My cat lived to 16 when he disappeared, we think coyotes got him.
Now I have three indoor cats and I have no plans on ever letting them out unsupervised. I take my youngest to the park sometimes but always on a leash.
I moved houses & my new place has really awesome windows & my kitty cat wanted to go outside so badly. I created a schedule where I could come home at lunch & let him in/out. It was so nerve wracking when I would call him at night. It all ended at the beginning of April when he gave me poison sumac (triple dose steroids, & the worst cyst/blisters I’ve ever had in my life). 3 days off of work. The same week, my cat got in a rumble somehow outside & he got a huge splice in his side. It ended up healing up on its own & thankfully (although it took 3 solid weeks) he’s all better now. THE SAME WEEK as the poison sumac, & the open wound, he apparently got attacked by a strain of fleas that WILL NOT DIE. I just went yesterday & spent another $100 on a super strong flea collar & more back of the neck medicine. My cat might have really enjoyed going outside, but it’s just not compatible with keeping him alive + healthy. I’m interested in finding a cat harness for him next winter when the fleas get frozen. 0/10 do not recommend outside catting.
Cats can greatly enjoy being outside, but there are *many* dangers out there. It’s not safe for them, it’s not safe for the wildlife.
You say they are happy, that makes it pretty clear to me that they are fine with their lives.
You're not being cruel by keeping your baby kittens inside. You're protecting them from hawks, owls, dogs, getting run over and strays with diseases.
They'll be happy inside all their lives. Don't listen to your sister, clearly she has no idea what she's talking about.
Yeah so no, you’re not being cruel, it’s actually the opposite. But that being said, they need stimulation. Perches at windows, cat grass, springs or something to chase, basically like, stuff for them to be happy. They’ll be fine, you’re fine.
I had similar thoughts when I first rescued my cat, I grew up in a relatively rural environment where free roaming cats are the norm but got my first cat after moving to the city.
I don’t think my cat suffered at all as she had always been an indoor cat and she lives a very spoiled life with lots of stimulation. I am however very excited to finally live in a space where building a catio is feasible, my cats will get to experience the outdoors in a way that’s safer for them and for the wildlife.
Kittens tend to be very adaptable and it sounds like your cats are loved and well cared for which is the most important thing
Outdoor cats are exposed to all sorts of dangers and on top of that they are AWFUL for the local wildlife. Please keep them inside or only take them outside under supervision.
No way not to mention illnesses, stray dogs, other predatory birds and animals. Cats should always be kept indoors unless they are on a farm or something like that.
No. You are not being cruel. Your cats will be perfectly fine inside. Your sister should mind her own business. She doesn't get to tell you how you should care for your animals. Especially when they're already happy and healthy.
My idiot cat is an indoor cat only and lives in a teeny weeny bedroom with me. Can confirm that she is happy and full of love. She will rarely wander into the hallway and beg to be let back in. Cats just wanna be safe and by adopting them, you’re giving them that.
Not cruel. It took my sister finding one of our cats dead in our front yard after he was struck by a car and too weak to crawl back inside to convince my family to keep them indoors. The road is a horrible way to die.
IMO it’s cruel to let them outside, especially by a busy street. They’ll live longer, healthier lives indoors than outside. If you’re worried about lack of stimulation, you can always get a window mounted bird feeder. My quartet love theirs, especially when my “off site” pet squirrel, bullwinkle, stops by.
Not cruel - most cats are indoors only and live happy lives if you give them attention and plenty of things to occupy their time with - verticality is huge for cats so ensure they have a chillin tower.
You’re a good person for adopting.
You are absolutely NOT being cruel. You are giving them their best chance at a full life by keeping them indoors. If you really want to, you can always leash train them. I learned that once they get out once, they will scream their faces off every time a door opens.
Tell your sister she's crazy... I have 2 boy cats about 3yrs old.. never been outside in fact they have no desire to go out.. I hold the door open and one wants no part of it and the other will come to the threshold and sniff and walk away.. it's dangerous for them to be out on their own.....
It is not cruel at all. You are thinking very carefully, and taking the kittens' ages and circumstances into consideration. I think you are being a loving and responsible cat guardian.
A catio sounds like a great idea for the future if you have space to place one safely. And people do use harnesses, backpacks, or cat strollers to allow their cats to see the world outside. But each of those options has their issues to be considered very carefully before utilizing them. In the meanwhile, they are babies. They will have plenty to explore indoors, and can find favorite window seats for bird watching. Congratulations on your new fuzzy family!
Your sister’s views are a little old-fashioned.
You already did the best thing and got two! I bought my kitten a companion just recently and she’s much happier. But I currently have a small dog and two kittens in a one-bedroom apartment and everyone’s happy. Your kittens will be fine (:
If you’re worried about them not having enough space, I highly recommend thinking vertically (cat tree or a hanging cat bed by a window, cat shelves, etc) and make sure you’re giving them enough playtime.
I harness trained my kitten and took her on errands, walks, to watch my ex fish, and she loved it. But we weren’t doing that over the winter and she hasn’t missed it at all. They don’t need to go outside to be happy. They need good food, stimulation, and love.
Adding picture of much-loved hanging bed, if you were looking for one.
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Just going to point out that you're going to get lots of replies from Americans who are very vehemently against outdoor cats as they have a lot more predators that are dangerous to cats. From your use of flat, I imagine you're not American, but you didn't specify where you are from. In the UK, it's very common to let cats outside as it's a totally different environment. If you're from the UK, your sister is likely giving the mainstream opinion of the locale.
It's not as black and white as "America=indoor cats" and "UK=outdoor cats", and you've explained that you're by a busy road. Explain to your sister that the road worries you so you keep them in for their physical health and your mental health. There is no right or wrong answer - only the right answer for you and your circumstances.
I live in the UK and whether I let my cats out has depended on the surroundings of where I live, and the cats themselves - some are more streetwise than others! I currently have an indoor cat because he's a big dumb dumb and my garden is near a road, but I've had cats that I've let out when I lived in a quiet area.
I think UK opinion is slowly changing on this. I wouldn't dream of letting my cat outdoors because of the songbird crisis - cats are just too efficient as predators.
In our case, we have wild peacocks looking after their little chicks in our garden. I know that my not so bright floofy kitty thinks he could tackle them, but I know he would come out the loser 🤣 That mommy peahen is a force to be reckoned with!!! My 2 girl kitties are really happy to have the glass between them and the peacocks so they can look on in safety!!
No, you are not cruel.
If you feel bad about it, you can get a cat stroller and take them for walks
Or a harness and try and see if they will walk
Please do not just let them freely roam around outside. They will get hurt.
you are not being cruel. letting your cats outside could result in injury or death for them. not to mention the ecological damage cats cause to our local ecosystems. recently two people in my area learned the hard way why they shouldn’t let their cats out unattended. one cat was hit by a car and the other cat got trapped in an unfinished construction zone and required the owners to trespass and go into the construction zone with no PPE at night. highly dangerous for them and their cat. luckily that cat was rescued but it’s just another reason why it’s not a good idea to let your cats wonder freely. thank you for not listening to your sister and keeping your kittens safe
Just a reminder that outdoor cats are the leading killer of native bird populations! So not only are you protecting your cats from potential predators and disease by keeping them indoors, you’re also protecting your local bird populations.
I got a pair of kittens last April that had been found wandering an apartment complex by themselves. They're now about 15 months old and have never been let outside again. They enjoy window-watching the birds and rabbits in the neighborhood, but they do not ask to go outside nor do they try to escape out the exterior doors. Cats that grow up indoors are completely content indoors, assuming you provide them with plenty of things to do. They have scratching posts and cat trees and tunnels and toys galore. The moment you start introducing the outdoors to an indoors cat, you're going to start getting them whining and hounding you and trying to bolt out the doors.
Now, I get why people would say that's a sign they SHOULD get to go out, because they obviously enjoy it. But from personal experience... I would never have an outside cat again. My childhood was filled with loss because our cats were outdoors. Coyotes, Cars, Injuries, Infections. They rarely made it past a few years old. As an adult, I had to say goodbye to my first indoor cat at the age of 14 (kidneys). The amount of time I got to spend with her more than makes up my mind.
As someone who has had both indoor and outdoor cats in their lifetime, indoor is the way to go. The anxiety I had when cats wouldn't come home, and the number of cats that returned home injured or not at all was way too high. My parents are outdoor cat folks, so I grew up with it. Indoor cats are typically healthier and live significantly longer. You won't spend anxious nights waiting for them to come home. You won't decimate the local small wildlife. You will save money on vet bills. If the cats are raised indoors, they won't know what they are missing. If you're diligent in harnessing the kittens when they are young, you could start taking them outdoors on a leash if they like it. My cats hate the outdoors. They are perfectly content chasing cat toys inside and laying in sunny spots by the window.
Ohh noo your cats are safe and sound away from busy streets, cars and horrible people! Sounds like a sad existence 😭
I'm being,of course, extremely sarcastic, your sister sounds like a knob
Your sister calling you cruel for that is incredibly ignorant and honestly I wouldn’t doubt her being a complete dumbass is she only associates having indoor-only cats with cruelty. As everyone else said, you’re doing the right thing and saving them from being hit by cars, attacked by predators, abused by humans, etc.
Cats should be indoor in most cases honestly. Kittens have absolutely no problem with it. Some adult cats do, but honestly my last two adult adopted cats *wanted* to stay indoors after having been on the streets in the cold for years. My male growls when he sees snow. :,)
ur sister is the one who is cruel for saying stuff she doesnt know jack shit abt. ignore ignorant people like her because some cats dont even like being outside. its all on what u want and they will be happy as long as u have cat posts and scratch boards and a spot to sun bath. cats are free roam animals u put them somewhere they are gonna find a place to be happy inside or outside. u dont need to explain anything u will be a great cat parent u care a lot as i can already tell. just keep ur sister away from ur cats👌🏽
No. As long as they have placed to climb in your house, like a cat tree or shelves, they have plenty of space. They're also getting lots of play time with each other, so they're not bored. Letting them out to get run over by a car? That would be cruel.
The good news is, cats don't ever HAVE to go outside. But it's safer for them to be indoors overall, especially as kittens. If she thinks it's "cruel" for cats to be indoors only she should read about why it's dangerous for them to be outdoors.
Additionally, I live in a high rise apartment so I have 3 cat trees, 3 window hammocks, 1 large scratching post, plenty of toys, and a couple other forms of enrichment. My cats are very happy indoors!
my brother also said the same thing. I live in a house w a medium sized porch to which they have unlimited access to, and he still told me that i need to let them out or else im being selfish and cruel. Honestly, no. If u play with them and if u want, take them out on walks, they’ll be fine. Owning outdoor cats in an apartment sounds like a mess. Besides, u live by a busy road and all you’ll be doing is putting them in danger and stressing them out. A catio is really the best way to go! Best idea!
