Mandana

Do you let yours out, or has it/they become a house cat?

I've heard some real horror stories about cats hunting and coming out the worse for wear (even death) over here, but I'm not sure how much of it is scare-mongering or true? (have to say most of the stories are from my H who could have heard embellished versions).

We're moving on Monday (have I told you?! ) and after the initial 2/3 weeks, I was wondering about letting him out. He's been cooped up here for 6 weeks now and is longing to go out.

Have to say I've seen lots of dogs, but no cats at all.

Maybe the stories are right??

fatbrit

Are you moving within 2 miles of a Chinese restaurant?

Mandana

Not that I know of!

NC Penguin

Most Americans who own cats seem to keep theirs as "house" cats because letting them out runs the risk of the moggy getting hit by a vehicle. The exceptions would be unless you live some place really rural (with very little traffic), you have a lot of land or you have a fenced in yard. Otherwise, your cat could go out one night and never be seen again.

Also, I've heard of numerous cats who ran out of their proverbial lives because they were sleeping/sitting on a wheel of a vehicle when someone began to drive.

Mandana

Thanks Penguin

Ours is used to going out and we lived on a busy main road back home, so he's quite street wise (although there were fields behind us). Much quieter where we will be living - but I'm concerned about him choosing to stalk snakes or worse.

Seems like you're right - most cats are house cats here.

I'll ask the neighbours too next week.

Thanks

anotherlimey

They give cats away free here:

Sally

People don't let them out because of coyotes here.

Mandana

DollyLlama

Mandana

Oh heck ..

anotherlimey

There's something going on in discussion groups on the Internet called LOLCats; perhaps you can take a picture of your kitty and add a humourous caption....

Ray

My snakes like a nice cat ..for a feast ...

scrubbedexpat097

We have had 3 cats since we have been here.

First one we let roam and after him coming in and out as he wanted for two years he didn't come back one night and we never saw him again. We suspect racoons got him

The next one we had for 15 years, she was an outdoor cat until she was badly attacked by another animal, vet suspected a coyote or a bobcat. She did survive and after that she became an indoor cat until she died last year of kidney problems

Other one also sadly died when he was not more than a kitten........he had melanoma that had spread to his liver. It broke my heart so now we are catless 'cos I cant cope with losing another one.

My advise........keep your cat as an indoor cat.

Ray

Or trade it in for a Bobcat ....

Mandana

Sorry to hear about your cats Sugarmooma

I know only too well the heartache when something happens to them. Hence my question.

I'd rather him end up 'killing' his toy mice than being the victim of something out there that's a danger to him. He'll get used to it.

Thanks all. Decision made.