Thread: Letting your Maine Coon Out?

I'm still undecided about this. For the moment he will be indoors only but come the summer when the doors are often left open and we tend to live in the garden it may become hard. I would feel sad not letting him out then and it maybe very hard keeping him in. I'm hoping by the time the summer comes he will be so used to being indoors he may not want to venture out. We live down a country lane so I'm not worried about traffic. Any traffic that does past is usually slow and I often see cats (and dogs sometimes) wondering around outside in the front. I think it's sad that they don't get to experience freedom outside in some ways. I understand in some circumstances it is totally impossible and understand wanting to keep them in. If we didn't have a garden or live where we do then I don't suppose he would miss being outside but if we are all out and the sun is shining then I would feel bad. It would be totally impossible for us to enclose our garden as we have a gate at the bottom that leads to six acres and we can't make that cat proof! As for the enclosures we wouldn't have room for that unless it was on the field and that belongs to my mother who keeps horses on it.

Originally Posted by Karena

I'm still undecided about this. For the moment he will be indoors only but come the summer when the doors are often left open and we tend to live in the garden it may become hard. I would feel sad not letting him out then and it maybe very hard keeping him in. I'm hoping by the time the summer comes he will be so used to being indoors he may not want to venture out. We live down a country lane so I'm not worried about traffic. Any traffic that does past is usually slow and I often see cats (and dogs sometimes) wondering around outside in the front. I think it's sad that they don't get to experience freedom outside in some ways. I understand in some circumstances it is totally impossible and understand wanting to keep them in. If we didn't have a garden or live where we do then I don't suppose he would miss being outside but if we are all out and the sun is shining then I would feel bad. It would be totally impossible for us to enclose our garden as we have a gate at the bottom that leads to six acres and we can't make that cat proof! As for the enclosures we wouldn't have room for that unless it was on the field and that belongs to my mother who keeps horses on it.

Is his breeder not stipulating that he is indoor only, then? Mine was stipulated on threat of removal but I would have done that anyway...

Do you remember the heat wave last summer (all one week of it). We had stiffling 30C temperatures outside & we couldn't have windows open as the cat would get out. I would do that for three months if I had to to protect her from a short life expectancy.

Originally Posted by messyhearts

Is his breeder not stipulating that he is indoor only, then? Mine was stipulated on threat of removal but I would have done that anyway...

Do you remember the heat wave last summer (all one week of it). We had stiffling 30C temperatures outside & we couldn't have windows open as the cat would get out. I would do that for three months if I had to to protect her from a short life expectancy.

I would never keep all doors and windows shut in temperatures of 30c unless I had air conditioning! I think it would be very unhealthy and unbearable for my three children and my two dogs little own the cat! I also think it would be extremely unhealthy! If it meant certain death or a short life letting my cat outside then I certainly wouldn't let him out but in my case I'm not sure the cons out way the pros. My point is I'm not sure it is the right thing to do in my situation. I would point out I'm not saying everyone that is keeping their cat in is wrong, and I totally understand your reasoning, I may even end up doing the same. I'm merely saying it is something I will have to think about nearer the time and make up my mind that in my situation if it is right for my cat to go out and enjoy the garden.

I noticed that many people are talking about how they live in a quiet or rural area so there should not be many dangers to outdoor cats. However, at least where we live, the main threats to outdoor cats are not considered cars, but rather diseases and other animals. Cats that are outside may get FeLV or FIV from other cats, there are several tick-borne diseases (some fatal) that crop up occasionally, and heartworm from mosquitoes Then there are large dogs running free, plus we have coyotes and even bobcats that will kill a domestic cat. Cars are way far down on my list as a concern to an outdoor cat.

Very true. I'm about to embark on breeding another breed so have a list of the reasons why any kitten I will breed will be homed to a house that will not let it outside.

• indoor cats do not get run over by cars
• indoor cats do not get attacked & killed by dogs
• indoor cats are safe from thieves
• indoor cats are safe from the injuries incurred from cat territory fights
• indoor cats are safe from a lot of viruses & illnesses spread by outdoor cats
• indoor cats are safe from human abuse & cruelty
• indoor cats do not leave excrement in your neighbour's precious flower beds & cause arguments
• indoor cats do not go missing or get lost
• indoor cats can still get more than enough exercise & stimulation indoors
• indoor cats do not kill birds & rodents unnecessarily

Originally Posted by messyhearts

indoor cats are safe from the injuries incurred from cat territory fights

Right--most cat bites abscess and some cats are biters. At one point we had a stray (unneutered male) in our neighborhood that was a biter. One outdoor cat down the street had to go to vet twice because of this cat, including one surgery to drain belly abscess. The same cat attacked our MC mix outside on a rope one night and he ended up with a tail abscess. I trapped that stray the very day after the fight. We were surprised because few cats would tangle with our boy, but that stray was extremely aggressive. I chased it quite a ways a couple of nights and within minutes it was back in our yard trying to pick a fight with our cat.

I don't think there is a right or a wrong answer to this one. All our circumstances are different, therefore our answers are going to be. I lost my cat last year in a RTA which was one of the worst times for me. I said I wouldn't have another cat again, purely because I couldn't go through that again, but for me the answer was a cat that would happily live inside. There is always that thought that because we have a moggie who loves to go out that Harry would want to follow her, so far he hasn't seem interested, because there is still enough to explore in the house. As long as we "drip feed" him as such with new toys etc I'm hoping that will keep him amused.

It's obviously a very sensitive topic. I agree there is no right or wrong answer. It is up to the individual to decide what is best. We all have the cats best interest at heart. I approached a few breeders in my search for a mc and each one asked about my circumstances and I told them all the same - where I live etc. All were quite happy to sell me a kitten. They told me if I had a male to get him neutered early then he wouldn't wonder too far. I was obviously lucky in the breeders I spoke to. If a breeder specified the cat should be indoor only I would respect that wish totally or go elsewhere.

As for the feline diseases they can pick up. I'm not sure what they are vaccinated against and I dont know much about feline leukaemia or what the percentage of cats is that get it - I will read up about this further. We don't have large dogs roaming free (apart from mine) the land out the back is private and we don't have coyotees or bobcats. If I do decide to let him outside it would be during the daytime & under my supervision. I think the risks in my situation are minimal. I let my dogs run free - they run for miles - they are at risk too. But the risk is small and I feel its worth it for their enjoyment of life.

Originally Posted by Karena

. We don't have large dogs roaming free (apart from mine) the land out the back is private and we don't have coyotees or bobcats. If I do decide to let him outside it would be during the daytime & under my supervision. I think the risks in my situation are minimal. I let my dogs run free - they run for miles - they are at risk too. But the risk is small and I feel its worth it for their enjoyment of life.

hey
you dont need to explain yourself at all...what you do witth YOUR cat is completely up to you infact.. i feel the same way you do i feel cruel not to allow my cat(s) outside at some point especially in hot weather but.. because my only option is to prevent harm coming to my cats i prefere to supervise via leash an indoor cat does not know how to fend for itself re: traffic, cat scrapping etc so there for are a bit unaware of their surroundings outdoors, and if its safe to do so i would also let them roam free but because each and everybodys circumstances are different including mine this isnt always an option but however i think in different circumstances if i had the option and felt it was safe for my cat i would love to let them free roam without worring so im pretty dam jelous that you can do that
i would imagine an indoor cat would become very bored being stuck in like a fish in a tank and that make me feel slightly guilty!!