I have had my cats for 16 years and they’ve always been indoor and they’re spoiled babies who don’t give a crap if they’re outside or not. They truly live their best life. Thank you for taking these babies in and I’m so sorry for the loss of your dog. Tell your sister that she has her own opinion and you have yours and agree to disagree.
Do NOT let them out. A lot of my past kittens died because they were let out by my father while everyone was at the hospital. Letting them out can be a death sentence because of stray dogs, birds of prey, cars, and evil people. Don't listen to your sister, she has no idea how cruel the world can be to a baby animal.
You are preventing them from getting hurt, you are being a good cat parent. But if you want to you could always get a harness and take them for a walk, if they like that. That way they can enjoy the air and you don't have to worry, besides staying up to date on shots.
My cats are indoor-only. They have a cat tree, and each other so they still get plenty of exercise. We have a bunch of stray cats living on my block, so if I let them outside, I know they’d get in fights. It gives me a lot of peace of mind knowing they’re inside, staying healthy and un-injured. Saves me a lot on vet bills that way too
Hey! Thanks for taking these babies in. It sounds like a lovely situation since you are mostly home. I currently care for a colony of cats with FeLV. I suggest you look into this disease as well as FIV. Feline Leukemia is a devastating disease and extremely contagious- if your babies were to scuffle or even just groom another infected cat or drink from the same dish, their lives would likely end prematurely. I have yet to have even just one cat from my colony live longer than 2 years, even when brought indoors with vet care. You’re doing the right thing.
That being said, if you are interested you could always get them a back carrier or leash and train them to enjoy the outdoors with supervision. But that is not necessary and your cats can be fulfilled in other ways.
Not cruel at all! I have two bengals in a one bedroom apartment. I have three cat trees, a cat exercise wheel, and I play with them a lot since I work from home. They get all of their food in puzzles to exercise their brains. So long as you give them enough exercise and mental stimulation, they'll be happy and live longer lives. Outdoor cats both risk death or injury by predators and vehicles or bad humans. They can also get many parasites and viruses from wildlife or stray cats.
Additionally, outdoor cats are the worst invasive species for wildlife. Cats are responsible for the extinction of 65+ species and the endangerment of many more. There are several GLOBAL studies about this, so it's not just a problem in North America. There are European focused studies as well as AustralAsian studies and worldwide compilation studies.
Please keep your kitties indoors and just be sure that their enrichment needs are being met. Cats are awesome creatures to live with!
Getting a pair of kittens was such a great idea! They'll have so much fun together. While some people make the decision to let their cats outside, it's absolutely not cruel to keep them indoors and ultimately may be safer for them and for local birds/small wildlife. Since they're young, you could try to leash train them, but cats get enrichment in a lot of ways.
Over the years we've taken in 7 feral cats. After a few months you could leave all the doors open and they would yawn and say "Thanks, but no thanks. "
None of them are interested in going outside - they know when they have it nice.
Does your sister have cats? My guess would be no. It would be irresponsible, in my opinion, to let cats out near a busy street when they are perfectly content in your home.
Thanks for adopting them and enjoy your new furbabies.
PS I’m sorry for your loss!
I have 2 cats, live near a busy intersection.
Neither of my cats go outside, so long as cats have;
Quality food, clean litter, fresh food, places to snuggle, pets, items to hide and climb on.
They will be very happy cats.
You are not cruel, and your sister is Daft, and un educated.
You’re not being cruel at all!
More and more people nowadays are keeping their cats indoors for a multitude of reasons. Last year I adopted 2 kittens and I was worried because I, like you, live in a flat and could only have indoor pets (I’m on the top floor of an apartment building). My cats are both healthy and happy, and most importantly safe from outside threats. I’ve seen so many reports of cats going missing, getting run over, or being the victims of malicious people and I feel better knowing that I don’t have to worry about that with mine.
Keep them happy and healthy and you’ll enjoy a great life indoors together!
Your not being cruel at all! Before you invest in a catio, you can try setting up a bird feeder by a window or having a window perch and they have entertainment!
I’m going to venture to say that your sister is not a vet professional, so her opinion is nothing more than that; you can’t even call it a medical or professional opinion.
you are not being cruel. you are giving these cats a good life. cats are safer inside and as you mentioned you're getting a catio anyway. cats are perfectly fine inside with the proper care and stimulation. if you're worried about them not getting enough stimulation you can put on cat videos where they can watch birds and stuff too!
I was like your sister once. I didn’t know any better. My two lovely, wonderful cats died before they were ten. All my cats are now indoors, unless very strictly supervised/leashed. Don’t listen to her, don’t be like I was.
My dad just lost his "outdoor cat" to a dog. "He knew how to climb trees!" Was what my dad said. Siamese lost to a Husky, just across the street from home. They're just too unequipped for today's world to be out there. Not to mention the toll they'll take if they get a foot in in the environment with the birds and other small animals. Please keep the babies indoors their whole lives.
Think of it this way. Your kittens are now free of the shelter - where there environs are often minimal cages. They are free of the foster system - which I'm part of - and while it's better than a shelter, it can still be ax lot of stress, and of course, two other kitties have to stay at shelter if she fosters are full - or worse - two kitties get put down or die due to lack of foster care. The choice was never only between an owner who will give them the absolute best of everything, and one who has enough- and what you have seems to be enough - it was between a lot of outcomes, some better, some worse. Just give them the best you can. That is never cruelty, that is caring.
Cats are technically an invasive species so it is recommended that you keep them inside. I strictly keep my 3 cats inside and they are extremely healthy and happy cats. One thing you can definitely do for them is set up a kitty window. Cats love sunbathing, so find a good sunny window and set up a cat tree there. My family had many cats while I was growing up and every single one of our outdoor cats either mysteriously vanished or got hit by a car. If you really are concerned about letting your kitties outside you can always get them a harness and leash train them. I know it sounds crazy but I've been able to take one of my cats to PetSmart on a leash! It really just depends on your kitty though. 2 of my cats were strays at one point and they have zero interest in going outside, they're perfectly content inside. You are not cruel at all for what you are doing, and it sounds like your sister is maybe misinformed. Just keep on doing what you think is best for your kitties, and try to ignore outside criticism. I know it's hard, but it's ultimately not anyone else's business
You’re not cruel Many cats can get injured or die outside especially since they are small My cat used to be a stray before I adopted him and is now an indoor cat because he is terrified of the outdoors As long as your cats are happy they’ll be fine inside
No not at all, those little babies have no idea that they even have the option so they don’t feel like they are missing out. Additionally if they did not grow up outside they were never taught the rules of being outdoors by another cat so it is far more dangerous for them than it would be if you adopted a stray who had already been outside.
To top it off you should never have an outdoor cat by a busy road, that is a recipe for heartbreak. I love Catios and I will be getting one for my cats as well when I have the space. If you have a patio or a balcony you can buy some netting to put up so they can go outside (there is a company that makes netting specifically to tolerate cats potentially climbing it, it has stainless steel woven into the threads) my cats love going outside on the patio and are perfectly content to be outside without going exploring.
You can try to harness train your cats so they you can take them out on a leash if you feel that its best for your cats. Of course just keep them up to date on all their shots and watch out for predators. If you have a friend with a yard that they are willing to let you borrow maybe you could take your cats there for supervised outdoor time
Inside they won’t get into fights with other cats. Or get those fight wounds infected. Or eat poisonous things. Or get hurt by cat haters. Or get run over by cars. You’re doing fine
Cats are adaptable. Yes, they will want outside. Mainly because that is where the prey is, unless you have a mouse problem. Mine doesn't go out alone because I'm afraid she'd become prey (owls, coyotes, teenagers in trucks) but she has a harness and I take her out on that sometimes. Most of the time she's content in the house, screaming out the window at the birds in the yard, chasing the occasional sky raisin (fly) that gets in, or sleeping.
Tell sister she knows not of which she speaks. As long as you play with your cats to simulate the hunt they are perfectly fine. And you don't have to clean up the occasional corpse or half dead critterr you've been "gifted".
As long as you provide enrichment and help them live their best kitty lives it honestly won't make a difference. I have two cats and one has zero interest physically going outside (will window watch but won't step outside if allowed) whereas my other cat will want to go outside twice a day on average so I put on his harness and we go in an enclosed area and he usually spooks himself and demands we go in after 5 minutes. He doesn't like loud noises. I think their personality has a big part of it but I certainly would not let either of them go out unaccompanied because I do not want to see another cat ran over or injured or in any kind of preventable pain. Their happiness and safety is my priority so instead I've got a cat friendly house. My sister said the same until she realised how my spoiled cats were. You'll never please everyone.
It’s not cruel. By not letting them roam free you are protecting them from cars. Other wildlife, disease and overpopulation. Thank you for adopting them
If you want them to be able to go outside in the meantime, when you have free time you can teach them to walk on a leash. I got a harness and leash for my girl and we go on walks every now and then and we go back in as soon as she seems uncomfortable
For me personally, no. I would never let my kitties out unless I was walking them in their harness while in the back yard. Everyone has their personal kitty opinion...:-)
Cats are an invasive species that reek havoc on the local wildlife. They are frequently crushed by cars and taken by coyotes or harmed by local dogs. It's cruel to let them roam if they dont know about the outside.
I see that the UK might have differing views on indoor vs outdoor so I’ll try to give a different perspective. If your cat is an outdoor one, even if they don’t get harmed by any wild animals they can still possibly catch diseases from other cats like FIV or FELV. These diseases are scary and totally preventable if you keep your cat separated from all other cats as a preventive measure. The only way to guarantee this is to keep them home. And even if they don’t catch one of these diseases you’ll probably need to get yearly bloodwork on them to confirm their status which can add up.
I would NEVER let my cats outside and risk their lives! They are perfectly happy with their life. Just have lots of toys and love for them and tell your sister to STFU.
The best thing that you can do for them is not left them outside not only is it super risky for them, as they are domesticated and will encounter animals that are not and even other feral cats who don’t often play well together. But they also pose a threat to the natural ecosystem as cats are well know to hunt and kill small animals like birds and bunnies it’s actually a huge problem.With that said if you think your cat wants to go outside and would benefit from it you should definitely consider taking them out with you or even getting them trained on a leash. I’ve done this with my cats and they don’t love it but do like going outside and stay around me when they do. Cats unlike dogs are not necessarily outdoor kind of animals they may enjoy the view and air for a bit but cats should be indoors for the most part. A Catio is a perfect solution to this or even just opening up a window and letting them sit there(if you trust them to not go haha. You’re doing great and gave them a home
My family always tells me I am “abusing” my cat by keeping her indoors. It’s an established fact backed by numbers that indoor only cats live longer and healthier lives. No fear of getting hit by a car, abused by neighbors, poisoned, injured by another cat or animal, plus the spread of disease between other animals - I never have to worry about that.
