what idiot thinks its in the best intrest for cats to be locked inside a house 'safe' ?? cats are roamers who should be allowed to walk around freely, where ever they live. They are incredibly smart and won't get hit by a car that easily.
Word.
I passed five dead cats on the road on my way to work one fine summers day. There’s even a slang term for cats that died on roads and got pummeled flat, they’re called “sail cats” because they dry out and can be picked up and tossed like a frisbee.
I’m sorry but if you honestly think a cat has some magic instinct to avoid cars (an object that has only been common the past 100 years that not even PEOPLE have a good record of safely avoiding) you’re relly not wise to the reality of the situation.
In what universe do cats not commonly get hit by cars? Cats regularly die because they fall asleep under parked cars.
Dogs are “roamers” too. The only occasions where i see dogs loose are when theyre dead on the side of the road or chasing cars and about to be dead. Cats arent any more well off. Between diseases and illness (possibly going unnoticed as well), fighting with other cats, wild animals (coyotes, coons, predatory birds, feral dogs, etc), parked or moving vehicles, possibly getting trapped, access to foods/items that may be toxic, poison or a choking hazard… cats are not any more fit to be outside. Nevermind the damage they do to surrounding wildlife. Hell one of my cats has choked on a piece of plastic before, and still continues trying to eat plastic if we arent diligent in throwing it all out.
Also lets look at the five freedoms here
1. Freedom from Hunger and Thirst – by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour.
Sure. One can argue that your cat knows where to go for food and water if youre the one feeding it. But if you cant supervise your cat or even know where it is at all times, how are you going to ensure its properly fed? What if the animal becomes trapped or lost somewhere? Cats are YOUR responsibility as much as any other animal and should not be expected to provide for themselves. If theyre hunting, you cannot ensure that whatever they kill and consume is both healthy for them and not riddled with any diseases or illnesses your cat may contract.
2. Freedom from Discomfort – by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area.
Again we can argue that maybe your cat has access to your home, or some kind of shelter provided for them. However this does not stop cats from choosing resting spots in inappropriate areas such as in/under vehicles. A city or the wilderness is not an appropriate environment for a domesticated animal, and you are not the one “providing” them with this environment to begin with.
3. Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease – by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.
How will you know if your cat is ill or injured? All you can do to prevent some illnesses is vaccinate (and thats not necessarily foolproof). By letting your cat loose, you cannot prevent injury and you cannot make a rapid diagnosis/give rapid treatment when you have no idea where your cat is. Your cat wont necessarily come hobbling back to you either. More likely than not they will hide while in pain and try to remain out of sight. Just because youre ignorant to their suffering does not mean it doesnt happen. I have no idea how many times in my life ive heard “oh that cat just never came home again” when we all know the most likely scenario is that cat is dead and died a slow excruciatimg death or became a meat pancake on the highway.
4. Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour – by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal’s own kind.
Cats dont need 10 square miles to roam anymore than dogs do. You can exercise your cat, play with them and train them. Just because its perceived to be the norm to allow cats to use the world as their playground does not mean you should. Do you let your dogs roam the town and scavenge through garbage for scraps? Just because this is the norm for some dogs in the world does not mean its appropriate. You can provide sufficient space and fulfill their needs from within your home and under supervision outdoors. Cat wants to hunt? Engage with them using toys that fulfill that need.
5. Freedom from Fear and Distress – by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.
One of our cats was formerly a street cat. She lost the tips of her ears to frostbite. I can also very, very confidently say, that when she is outside she is often times in pure fear. She goes into “street cat mode” where she is hyper vigilant of everything in her surroundings. This cat who never scratches or bites, turned around and attacked me when i picked her up after escaping outside*. It was only after she realized who i was that she immediately stopped and was back to being calm and peaceful inside. It is this fear, constant stress and hyper vigilance that makes outdoor cats successful in an environment full of dangerous things. The other two which have lived indoors for most of their lives have NO fear when outdoors. The cats ive known that have died outdoors have typically been very calm when outside, while the more successful ones that live longer would behave in a nearly feral manner while outside. You honestly cannot tell me that survival is not distressing or the cause of fear on a day to day basis.
*before anyone says “but your cat escaped because it wanted to go outside!!!!”… no. Most people with cats are accustomed to opening any kind of door and immediately getting the cats attention/curiosity as a result. I open a cupboard? Cats! Closet? Cats!!! Must go inside!!! Even opening the freezer and laundry chute have called for thorough kitty inspection. Im 99% sure it is impossible for me to open anything without cats wanting to go see whats going on. Also, after being stopped at the back door enough, the cats cease trying to get out as they know they wont make it and theyve stopped being adamant about going through that door.
Again, cats are YOUR responsibility, as much as any animal you decide to keep. You dont let your cattle or your dogs or your birds or rodents roam anywhere that you cannot provide for them and reasonably ensure their safety and wellbeing. Cats are not some crazy exception to the rule. I know so many cat owners who have had numerous cats die in the span of a few short years because people insist that cats should be free outdoors. They write off these deaths as just bad luck when they are totally preventable. And if you really think years of living in fear or a few short years ended by illness and/or extreme, excruciating pain is better than living inside, you should reconsider getting a cat. Because letting a domestic animal free does not qualify as owning a pet. At that stage all youre doing is feeding a loose animal.
no other animal I swear, people make the dumbest excuses not to supervise cats they claim responsibility for.