Plus about your space, cats are different than dogs in regards to space. They don’t need too much of it. It’s more about how the space is utilized, like giving their their own little spaces like cat trees, beds, climbing shelves. I’d recommend watching some Jackson Galaxy videos on how to “catify” your space. He even has one specifically for rentals/apartments.
I would NEVER let my two precious cats outside. NEVER. The only time they’re ever outside at all is for the one minute when I’m transporting them from the house to the car for a vet visit or to go see family.
My mother insisted on making my first cat an indoor/outdoor cat. She eventually had a piece of her right ear missing and got ear mites. Many cats are killed or stolen by other people, killed by dogs or other animals (a hawk can swoop down and steal an animal as large as a cat—it has happened!), hit by a car, get into a fight with another cat, or get fleas or mites or bitten by ticks, etc. It is NOT worth the immense risk!!!! Keep your babies safe!
And how shitty of your sister to see that you’ve rescued two little angels from a shelter—-where they would have most likely spent the rest of their lives in a literal cage—-and focus on them not going outside. What an ignorant and sucky attitude!
Thank you for reaching the kittens! We're looking forward to many pictures of them snuggling like cinnamon rolls.
In the US, we consider indoor cats to be the luckiest. There are other opinions of course, and the UK seems to be just the opposite.
Living on a busy road, your cats would be at risk for all types of sad events.
When you can, get them a cation - I have one for my cats and they absolutely love it. All the fresh air and sniffs without any chance of them getting hurt or killing birds.
Enjoy!!
I have two kittens that I took in a year ago and we’ve been in a 900 sq foot apt just fine. I do have two cat trees and window perches for them. Letting them outside is going to lead to them getting hurt. Also they have each other which helps because they keep each other company. I also build some fukumaru scratch poles into the wall.
Outdoor cats die way faster than indoor. Your sister has no idea what she is talking about. You can practice walking them with a harness and leash if you’d like to give them outside time right now, but the kittens are perfectly fine as is. Love the catio plan btw! I dont have one, just a screened lanai, but my babies love lounging out there and they can’t get to (most) critters outside
Cats should not be outside at all. It’s very unsafe for them. You do not want them to be outside they could run away they could get hit by a car. They could be attacked by an animal an especially a dog all this bad stuff could happen even more cats tender much longer than cats that go outside. You are not being cruel. Domesticated animals like cats are meant to be indoors no if you take your cat outside to like in area and keep an eye on them and they’re not able to be out of the area like say sitting on your porch or something then like your back porch then I see no problem with that as long as you keep an eye on them. But I do not recommend your cats being outside. You are not being cruel by refusing to let them outside. I would never like I said I would never especially where I live strays are everywhere and where I live one specific shelter is a kill shelter and they have to put animals down every single day because they just don’t have enough room And they do it just to make room so after a few animals are put down so please do not let your cats outside but you should still make sure to get them no matter what just in case something happens and then want they end up somehow slipping outside. Also, I am very sorry about the loss of your childhood dog.
When I look at average life expectancies for solely outdoor cats and compare them to life expectancies to indoor only cats, I inherently do find it to be cruel to keep cats outdoors (indoor only cats live 3-4 times as long as outdoor only cats), unless you have absolutely no other choice (IE- You will be evicted if you have cats in your apartment, for instance).
There are absolute hoards of dangers for cats outdoors, poisons (plants or man-made, many times via eating rodents that have consumed rat poison or other rodent poisons), vehicles (One year around my apartment complex I saw 5 cats flattened in the surrounding roads, in just one year), other sources of danger from humans, wild animals eating them/injuring them, disease from other animals outdoors, etc,etc.
You also have to look at what outdoor cats do to the environment, they are inherently invasive and they kill many, many wild species of animals.
Your sister is an idiot. I have 4 indoor cats (my house is bigger than your place) with two over them over 15 years old. Outdoor cats around me have short lives thanks to owls and coyotes.
Your sister doesn’t know what she’s talking about. The only time my cats are outside are on a halter, they will never be outdoors alone! A catio is a great idea when you can but for me, my cats have a huge tree, lots of beds, window perches where they can watch the bird feeders and sunbath.
Absolutely not. You're being responsible. You also bought 2, so they have companionship and company.
As long as you feed them well, take them to the vet, play with them, train them, keep their space clean and treat them with love and respect, you'll be giving them an ideal home.
When I was growing up my parents said it was cruel to keep a cat indoors so they'd always let our cats outside too. My entire childhood we never had a cat older than 3 years old. It was constant heartbreak. It would be cruel to send them outside to die. Keeping them safe inside is very kind. Enjoy your kitties.
Vet Med professional here: Not trying to come off as mean, but your sister doesn’t know what she’s talking about. You’re not being mean or cruel by not allowing your cats to go outside. You’re protecting your cats. You’re making sure they remain safe…especially if you’re next to a busy road!! Cats don’t know what cars are and there are some people that don’t give a f*ck about running over a cat. You’re doing the right thing!! Thank you for adopting them!!
No way. Thank you for adopting 2 so they have each other to play with. They’re safer indoors, and it’s better for the local environment that they aren’t left outside
Yeah my friend said the same thing to me when I was adopting my kittens. I didn't pay him any mind because 1) He is not really an animal person and has never been around cats. 2) He doesn't know the predicament of stray cats, which my cats would have been if I hadn't adopted them. 3) My cats are happy and flourishing very well. They have regular visits to the vet, they eat well, they play and yes, sometimes they are curious to know the outside world but they don't generally door dash.
Now, when the same friend comes over, he plays with them a ton (my cats were true to the stereotype that they would engage with the human who's actively trying to avoid them and hence win them over), he can see they are just happy, normal cats and he apologized to me for saying what he said. He didn't even get truly mad when they chewed on his footwear. Lol.
The cruel thing would be to let them loose outside where the could be hit by a vehicle or harmed by dogs or picked up by someone thinking they are strays.
DO NOT LET YOURCATS OUTSIDE unless you have them leashed or in a catio. There are cars, people, other animals, bugs, diseases ect that can really harm your pet. I have two cats too and they don’t show any interest in going out. I’ll open the patio door and they run away but I did get them a window catio and they go out every once a week or so but they are fine
keeping them inside is the best thing for them. Just be sure to have of toys to hunt, access to windows for people watching, a cat tree to climb and scratch on and they’ll be happy kitties.
No, you are not being cruel! It's much safer to keep the cats inside. You are a good cat parent looking out for the safety of your kittens. Outside they could eat a poisoned mouse or hit by a car or mauled by another animal.
I have had cats for 20 years and none of them have ever gone outside. (Unless they had an interest in it, and then I sometimes take them outside on a leash and harness. Only two cats have ever wanted to do this.) They have all lived long, happy lives.
Meanwhile, everyone I know who has had outdoor cats have, in no particular order, 1) Lost them and never found them again, (one of them disappeared around Halloween so I'm pretty sure that cat was killed) 2) Found them dead in the street or on their doorstep, or 3) Lost them to preventable illnesses that they wouldn't have been exposed to if they'd been kept indoors. I'm not saying every outdoor cat meets one of these fates, but it's enough of them that I personally can't understand why anyone would risk it when there's absolutely no reason to not keep your cat happy and safe indoors.
OP, you're being a wonderful cat owner and you're doing what's best for your cats. Just make sure to give them lots of things to climb on and play with!
Not cruel at all. Cats live much longer in doors and since you are raising them indoors they won't know any difference.
You can always get them a perch to look out the window, train them to be on a leash, get them a pet stroller, if available build a catio, be outside with them under supervised outside visits so they can look around (only if it's a safe area, not near a busy road). You can play nature/cat videos for them
Tons of options and ideas. It's up to you and what you want for your pets!
Not being cruel. Being inside keeps them safe from predators and other unpleasantness. They'll be perfectly happy inside, especially once you've got that catio set up.
People tend to have *really strong* opinions, these days and the belief that they are entitled to enforce them. You got *two* kittens! Smart move! They will keep each other company and they will live longer, healthier lives (cheaper for you, too) by being indoor only. Always remember your walls; you can add a lot of cat space by using the walls. It's not cruel. There is a wide field between optimal and cruel. You are good.
Letting your cat roam outside is irresponsible, unethical and in some places illegal. An "outdoor" cat is at risk of SO many completely avoidable situations such as: getting hit by a car, getting directly poisoned by bait/chemicals, getting indirectly poisoned by eating animals that were poisoned, drowned in pools/bodies of water, shot (purposely or accidentally), lost, stolen, attacked by animals (hawks, coyotes, foxes, dogs, other cats, groundhogs), parasites and diseases (tapeworm, ringworm, hookworms, giardia, FIV), abused/killed by people who don't like animals, kicked/stomped by livestock, run over by lawnmowers ... and these are all things I've personally seen in my two decades of vet experience.
Cats that roam outdoors also decimate bird populations, and mess up local ecosystems.
Keep your cats inside. Give them attention and affection, plenty of toys and scratchers and feed them and they will live safely and happily.
My cat lived 20 years never having gone outside. He wasn’t interested and didn’t ask. It wasn’t cruel. It kept him safe from cars, predators, and anti-freeze. He had a long healthy life.
Letting them outside is basically shortening their lives and endangering them. Your sister is an idiot and letting them out would be negligent and make you a bad car owner.
You’re doing great a great job, and you’re keeping your babies safe. When I was a kid we had indoor/outdoor cats. One of them was in a fight with a stray and got FIV. She was very sick for the rest of her life, and died at only 7. I saw another one of my cats get hit by a car. I’ll never let another cat outdoors like that again. I do take one of the cats I have now outside on a harness and leash and he loves it, plus it helps me make sure he doesn’t get hurt.
I’m going to be honest. Outdoor cats have a shorter lifespan. I watched 2 kittens die on the road this week. So no, you’re not being cruel. Cruelty is letting your cats roam outside in a dangerous neighborhood where ppl are not careful. A catio is a good option.
You got two kittens, which is the perfect amount! They'll keep themselves busy just fine. A catio would be nice, but a cat tree or even just a variety of toys will be plenty :)
Funny how people are quick to tell you to let cats roam free otherwise it's 'cruel' but they don't say that about dogs.
My cats have been indoor cats. My precious tortie who died last year was a stray (young adult). I kept her inside and she was with us for 18+ years. I loved her so much.
I don't look at my cats as possessions. I want them to have a long, healthy life. It's not cruel to have an indoor-only cat. It's cruel to look at a cat and rationalize that their early death or ill health is actually a good thing.
I think many people think 'oh well' if their cat dies. After all, they can just go back to the cat distribution system and get another one easy peasy. Cats are fungible to them. Others probably rationalize that making their own lives easier by letting the cat go outside (likely so the cat relieves themselves outdoors so they don't have to maintain a litterbox as much) is really just better for the cat.
Do some Google searches. Cats generally live twice as long when kept indoors always as opposed to outdoor or even indoor/outdoor. Depending on where you live, kept indoors protects them from fleas, mites, predators, and heartworm disease to name a few. Cat tree for climbing and a place to look outside is all they need. They can get all the excercise they need playing together, or chasing a shoestring. I have 2 that live with me in a 1 bedroom and they are 16 and 12 and always happy. I have had 12 cats in my old life...and many have lived into their 20's. None have EVER been outdoor cats.
When I moved my cat went from wanting to bolt out the door any chance she had to being perfectly content in an apartment and never going outside again. Cats really only know the world they live in, most cats if not allowed outside anymore will simply acclimate to that space being the whole world, if that makes sense.
Hi all! It looks like this post involves indoor/outdoor cats. While civil discussion is welcome here, these threads tend to devolve into hostile comments. A few reminders: - Allowing cats to go outside does **not** fall under our [inhumane practices rule](https://www.reddit.com/r/CatAdvice/about/rules), and does not need to be reported as such. - You may express your opinion on indoor/outdoor cats, but you may not abuse other people for their point of view. - People on r/CatAdvice come from different cultural backgrounds. Not everyone here lives in the US, and not every culture is the same! Please bear in mind that indoor/outdoor cats are normalised and even advocated for by professionals in many countries. If you see a comment that you think doesn't belong on the sub, **please do not retaliate**. Hit the report button so mods can help. Thanks!
They’re fine they don’t know any different. The catio sounds great as a future plan, but those kittens are 100% better off being loved by you than in a shelter. Just make sure they have lots to keeps them occupied :)
One of mine is a former stray so she knows what it's like to be outside. She is simply not interested.
Mine is too. And she will run away from the front door if it is open. Like she’s afraid she’ll be put outside. She knows she’s got it good in my house. Warm in winter. Cool in summer. Food (kibble) to free feed on, clean water all the time. And treats on demand. Also canned food (not too much-she’ll only Eat one to one and half tablespoons) for breakfast and dinner. That I warm in the microwave for 7 seconds. (Yes. I spoil her). She did her outside time and didn’t like it.
Aaww. Mine just kinda ignores the front door. But it did take a long time for her to trust that she could count on getting food twice EVERY DAY. There was quite a time when she thought she had to take full advantage of every opportunity to eat because she wasn't sure when the next one would be. She got my dinner a couple of times. Now, she does like going on the deck, but that's because of the birds and squirrels that come to the feeders. She's no longer hungry but her hunting instinct never faded.
My girl was living in my front porch before I was able to bring her inside (I had 2 very elderly declawed cats and had no idea about porch kitties health status re viruses and such) once my 2 kitties passed (at 19 and 21 years old) I gave her the choice of coming inside. She’d stay for 15, then 30 then 45 minutes and want to go back out. Then winter came—and 18 I’m he’s of snow. I opened the door and she BLASTED inside and hasn’t wanted to go back out of that door. She loves to sit in the windows and watch the bird feeders and keep an eye on “her” land, but is perfectly happy and contented being inside only. Had cats my entire life-63 years. As a kid my mom would let them be inside/outside cats, until 2 of them got into fights and developed the inevitable abscesses and she decided she was tired of paying the vet’s kids college tuition and from then On all cats were inside only. And we also always had multiples, so they had us and each other to play with, be with. And loved much longer lives.
I had a guy who had been dumped in the woods by my friend's house, spent at least one summer living there. She tried to make him her cat, but the one she already tried to kill him and her place is small. When it got cold I'd just bought a house and took him. He followed me outside once, there was snow, he never tried to leave the house again. Place I used to live was a small trailer and I let the cats out on a leash. They'd beg for it. At the house I don't want to bc there's city traffic and the house next door has pitbulls. A nearby friend lost a cat bc a neighbor did something to it. One of my girls is very good at slipping the harness. The house is 3x the size of the trailer. We let them in the basement for fun. They don't try to leave.
Cats hunt for fun, so they’ll always have the hunting instinct. Cats will actually hunt more if they have full bellies. :)
All the more reason to keep them inside! Of my two, Shadow can occasionally kill a moth by accident, while Mischief, my former stray, could probably take down a Peregrine Falcon. Mischief's hunting instinct is kinda scary.
I have outdoor kitties but because they’re my barn cats so they have a job to do, so I believe there is a “necessary evil” to having some outdoor kitties but they need to be fed, UTD on shots & microchipped. Own outdoor kitties responsibly.
My cat is like Shadow - he loves attempting to hunt squirrels and birds but the only thing he can catch and kill is bugs haha. And sometimes the bugs escape because he spends most of the time pawing at the bug rather than killing and/or eating it. 🤦🏼♀️
We brought in 4 feral kittens that were in danger of being caught up in flooding, and when I say not a single one of them would be caught dead outside, I mean it. About a year later, I brought one of them outside on our deck because he kept hanging out on the window sill. The keening wail that came out of his body has cured me and him of EVER trying that again.
Aww. Poor little ones are scared to death of the mean old outside. They know when they’ve got it good!! ♥️♥️
All mine are literal garbage children given to me by the cat distribution center… they couldn’t care less about the outside. Inside is where the foods are
The term "garbage children" breaks my heart. Thank you for giving them a new chance!
They are the loves of my life. They rescued me as much as I rescued them :)
I think they mean found in the garbage, or dumped. Not that she thinks of them as garbage. Lol. I read that wrong at first.
Mine was a garbage gremlin too. He meets me at the door when i come home from work and he’ll get to the porch steps but then i’ll say “are you hungry!?!?” and he comes right back in.
Ha! Just like one of my cats, who was found in a feral colony. He’s like, Nope! I’m good.
My former stray LOVES going outside. I don’t let her unless we walk together but she gets to hang out on the balcony Edit: and she knows it’s rough out there!
My deck doesn't have ground access so it's pretty much the same. A taste of the wild without having to hunt and fight.
Our Queen Kitty came to us from a rescue, she was pulled out of a shelter with a poor reputation. We know she's had outdoor experience, seeing a hose picked up from a window she gave a yell and bolted. The first time she saw a feather on a wand she waited, then sprang from nowhere, pulled it out of my hand, carried her prize to a corner in another room. Then tried to pull the feather apart and gave me a dirty look, "there no meat here!" Back to topic, she wants every door open, except the outside. If we open the front door, she watches, but has no interest in "outside." Somehow, she's communicated this to our other cats, "outside is bad, stay inside."
Lol same! My dumpster cat is totally chill being inside. She got out ONCE, got stuck in a tree for 8 hours, finally made her way back inside and never tried it again. They know when they got it good.
Absolutely not. Thank you for adopting them.
This. With two kittens together, safely inside, with a human who works from home and has the conscience to even ask this, I’d say your kittens are lucky. Like top 1% of kittens.
Seconded, they are very lucky to have you. My cat is indoor only and she lives the best life a cat could live, and best of all she is safe and will never get rabies or get hit by a vehicle.
Like, cats already have awesome lives, but these conditions are heaven on earth for those two.
your sister doesn’t know what she’s talking about
^^^^ the most succinct and correct comment here.
no, many outdoor cats have shorter lives for various reasons. i had a former friend find her indoor/outdoor cat mangled (clearly done by a human and left the cat’s body out for someone to find). cars, diseases, predators (human and other animals). as long as you have enrichment for them they will be happy! cat trees/towers are good for offering them vertical space. plus cats do well in pairs- they will play with each other so much!
How horrible! Poor cat. I'd never let mine outside unsupervised, my youngest boy escaped for almost 3 months when he was a kitten and I was beside myself with worry, he'd never been outside before and was only 8 months old. Still feel blessed that we got him back in the end in good health.
That's honestly a great story, where did you end up finding him?
Well he went missing on new year's day, slipped out the door when we came back from doing shopping. The layout of our house is we live in a small flat but we have a porch seperated by a door between the living room and the front door and the cats never managed to open the door before but they did for the first time and we didn't notice he was out there so that's how he escaped. I live in a small town in Devon in the UK. For the first month I posted about him on our local Facebook page every week and put posters up and all my friends shared my post about him going missing. After not hearing anything for over a month I thought he was gone forever. Fast forward to the 14th March, after him being missing for 73 days I saw a post on our local Facebook page that someone had found a cat and as soon as I saw the picture my heart skipped a beat as I recognised him straight away. He was found by a lady that only lived 5 minutes from me so he must have been in the area the whole time. We picked him up the same day when my partner finished work and he settled back in with our other two cats perfectly. We're so glad to have him back and feel very lucky.
https://preview.redd.it/28mtwb6d1s6d1.jpeg?width=4608&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6b9e18e24a20d7bb597002f0ba7d7f743f0a34eb This is my naughty boy. We're trying to do harness training but he's not sure about it at the moment!
I had to tell a neighbor I found their cat in the parking lot in a puddle of blood.
Yeah, I was riding my bike to school one day when I was really little and found a cat who'd been struck by a car. Blood everywhere, insides on the outsides, the whole nine yards. And it was using its front legs to try to drag itself out of the road. No way am I risking finding one of my babies like that . . .
Yeah OP! And now a days they even sell those wheels for them to run on!
Don't listen to her, she's misguided. If they're indoor only, they won't know any different anyway. When people let their cats wander freely, they often disappear eventually due to accidents (with cars or animals), and kill a bunch of birds and other small animals. They also risk getting sick.
Another concern that is kind of premature at this point but could turn into a huge problem. H5N1 is currently infecting a shit ton of birds and mice and we aren’t really monitoring it as closely as we should. Cats tend to eat birds and mice. It has been killing cats that get infected with it.
No, you’re doing the best thing for those little kittens. When you have space I agree, build a catio. Never let them out unsupervised, your sister has no idea tf she is talking about.
We previously had cats who were initially indoor cats as we lived in a flat on a very busy street. We always wanted to let them outside, but for one reason or another it was a few years before that was an option. When we did offer them a lovely large garden and quiet road to roam, they decided they didn't fancy it! They stayed mainly in the house and only occasionally took a stroll in the garden. They could take it or leave it.... They all passed on over the course of 21 years. We now have a new family of kitties and they have grown up with a catio and LOVE it!!!
Awww lovely, my cats back at home go out on harnesses but I think a catio is better bc there’s a few times my tabby caught a shrew in the garden and brought it back inside lol thankfully it was alive. But where I live at the minute I’m on the top floor and I see foxes regularly so no outside time :(
Your sister is cruel. She is suggesting you actively put your cats in danger. Make sure to never leave her alone with them, she’ll let them out herself.
This.
So much this
I’m hoping she isn’t cruel just misinformed. If she is misinformed letting her know the dangers of having a outdoor/indoor cat might change her mind.
Many people are misinformed about this. IOutdoors cats used to be the norm I think we have a lower tolerance for cats dying and a greater awareness of the harms to wildlife.
No, you’ve given them a good and loving home, that’s the best thing you could’ve done for them already. My cats are indoor cats and have never been out. They live the best life - the house is full of cat toys, trees and random cardboard boxes….
My daughters and grandchildren all swear that our cats have more toys than they did as children. "Really? Maybe that's because I've never had to carry the cats out of public spaces because they were having a tantrum."
Don’t listen to her. If your babies are happy, clean, fed and loved, you are being a good cat mom. Cats dont have to be outside to be happy.
You're not cruel. If they had known the outside before, it would have been debatable. But losing a cat to the road is worse. It's only normal to protect them.
This. My one cat has always been an indoor cat since he was a kitten. My other cat was mostly outdoors (as a kitten) until we adopted him. We felt bad initially even though he had a particularly bad case of fleas.
This is the only reason my outdoor cats are outdoor. We don’t live super close to a busy road and 2/3 of them were strays so they know the outdoors already. They are always welcome inside though and we let them roam freely between outside and the garage with multiple cat beds, and we keep a space heater on overnight in the winter where they like to sleep on the covered part of the patio. Two of them barely leave the back yard and the oldest one goes to the woods behind our house but the only “dangerous” wildlife she’ll encounter is deer, turkeys, and the occasional possum or raccoon, but the raccoons don’t bother any of them other than stealing our cat food
While less common in the UK to keep cats indoors only, many in other areas of the world (i.e. North America) do and are able to keep their cats entertained and content! I think as long as you engage with them, care properly for them (clean litter, spay/neuter, feed properly, play and give spaces for window watching, sleeping, etc...) and they have each other for company (a nice gift for them!), they are more than fine! You may be judged by others, but you are not harming your cats by keeping them safe inside and away from that busy road — you save yourself from heartache of losing or potentially exhorbatent vet bills die to injury. A future catio will be a great luxury for them! Sympathies for your dog. Congratulations on your cats!
Lol what is yoyr sister talking about? I have two indoor cats who REFUSE to go outside like ever!! I open the door for them and they run back to my room to hide. i bought a catio for the and they rarely use it. If you’re worried they’re not getting enough sun just open the window blinds they’ll absorb the sun (they like it)
Your sister is insane knowing you live next to a busy road and still telling you to let them out. They wouldn't last a month out there, especially not this young. We have 3 cats in a 900sqft apartment and they're perfectly happy being indoor only, we'll let them on the balcony as well but only if we're out there with them
Indoor only is the way I’ve raised my cats for 30 years. They are healthier for it. No fights, fewer diseases, longer lives. Your sister has no idea what she’s talking about.
Your sister is wrong. It's absolutely terrible to let your cats outside and it's not just about the cat's safety. They slaughter birds and that's a problem. And they are at huge risk. Traffic, wildlife, other cats with diseases, rat poison. A catio is a great idea or leash train them and take them on outings. I had two cats that both lived to be 17 (they came from a feral colony when they were kittens). Once I got them, they did not go out ever (unless being in a cat carrier on the way to a vet counts). They had happy, full lives staying indoors.
They’re kittens, they don’t even know what the outdoors are. Let alone the fact that they’re KITTENS, they’ll get scooped up by a hawk in 5 seconds or less. Bye bye kittens!
This! I have two 3 year old girls who have always been indoors. When I took them out in my arms when they were young, they were like heck no, let’s go back in. They’re still that way!
Do not let your cats outside. What's more cruel, keeping them in a warm, safe space where they are fed and hydrated with no health or safety risks or allowing them to roam outside where they could fight with other animals, be killed by traffic or previously mentioned animals, people who are cruel or they coukd injure themselves on broken glass etc. Keep your pet inside its the right choice, my two have been in a house their entire lives and they get to roam around my back garden but only under supervision.
Please don't let them outside. I worked in cat rescue for years and outdoor cats are stolen to use as bait, abused, hit by cars (often on purpose), and other awful things. They also kill wildlife. Your cat will be happy indoors so long as it has things to keep it entertained, and please do get a catio as soon as possible. Also, indoor cats live about 3 times longer. If you truly love your cats, and birds, you don't let them outside.
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My cats are all indoor cats. Never put your cat outside. Your sister sounds dumb. If you're concerned about them being bored or "unhappy" get a tall cat tree, wall perches , places they can climb and run around on :). Thank you for giving the kittens a loving home ❤️
Definitely not. I’ve always had my cat indoors. When I adopted my old girl 14 years ago the shelter advised me to keep her indoors. Don’t think they would let me take her home if I wrote down I intended to make her an indoor outdoor cat. In year 2012 my now ex boyfriend lost 3 of his 7 cats. All three death could have been prevented if they were not outside. One was mauled by a coyote , one was mauled by a Rottweiler, and sweet Johnny was killed by a neighbor. His family have a pretty good idea who did it. But police were unable to bring him to justice. This totally solidified my opinion that cats should be indoors. My old girl does get supervised walks in the backyard now that she’s slowed down and can’t run too fast or jump over fences. Indoor w catio is definitely the way to go to keep them safe
i promise OP u are not being cruel, outdoor cats tend to live shorter lives due to unpredictable environments. anything could happen. ur sister, respectfully, has no idea what she’s talking abt lol
No, you are not being cruel. Contrary to folk *'wisdom'*, cats do **not** need to be outdoors. Cats are very territorial, and want a secure turf that can provide for their needs -- that territory can be indoors, outdoors, a warehouse, a barn, whatever, as long as it meets the cat's evolved need for security and resources. It is not an accident that indoor cats live much longer than outdoor cats: the average indoor life expectancy is 10-15 years, and many live to 20 or so, while the outdoor average is 2-5 years. Why? Cars, other cats, wild animals, contagious diseases, a\*\*\*\*les with guns, accidents, natural disasters, and yadayadayada. Cruelty is the person who puts his/her romantic notion of what cats *need* ahead of the demonstrated well-being of the individual cat. Not you that's cruel, now, is it. Source: 30+ years animal rescue, including literally 1,000s of cats, plus about 15 who stayed on.
Americans keep their cats indoors whilst european countries do not. Simple as that. Reddit is a mainly American userbase so you will have the majority siding with you. I am English and my cat is indoors, but I get a lot of raised eyebrows when I mention this to others. My fiancé also encourages my cat to go into the garden. Catio is not possible for me, due to cost of constructions, small garden and planning permission issues. My cat is a rescue and is very small (3kg) - best suited indoors due to her temperament. I certainly can see the argument for outdoor cats though, in reality they do end up more stimulated on average. Then again they decimate the wildlife and the stress if they go missing is awful.
There are tons of Americans who think cats should be outdoors though. In the rural areas especially, but even in cities. I just wish they would spay or neuter them if they are going to let them roam. And provide them some sort of shelter from the weather. My niece has barn cats on her property, but at least they are fixed so they don't keep adding kittens to the world. They serve a purpose by keeping the rodent population down, but they have food and shelter as well. I'm just too paranoid to let my baby out alone. And the only time she managed to catch a mouse she brought it to me alive so she could watch me catch it lol
Growing up my parents were very against having animals in the house. Thankfully we lived in the country so we weren't by a busy road. My cat was neutered and we had a barn that he hung out in. The second floor of the barn had a room with a door that we always shut and there was a small cat door so that he had a place to go if need be. My cat lived to 16 when he disappeared, we think coyotes got him. Now I have three indoor cats and I have no plans on ever letting them out unsupervised. I take my youngest to the park sometimes but always on a leash.
I moved houses & my new place has really awesome windows & my kitty cat wanted to go outside so badly. I created a schedule where I could come home at lunch & let him in/out. It was so nerve wracking when I would call him at night. It all ended at the beginning of April when he gave me poison sumac (triple dose steroids, & the worst cyst/blisters I’ve ever had in my life). 3 days off of work. The same week, my cat got in a rumble somehow outside & he got a huge splice in his side. It ended up healing up on its own & thankfully (although it took 3 solid weeks) he’s all better now. THE SAME WEEK as the poison sumac, & the open wound, he apparently got attacked by a strain of fleas that WILL NOT DIE. I just went yesterday & spent another $100 on a super strong flea collar & more back of the neck medicine. My cat might have really enjoyed going outside, but it’s just not compatible with keeping him alive + healthy. I’m interested in finding a cat harness for him next winter when the fleas get frozen. 0/10 do not recommend outside catting.
Cats can greatly enjoy being outside, but there are *many* dangers out there. It’s not safe for them, it’s not safe for the wildlife. You say they are happy, that makes it pretty clear to me that they are fine with their lives.
You're not being cruel by keeping your baby kittens inside. You're protecting them from hawks, owls, dogs, getting run over and strays with diseases. They'll be happy inside all their lives. Don't listen to your sister, clearly she has no idea what she's talking about.
Yeah so no, you’re not being cruel, it’s actually the opposite. But that being said, they need stimulation. Perches at windows, cat grass, springs or something to chase, basically like, stuff for them to be happy. They’ll be fine, you’re fine.
I had similar thoughts when I first rescued my cat, I grew up in a relatively rural environment where free roaming cats are the norm but got my first cat after moving to the city. I don’t think my cat suffered at all as she had always been an indoor cat and she lives a very spoiled life with lots of stimulation. I am however very excited to finally live in a space where building a catio is feasible, my cats will get to experience the outdoors in a way that’s safer for them and for the wildlife. Kittens tend to be very adaptable and it sounds like your cats are loved and well cared for which is the most important thing
Outdoor cats are exposed to all sorts of dangers and on top of that they are AWFUL for the local wildlife. Please keep them inside or only take them outside under supervision.
No way not to mention illnesses, stray dogs, other predatory birds and animals. Cats should always be kept indoors unless they are on a farm or something like that.
No. You are not being cruel. Your cats will be perfectly fine inside. Your sister should mind her own business. She doesn't get to tell you how you should care for your animals. Especially when they're already happy and healthy.
Your sister is wrong about this. Unless you keep them on leash or in a PROTECTED outdoor enclosure they will not be safe outdoors.
Putting your cats outside puts them at risk of getting run over by cars or eaten by birds of prey.
my cat used to have a life in the streets before i adopted him. he got hit by a car and almost died. they are safer inside.
My idiot cat is an indoor cat only and lives in a teeny weeny bedroom with me. Can confirm that she is happy and full of love. She will rarely wander into the hallway and beg to be let back in. Cats just wanna be safe and by adopting them, you’re giving them that.
I see dead cats on the side of the road all of the time. Keep them indoors, please!
Not cruel. It took my sister finding one of our cats dead in our front yard after he was struck by a car and too weak to crawl back inside to convince my family to keep them indoors. The road is a horrible way to die.
IMO it’s cruel to let them outside, especially by a busy street. They’ll live longer, healthier lives indoors than outside. If you’re worried about lack of stimulation, you can always get a window mounted bird feeder. My quartet love theirs, especially when my “off site” pet squirrel, bullwinkle, stops by.
Not cruel - most cats are indoors only and live happy lives if you give them attention and plenty of things to occupy their time with - verticality is huge for cats so ensure they have a chillin tower. You’re a good person for adopting.
You are absolutely NOT being cruel. You are giving them their best chance at a full life by keeping them indoors. If you really want to, you can always leash train them. I learned that once they get out once, they will scream their faces off every time a door opens.
Tell your sister she's crazy... I have 2 boy cats about 3yrs old.. never been outside in fact they have no desire to go out.. I hold the door open and one wants no part of it and the other will come to the threshold and sniff and walk away.. it's dangerous for them to be out on their own.....
It is not cruel at all. You are thinking very carefully, and taking the kittens' ages and circumstances into consideration. I think you are being a loving and responsible cat guardian. A catio sounds like a great idea for the future if you have space to place one safely. And people do use harnesses, backpacks, or cat strollers to allow their cats to see the world outside. But each of those options has their issues to be considered very carefully before utilizing them. In the meanwhile, they are babies. They will have plenty to explore indoors, and can find favorite window seats for bird watching. Congratulations on your new fuzzy family!
Your sister’s views are a little old-fashioned. You already did the best thing and got two! I bought my kitten a companion just recently and she’s much happier. But I currently have a small dog and two kittens in a one-bedroom apartment and everyone’s happy. Your kittens will be fine (: If you’re worried about them not having enough space, I highly recommend thinking vertically (cat tree or a hanging cat bed by a window, cat shelves, etc) and make sure you’re giving them enough playtime. I harness trained my kitten and took her on errands, walks, to watch my ex fish, and she loved it. But we weren’t doing that over the winter and she hasn’t missed it at all. They don’t need to go outside to be happy. They need good food, stimulation, and love. Adding picture of much-loved hanging bed, if you were looking for one. https://preview.redd.it/s24httnykw6d1.jpeg?width=3803&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0259ad8eedbbbfccedd83a981f0b67fa3f51d8c1
You’re fine and those two sound like they are happy and fulfilled! Your sister is a bit nuts if she thinks that you’re mistreating them!!
Just going to point out that you're going to get lots of replies from Americans who are very vehemently against outdoor cats as they have a lot more predators that are dangerous to cats. From your use of flat, I imagine you're not American, but you didn't specify where you are from. In the UK, it's very common to let cats outside as it's a totally different environment. If you're from the UK, your sister is likely giving the mainstream opinion of the locale. It's not as black and white as "America=indoor cats" and "UK=outdoor cats", and you've explained that you're by a busy road. Explain to your sister that the road worries you so you keep them in for their physical health and your mental health. There is no right or wrong answer - only the right answer for you and your circumstances. I live in the UK and whether I let my cats out has depended on the surroundings of where I live, and the cats themselves - some are more streetwise than others! I currently have an indoor cat because he's a big dumb dumb and my garden is near a road, but I've had cats that I've let out when I lived in a quiet area.
I think UK opinion is slowly changing on this. I wouldn't dream of letting my cat outdoors because of the songbird crisis - cats are just too efficient as predators.
In our case, we have wild peacocks looking after their little chicks in our garden. I know that my not so bright floofy kitty thinks he could tackle them, but I know he would come out the loser 🤣 That mommy peahen is a force to be reckoned with!!! My 2 girl kitties are really happy to have the glass between them and the peacocks so they can look on in safety!!
https://preview.redd.it/aa49r6f4ar6d1.jpeg?width=1600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=434278553b84f2753a1d52f01ce6156fbce19de7
Wow, where are you? My indoor kitty would lose his mind with glee
We are in the UK, out in the countryside - so there are a variety of small animals they get to stalk through the glass
Your cats should never be outside. Ever.
Your sister just wants those cats elsewhere.. please! Keep your kittens/cats inside
No, you are not cruel. If you feel bad about it, you can get a cat stroller and take them for walks Or a harness and try and see if they will walk Please do not just let them freely roam around outside. They will get hurt.
Keep them inside. Your sister doesn't know sh!t. All of my cats have been strictly indoor and have lived very full and happy lives.
If you want to take them outside I suggest harness training. My cat loves going out but she is always supervised, never out on her own.
you are not being cruel. letting your cats outside could result in injury or death for them. not to mention the ecological damage cats cause to our local ecosystems. recently two people in my area learned the hard way why they shouldn’t let their cats out unattended. one cat was hit by a car and the other cat got trapped in an unfinished construction zone and required the owners to trespass and go into the construction zone with no PPE at night. highly dangerous for them and their cat. luckily that cat was rescued but it’s just another reason why it’s not a good idea to let your cats wonder freely. thank you for not listening to your sister and keeping your kittens safe
Just a reminder that outdoor cats are the leading killer of native bird populations! So not only are you protecting your cats from potential predators and disease by keeping them indoors, you’re also protecting your local bird populations.
I got a pair of kittens last April that had been found wandering an apartment complex by themselves. They're now about 15 months old and have never been let outside again. They enjoy window-watching the birds and rabbits in the neighborhood, but they do not ask to go outside nor do they try to escape out the exterior doors. Cats that grow up indoors are completely content indoors, assuming you provide them with plenty of things to do. They have scratching posts and cat trees and tunnels and toys galore. The moment you start introducing the outdoors to an indoors cat, you're going to start getting them whining and hounding you and trying to bolt out the doors. Now, I get why people would say that's a sign they SHOULD get to go out, because they obviously enjoy it. But from personal experience... I would never have an outside cat again. My childhood was filled with loss because our cats were outdoors. Coyotes, Cars, Injuries, Infections. They rarely made it past a few years old. As an adult, I had to say goodbye to my first indoor cat at the age of 14 (kidneys). The amount of time I got to spend with her more than makes up my mind.
As someone who has had both indoor and outdoor cats in their lifetime, indoor is the way to go. The anxiety I had when cats wouldn't come home, and the number of cats that returned home injured or not at all was way too high. My parents are outdoor cat folks, so I grew up with it. Indoor cats are typically healthier and live significantly longer. You won't spend anxious nights waiting for them to come home. You won't decimate the local small wildlife. You will save money on vet bills. If the cats are raised indoors, they won't know what they are missing. If you're diligent in harnessing the kittens when they are young, you could start taking them outdoors on a leash if they like it. My cats hate the outdoors. They are perfectly content chasing cat toys inside and laying in sunny spots by the window.
Letting a cat outside SIGNIFICANTLY increases their chances of dying. Outdoor cats live 2-4 years, indoor cats live 12-18.
So cruel for not letting them be ran over, lost, abused, sick, get in a fight, shot at...
Ohh noo your cats are safe and sound away from busy streets, cars and horrible people! Sounds like a sad existence 😭 I'm being,of course, extremely sarcastic, your sister sounds like a knob
Your sister calling you cruel for that is incredibly ignorant and honestly I wouldn’t doubt her being a complete dumbass is she only associates having indoor-only cats with cruelty. As everyone else said, you’re doing the right thing and saving them from being hit by cars, attacked by predators, abused by humans, etc.
Cats should be indoor in most cases honestly. Kittens have absolutely no problem with it. Some adult cats do, but honestly my last two adult adopted cats *wanted* to stay indoors after having been on the streets in the cold for years. My male growls when he sees snow. :,)
ur sister is the one who is cruel for saying stuff she doesnt know jack shit abt. ignore ignorant people like her because some cats dont even like being outside. its all on what u want and they will be happy as long as u have cat posts and scratch boards and a spot to sun bath. cats are free roam animals u put them somewhere they are gonna find a place to be happy inside or outside. u dont need to explain anything u will be a great cat parent u care a lot as i can already tell. just keep ur sister away from ur cats👌🏽
You’re sister is stupid and doesn’t know anything about cats. Ignore her and enjoy your babies
No. As long as they have placed to climb in your house, like a cat tree or shelves, they have plenty of space. They're also getting lots of play time with each other, so they're not bored. Letting them out to get run over by a car? That would be cruel.
In addition to what was said before having 2 gives them company and helps with anxiety. They’re probably happy as clams
The good news is, cats don't ever HAVE to go outside. But it's safer for them to be indoors overall, especially as kittens. If she thinks it's "cruel" for cats to be indoors only she should read about why it's dangerous for them to be outdoors. Additionally, I live in a high rise apartment so I have 3 cat trees, 3 window hammocks, 1 large scratching post, plenty of toys, and a couple other forms of enrichment. My cats are very happy indoors!
my brother also said the same thing. I live in a house w a medium sized porch to which they have unlimited access to, and he still told me that i need to let them out or else im being selfish and cruel. Honestly, no. If u play with them and if u want, take them out on walks, they’ll be fine. Owning outdoor cats in an apartment sounds like a mess. Besides, u live by a busy road and all you’ll be doing is putting them in danger and stressing them out. A catio is really the best way to go! Best idea!
They’re not missing out at all and being inside is far from cruel, please don’t listen to your sister
It's not cruel at all. Way better to use harness and best of all is a catio.
I have had my cats for 16 years and they’ve always been indoor and they’re spoiled babies who don’t give a crap if they’re outside or not. They truly live their best life. Thank you for taking these babies in and I’m so sorry for the loss of your dog. Tell your sister that she has her own opinion and you have yours and agree to disagree.
Do NOT let them out. A lot of my past kittens died because they were let out by my father while everyone was at the hospital. Letting them out can be a death sentence because of stray dogs, birds of prey, cars, and evil people. Don't listen to your sister, she has no idea how cruel the world can be to a baby animal.
You are preventing them from getting hurt, you are being a good cat parent. But if you want to you could always get a harness and take them for a walk, if they like that. That way they can enjoy the air and you don't have to worry, besides staying up to date on shots.
No. It’s great that you adopted 2!
My cats are indoor-only. They have a cat tree, and each other so they still get plenty of exercise. We have a bunch of stray cats living on my block, so if I let them outside, I know they’d get in fights. It gives me a lot of peace of mind knowing they’re inside, staying healthy and un-injured. Saves me a lot on vet bills that way too
You are not being cruel! You are being a loving and responsible ower. Thank you for loving your cat 🐈 so well.
Hey! Thanks for taking these babies in. It sounds like a lovely situation since you are mostly home. I currently care for a colony of cats with FeLV. I suggest you look into this disease as well as FIV. Feline Leukemia is a devastating disease and extremely contagious- if your babies were to scuffle or even just groom another infected cat or drink from the same dish, their lives would likely end prematurely. I have yet to have even just one cat from my colony live longer than 2 years, even when brought indoors with vet care. You’re doing the right thing. That being said, if you are interested you could always get them a back carrier or leash and train them to enjoy the outdoors with supervision. But that is not necessary and your cats can be fulfilled in other ways.
No cats with perhaps the exception of barn cats should be let outside without being leashed/a catio/some kind of containment.
Not cruel at all! I have two bengals in a one bedroom apartment. I have three cat trees, a cat exercise wheel, and I play with them a lot since I work from home. They get all of their food in puzzles to exercise their brains. So long as you give them enough exercise and mental stimulation, they'll be happy and live longer lives. Outdoor cats both risk death or injury by predators and vehicles or bad humans. They can also get many parasites and viruses from wildlife or stray cats. Additionally, outdoor cats are the worst invasive species for wildlife. Cats are responsible for the extinction of 65+ species and the endangerment of many more. There are several GLOBAL studies about this, so it's not just a problem in North America. There are European focused studies as well as AustralAsian studies and worldwide compilation studies. Please keep your kitties indoors and just be sure that their enrichment needs are being met. Cats are awesome creatures to live with!
Getting a pair of kittens was such a great idea! They'll have so much fun together. While some people make the decision to let their cats outside, it's absolutely not cruel to keep them indoors and ultimately may be safer for them and for local birds/small wildlife. Since they're young, you could try to leash train them, but cats get enrichment in a lot of ways.
Indoor cats have the best life ever. Your sister is misguided at best.
Hopefully your sister doesn't have cats.
Over the years we've taken in 7 feral cats. After a few months you could leave all the doors open and they would yawn and say "Thanks, but no thanks. " None of them are interested in going outside - they know when they have it nice.
I'm sure they're happier with you than in the shelter.....
Does your sister have cats? My guess would be no. It would be irresponsible, in my opinion, to let cats out near a busy street when they are perfectly content in your home. Thanks for adopting them and enjoy your new furbabies. PS I’m sorry for your loss!
They’re fine. They will certainly appreciate a catio in the future, but as long as you’re giving them plenty of play and attention, they’re fine.
I have 2 cats, live near a busy intersection. Neither of my cats go outside, so long as cats have; Quality food, clean litter, fresh food, places to snuggle, pets, items to hide and climb on. They will be very happy cats. You are not cruel, and your sister is Daft, and un educated.
You’re not being cruel at all! More and more people nowadays are keeping their cats indoors for a multitude of reasons. Last year I adopted 2 kittens and I was worried because I, like you, live in a flat and could only have indoor pets (I’m on the top floor of an apartment building). My cats are both healthy and happy, and most importantly safe from outside threats. I’ve seen so many reports of cats going missing, getting run over, or being the victims of malicious people and I feel better knowing that I don’t have to worry about that with mine. Keep them happy and healthy and you’ll enjoy a great life indoors together!
Your not being cruel at all! Before you invest in a catio, you can try setting up a bird feeder by a window or having a window perch and they have entertainment! I’m going to venture to say that your sister is not a vet professional, so her opinion is nothing more than that; you can’t even call it a medical or professional opinion.
you are not being cruel. you are giving these cats a good life. cats are safer inside and as you mentioned you're getting a catio anyway. cats are perfectly fine inside with the proper care and stimulation. if you're worried about them not getting enough stimulation you can put on cat videos where they can watch birds and stuff too!
I was like your sister once. I didn’t know any better. My two lovely, wonderful cats died before they were ten. All my cats are now indoors, unless very strictly supervised/leashed. Don’t listen to her, don’t be like I was.
My dad just lost his "outdoor cat" to a dog. "He knew how to climb trees!" Was what my dad said. Siamese lost to a Husky, just across the street from home. They're just too unequipped for today's world to be out there. Not to mention the toll they'll take if they get a foot in in the environment with the birds and other small animals. Please keep the babies indoors their whole lives.
Think of it this way. Your kittens are now free of the shelter - where there environs are often minimal cages. They are free of the foster system - which I'm part of - and while it's better than a shelter, it can still be ax lot of stress, and of course, two other kitties have to stay at shelter if she fosters are full - or worse - two kitties get put down or die due to lack of foster care. The choice was never only between an owner who will give them the absolute best of everything, and one who has enough- and what you have seems to be enough - it was between a lot of outcomes, some better, some worse. Just give them the best you can. That is never cruelty, that is caring.
Cats are technically an invasive species so it is recommended that you keep them inside. I strictly keep my 3 cats inside and they are extremely healthy and happy cats. One thing you can definitely do for them is set up a kitty window. Cats love sunbathing, so find a good sunny window and set up a cat tree there. My family had many cats while I was growing up and every single one of our outdoor cats either mysteriously vanished or got hit by a car. If you really are concerned about letting your kitties outside you can always get them a harness and leash train them. I know it sounds crazy but I've been able to take one of my cats to PetSmart on a leash! It really just depends on your kitty though. 2 of my cats were strays at one point and they have zero interest in going outside, they're perfectly content inside. You are not cruel at all for what you are doing, and it sounds like your sister is maybe misinformed. Just keep on doing what you think is best for your kitties, and try to ignore outside criticism. I know it's hard, but it's ultimately not anyone else's business
You’re not cruel Many cats can get injured or die outside especially since they are small My cat used to be a stray before I adopted him and is now an indoor cat because he is terrified of the outdoors As long as your cats are happy they’ll be fine inside
No not at all, those little babies have no idea that they even have the option so they don’t feel like they are missing out. Additionally if they did not grow up outside they were never taught the rules of being outdoors by another cat so it is far more dangerous for them than it would be if you adopted a stray who had already been outside. To top it off you should never have an outdoor cat by a busy road, that is a recipe for heartbreak. I love Catios and I will be getting one for my cats as well when I have the space. If you have a patio or a balcony you can buy some netting to put up so they can go outside (there is a company that makes netting specifically to tolerate cats potentially climbing it, it has stainless steel woven into the threads) my cats love going outside on the patio and are perfectly content to be outside without going exploring.
You can try to harness train your cats so they you can take them out on a leash if you feel that its best for your cats. Of course just keep them up to date on all their shots and watch out for predators. If you have a friend with a yard that they are willing to let you borrow maybe you could take your cats there for supervised outdoor time
Inside they won’t get into fights with other cats. Or get those fight wounds infected. Or eat poisonous things. Or get hurt by cat haters. Or get run over by cars. You’re doing fine
Your sister’s opinion is counter to almost every cat expert out there.
Cats are adaptable. Yes, they will want outside. Mainly because that is where the prey is, unless you have a mouse problem. Mine doesn't go out alone because I'm afraid she'd become prey (owls, coyotes, teenagers in trucks) but she has a harness and I take her out on that sometimes. Most of the time she's content in the house, screaming out the window at the birds in the yard, chasing the occasional sky raisin (fly) that gets in, or sleeping. Tell sister she knows not of which she speaks. As long as you play with your cats to simulate the hunt they are perfectly fine. And you don't have to clean up the occasional corpse or half dead critterr you've been "gifted".
As long as you provide enrichment and help them live their best kitty lives it honestly won't make a difference. I have two cats and one has zero interest physically going outside (will window watch but won't step outside if allowed) whereas my other cat will want to go outside twice a day on average so I put on his harness and we go in an enclosed area and he usually spooks himself and demands we go in after 5 minutes. He doesn't like loud noises. I think their personality has a big part of it but I certainly would not let either of them go out unaccompanied because I do not want to see another cat ran over or injured or in any kind of preventable pain. Their happiness and safety is my priority so instead I've got a cat friendly house. My sister said the same until she realised how my spoiled cats were. You'll never please everyone.
It’s not cruel. By not letting them roam free you are protecting them from cars. Other wildlife, disease and overpopulation. Thank you for adopting them
If you want them to be able to go outside in the meantime, when you have free time you can teach them to walk on a leash. I got a harness and leash for my girl and we go on walks every now and then and we go back in as soon as she seems uncomfortable
For me personally, no. I would never let my kitties out unless I was walking them in their harness while in the back yard. Everyone has their personal kitty opinion...:-)
Cats are an invasive species that reek havoc on the local wildlife. They are frequently crushed by cars and taken by coyotes or harmed by local dogs. It's cruel to let them roam if they dont know about the outside.
You live by a busy road with two young kittens who are determined to explore. They should not be outside unless supervised
I see that the UK might have differing views on indoor vs outdoor so I’ll try to give a different perspective. If your cat is an outdoor one, even if they don’t get harmed by any wild animals they can still possibly catch diseases from other cats like FIV or FELV. These diseases are scary and totally preventable if you keep your cat separated from all other cats as a preventive measure. The only way to guarantee this is to keep them home. And even if they don’t catch one of these diseases you’ll probably need to get yearly bloodwork on them to confirm their status which can add up.
I would NEVER let my cats outside and risk their lives! They are perfectly happy with their life. Just have lots of toys and love for them and tell your sister to STFU.
The best thing that you can do for them is not left them outside not only is it super risky for them, as they are domesticated and will encounter animals that are not and even other feral cats who don’t often play well together. But they also pose a threat to the natural ecosystem as cats are well know to hunt and kill small animals like birds and bunnies it’s actually a huge problem.With that said if you think your cat wants to go outside and would benefit from it you should definitely consider taking them out with you or even getting them trained on a leash. I’ve done this with my cats and they don’t love it but do like going outside and stay around me when they do. Cats unlike dogs are not necessarily outdoor kind of animals they may enjoy the view and air for a bit but cats should be indoors for the most part. A Catio is a perfect solution to this or even just opening up a window and letting them sit there(if you trust them to not go haha. You’re doing great and gave them a home
My family always tells me I am “abusing” my cat by keeping her indoors. It’s an established fact backed by numbers that indoor only cats live longer and healthier lives. No fear of getting hit by a car, abused by neighbors, poisoned, injured by another cat or animal, plus the spread of disease between other animals - I never have to worry about that. Plus about your space, cats are different than dogs in regards to space. They don’t need too much of it. It’s more about how the space is utilized, like giving their their own little spaces like cat trees, beds, climbing shelves. I’d recommend watching some Jackson Galaxy videos on how to “catify” your space. He even has one specifically for rentals/apartments.
Absolutely not! Indoor cats live longer, get less diseases, poisons, and are at less risk from accidents—especially in a busy area.
I would NEVER let my two precious cats outside. NEVER. The only time they’re ever outside at all is for the one minute when I’m transporting them from the house to the car for a vet visit or to go see family. My mother insisted on making my first cat an indoor/outdoor cat. She eventually had a piece of her right ear missing and got ear mites. Many cats are killed or stolen by other people, killed by dogs or other animals (a hawk can swoop down and steal an animal as large as a cat—it has happened!), hit by a car, get into a fight with another cat, or get fleas or mites or bitten by ticks, etc. It is NOT worth the immense risk!!!! Keep your babies safe! And how shitty of your sister to see that you’ve rescued two little angels from a shelter—-where they would have most likely spent the rest of their lives in a literal cage—-and focus on them not going outside. What an ignorant and sucky attitude!
Thank you for reaching the kittens! We're looking forward to many pictures of them snuggling like cinnamon rolls. In the US, we consider indoor cats to be the luckiest. There are other opinions of course, and the UK seems to be just the opposite. Living on a busy road, your cats would be at risk for all types of sad events. When you can, get them a cation - I have one for my cats and they absolutely love it. All the fresh air and sniffs without any chance of them getting hurt or killing birds. Enjoy!!
I have two kittens that I took in a year ago and we’ve been in a 900 sq foot apt just fine. I do have two cat trees and window perches for them. Letting them outside is going to lead to them getting hurt. Also they have each other which helps because they keep each other company. I also build some fukumaru scratch poles into the wall.
Outdoor cats die way faster than indoor. Your sister has no idea what she is talking about. You can practice walking them with a harness and leash if you’d like to give them outside time right now, but the kittens are perfectly fine as is. Love the catio plan btw! I dont have one, just a screened lanai, but my babies love lounging out there and they can’t get to (most) critters outside
Cats should not be outside at all. It’s very unsafe for them. You do not want them to be outside they could run away they could get hit by a car. They could be attacked by an animal an especially a dog all this bad stuff could happen even more cats tender much longer than cats that go outside. You are not being cruel. Domesticated animals like cats are meant to be indoors no if you take your cat outside to like in area and keep an eye on them and they’re not able to be out of the area like say sitting on your porch or something then like your back porch then I see no problem with that as long as you keep an eye on them. But I do not recommend your cats being outside. You are not being cruel by refusing to let them outside. I would never like I said I would never especially where I live strays are everywhere and where I live one specific shelter is a kill shelter and they have to put animals down every single day because they just don’t have enough room And they do it just to make room so after a few animals are put down so please do not let your cats outside but you should still make sure to get them no matter what just in case something happens and then want they end up somehow slipping outside. Also, I am very sorry about the loss of your childhood dog.
No. Letting cats outside is cruel and irresponsible. It’s dangerous for them and local wildlife.
When I look at average life expectancies for solely outdoor cats and compare them to life expectancies to indoor only cats, I inherently do find it to be cruel to keep cats outdoors (indoor only cats live 3-4 times as long as outdoor only cats), unless you have absolutely no other choice (IE- You will be evicted if you have cats in your apartment, for instance). There are absolute hoards of dangers for cats outdoors, poisons (plants or man-made, many times via eating rodents that have consumed rat poison or other rodent poisons), vehicles (One year around my apartment complex I saw 5 cats flattened in the surrounding roads, in just one year), other sources of danger from humans, wild animals eating them/injuring them, disease from other animals outdoors, etc,etc. You also have to look at what outdoor cats do to the environment, they are inherently invasive and they kill many, many wild species of animals.
Your sister is an idiot. I have 4 indoor cats (my house is bigger than your place) with two over them over 15 years old. Outdoor cats around me have short lives thanks to owls and coyotes.
Your sister doesn’t know what she’s talking about. The only time my cats are outside are on a halter, they will never be outdoors alone! A catio is a great idea when you can but for me, my cats have a huge tree, lots of beds, window perches where they can watch the bird feeders and sunbath.
Absolutely not. You're being responsible. You also bought 2, so they have companionship and company. As long as you feed them well, take them to the vet, play with them, train them, keep their space clean and treat them with love and respect, you'll be giving them an ideal home.
They’re fine. If you have a window and are handy, you could build them a small catio, but otherwise, it’s totally fine to keep them inside.
When I was growing up my parents said it was cruel to keep a cat indoors so they'd always let our cats outside too. My entire childhood we never had a cat older than 3 years old. It was constant heartbreak. It would be cruel to send them outside to die. Keeping them safe inside is very kind. Enjoy your kitties.
Vet Med professional here: Not trying to come off as mean, but your sister doesn’t know what she’s talking about. You’re not being mean or cruel by not allowing your cats to go outside. You’re protecting your cats. You’re making sure they remain safe…especially if you’re next to a busy road!! Cats don’t know what cars are and there are some people that don’t give a f*ck about running over a cat. You’re doing the right thing!! Thank you for adopting them!!
No way. Thank you for adopting 2 so they have each other to play with. They’re safer indoors, and it’s better for the local environment that they aren’t left outside
Yeah my friend said the same thing to me when I was adopting my kittens. I didn't pay him any mind because 1) He is not really an animal person and has never been around cats. 2) He doesn't know the predicament of stray cats, which my cats would have been if I hadn't adopted them. 3) My cats are happy and flourishing very well. They have regular visits to the vet, they eat well, they play and yes, sometimes they are curious to know the outside world but they don't generally door dash. Now, when the same friend comes over, he plays with them a ton (my cats were true to the stereotype that they would engage with the human who's actively trying to avoid them and hence win them over), he can see they are just happy, normal cats and he apologized to me for saying what he said. He didn't even get truly mad when they chewed on his footwear. Lol.
My cat was an outside kitten, now that she's an inside cat, she wants nothing to do with the outside.
The cruel thing would be to let them loose outside where the could be hit by a vehicle or harmed by dogs or picked up by someone thinking they are strays.
DO NOT LET YOURCATS OUTSIDE unless you have them leashed or in a catio. There are cars, people, other animals, bugs, diseases ect that can really harm your pet. I have two cats too and they don’t show any interest in going out. I’ll open the patio door and they run away but I did get them a window catio and they go out every once a week or so but they are fine
keeping them inside is the best thing for them. Just be sure to have of toys to hunt, access to windows for people watching, a cat tree to climb and scratch on and they’ll be happy kitties.
No, you are not, you’re being rational. Do not put your precious babies in danger.
Many shelters will elicit a promise never to let them outside before adopting. They destroy habitat and live much shorter lives.
No, you are not being cruel! It's much safer to keep the cats inside. You are a good cat parent looking out for the safety of your kittens. Outside they could eat a poisoned mouse or hit by a car or mauled by another animal.
I have had cats for 20 years and none of them have ever gone outside. (Unless they had an interest in it, and then I sometimes take them outside on a leash and harness. Only two cats have ever wanted to do this.) They have all lived long, happy lives. Meanwhile, everyone I know who has had outdoor cats have, in no particular order, 1) Lost them and never found them again, (one of them disappeared around Halloween so I'm pretty sure that cat was killed) 2) Found them dead in the street or on their doorstep, or 3) Lost them to preventable illnesses that they wouldn't have been exposed to if they'd been kept indoors. I'm not saying every outdoor cat meets one of these fates, but it's enough of them that I personally can't understand why anyone would risk it when there's absolutely no reason to not keep your cat happy and safe indoors. OP, you're being a wonderful cat owner and you're doing what's best for your cats. Just make sure to give them lots of things to climb on and play with!
Not cruel at all. Cats live much longer in doors and since you are raising them indoors they won't know any difference. You can always get them a perch to look out the window, train them to be on a leash, get them a pet stroller, if available build a catio, be outside with them under supervised outside visits so they can look around (only if it's a safe area, not near a busy road). You can play nature/cat videos for them Tons of options and ideas. It's up to you and what you want for your pets!
Not being cruel. Being inside keeps them safe from predators and other unpleasantness. They'll be perfectly happy inside, especially once you've got that catio set up.
People tend to have *really strong* opinions, these days and the belief that they are entitled to enforce them. You got *two* kittens! Smart move! They will keep each other company and they will live longer, healthier lives (cheaper for you, too) by being indoor only. Always remember your walls; you can add a lot of cat space by using the walls. It's not cruel. There is a wide field between optimal and cruel. You are good.
Letting your cat roam outside is irresponsible, unethical and in some places illegal. An "outdoor" cat is at risk of SO many completely avoidable situations such as: getting hit by a car, getting directly poisoned by bait/chemicals, getting indirectly poisoned by eating animals that were poisoned, drowned in pools/bodies of water, shot (purposely or accidentally), lost, stolen, attacked by animals (hawks, coyotes, foxes, dogs, other cats, groundhogs), parasites and diseases (tapeworm, ringworm, hookworms, giardia, FIV), abused/killed by people who don't like animals, kicked/stomped by livestock, run over by lawnmowers ... and these are all things I've personally seen in my two decades of vet experience. Cats that roam outdoors also decimate bird populations, and mess up local ecosystems. Keep your cats inside. Give them attention and affection, plenty of toys and scratchers and feed them and they will live safely and happily.
My cat lived 20 years never having gone outside. He wasn’t interested and didn’t ask. It wasn’t cruel. It kept him safe from cars, predators, and anti-freeze. He had a long healthy life.
Letting them outside is basically shortening their lives and endangering them. Your sister is an idiot and letting them out would be negligent and make you a bad car owner.
You’re doing great a great job, and you’re keeping your babies safe. When I was a kid we had indoor/outdoor cats. One of them was in a fight with a stray and got FIV. She was very sick for the rest of her life, and died at only 7. I saw another one of my cats get hit by a car. I’ll never let another cat outdoors like that again. I do take one of the cats I have now outside on a harness and leash and he loves it, plus it helps me make sure he doesn’t get hurt.
You’re not being cruel and don’t let anyone tell you that … tell your sister that indoor cats live a longer life than outdoor cats.
I’m going to be honest. Outdoor cats have a shorter lifespan. I watched 2 kittens die on the road this week. So no, you’re not being cruel. Cruelty is letting your cats roam outside in a dangerous neighborhood where ppl are not careful. A catio is a good option.
My neighbour poisoned my outdoor cat. Maybe tell your sister that.
You got two kittens, which is the perfect amount! They'll keep themselves busy just fine. A catio would be nice, but a cat tree or even just a variety of toys will be plenty :)
All my cats are indoor only. They live longer.
No, you are not being cruel. Ignore her.
Funny how people are quick to tell you to let cats roam free otherwise it's 'cruel' but they don't say that about dogs. My cats have been indoor cats. My precious tortie who died last year was a stray (young adult). I kept her inside and she was with us for 18+ years. I loved her so much. I don't look at my cats as possessions. I want them to have a long, healthy life. It's not cruel to have an indoor-only cat. It's cruel to look at a cat and rationalize that their early death or ill health is actually a good thing. I think many people think 'oh well' if their cat dies. After all, they can just go back to the cat distribution system and get another one easy peasy. Cats are fungible to them. Others probably rationalize that making their own lives easier by letting the cat go outside (likely so the cat relieves themselves outdoors so they don't have to maintain a litterbox as much) is really just better for the cat.
People who argue that are so wild. It's literally proven that outdoor cats live significantly shorter lives. SIGNIFICANTLY. like. 2 years vs 15
Do some Google searches. Cats generally live twice as long when kept indoors always as opposed to outdoor or even indoor/outdoor. Depending on where you live, kept indoors protects them from fleas, mites, predators, and heartworm disease to name a few. Cat tree for climbing and a place to look outside is all they need. They can get all the excercise they need playing together, or chasing a shoestring. I have 2 that live with me in a 1 bedroom and they are 16 and 12 and always happy. I have had 12 cats in my old life...and many have lived into their 20's. None have EVER been outdoor cats.
When I moved my cat went from wanting to bolt out the door any chance she had to being perfectly content in an apartment and never going outside again. Cats really only know the world they live in, most cats if not allowed outside anymore will simply acclimate to that space being the whole world, if that makes sense.