Thread: One indoor one outdoor cat-problems?

When we lived in a house with a lovely big garden that backed onto other big gardens & a very quite lane at the front we let our old MC out with the other moggys but they all came in at night as next door had complained that they pooped on his lawn ervery night, it was'nt the cats it turned out to be a fox anyway I felt they were safer in at night. Then moved to a house with a smaller garden in a buit up area so cat proffed the garden. Then I had to downsize & the house only has a yard but they can get into it anytime just cant get out, I used to feel realy quilty but they are hopeless at playing with traffic so better safe than sorry.

Louie spends most of his day in the yard now he's worked out how to get out there Our old MC never went to far away when he was roaming I could usually alwasys hear him chirping away to himself when I was in our garden & there was a magpie that was always winding him up so that was a big giveaway to

Personally I would cat proof any garden we have in future just because they have become such popular cats & I would'nt need to worry to much Louie gets into enough trouble as it is

Well I absolutely agree with NCarver, having lost Benson (Poppy's kitten) our moggie last year to a RTA it proved to me my instincts were correct. Benson was pure grey and absolutely beautiful, he had a lovely disposition about him, but how can I put this, he wasn't the full shilling. People thought he was a pure bred cat so we were frightened someone would pick him up. He started to really cry at the door when Poppy went out and so (against my better judgement) began to let him in the garden. As he got older he went further afield, but a couple of times when we came home in the car we saw him run across the road infront of us. I don't want to go into any more details, still a bit raw, but it was one of the worst experiences I have had owning a pet. The reason I looked into getting a house cat was for this reason. I have cracked the harness thing now, and Harry loves it in the garden. I can't stop everything like normal illnesses, but I can prevent him from being killed on the road.

Having said all that, everyone's circumstances are different, where we all live are different, you have to look at your own particular circumstances and make that decision.

We have done what Dave suggests on the 7ft high fence between us & neighbours & it works like a dream,ours can't get out & others can't get in.,where the fence tapers down & is not quite so high it gives them hours of pleasure just trying to get out & us hours of fun watching them.Before we put the extra wiring up one of them made it onto the neighbours shed roof & then just sat there wailing to be rescued,had all the neighbours in our close running to see what was happening because they thought all the noise was coming from an injured animal,sorry everyone just Bruce in a panic....!
Inside/outside,I think you could get baby to accept the situation quite easily,we are talking about brainy village idiots here & as someone in earlier post has said "with no road sense".They love to be with you that is the joy of this breed & why I think they accept the situations you place them in so readily.When big bruv goes out give baby playtime with his favourite toy,put him on the kitchen windowsill & let him have a splash around under the water tap while you are trying to do the washing up,bet it won't be long before he is saying to the other one more fool you I have great time being here with mum,thanks.
Good luck.

I used to let my cats outside ( not at night) many years ago but after one got hit by a car ( recovered), one attacked by a tom requiring vet treatment and a friends cat killed by a snake I now have my cats inside. I do have the cat run down the side of the house for them.

Even my 2 recently deceased 17 3/4 year old cats took to being inside relatively easily after being allowed outside for about 8 years with only a few escapes early in the piece.

Timmy (7) doesnt look to go outside and once I took him out the front to see someone he paniced and tried to shred the door to get back in. He will step out the back a few steps if I am out there with the door open but soon runs back in as I think he is just seeing where I am if I have left the door open.

Sarah has never tried to get out either door and has never shown an interest at all.

Zack is copying her and when I come inside they step back from the door and walk inside with me.

They have constant access to the cat run 14m x 3 m with plants and bugs and I would say they are out there about 1 hour in 24 - maybe 2 on a summer night if I leave the light on and the moths start flying around. Other than having to use a tray I dont think it would make much difference to them if I shut them inside all the time - they chose to be in themselves.

I think if they have never been out then they dont miss it

I like to come home and know I have the 3 cats I left in the morning in one piece!

ps - the MC breeders require them to be inside cats anyway unless on leashes

Originally Posted by Heather2mc

ps - the MC breeders require them to be inside cats anyway unless on leashes

Mine didn't - she goes on peoples individual circumstances. Everyone is different I think you should do what you feel comfortable with and what you feel is best for your cats. For me Simba would be a very unhappy cat being kept indoors and I feel that loving him is letting him have his freedom. In my case the risks are too minimal to keep him shut in for all his life and so they are outweighed by his happiness.

I think it is just the Australian breeders that want the MC inside. We do have lots of venomous snakes, spiders and other dangers here. We also have some unique small animals that are dwindling in numbers.

Some of the councils here are even trying to limits cats to 2, register them and insist on them being inside!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Heather2mc

I think it is just the Australian breeders that want the MC inside. We do have lots of venomous snakes, spiders and other dangers here. We also have some unique small animals that are dwindling in numbers.

Some of the councils here are even trying to limits cats to 2, register them and insist on them being inside!!!!!!!

Blimey good job we dont live there or we'd be in bother Alot of breeders over here state indoor only homes to.

As a UK breeder, I would be horrified if any of my kitten owners let them outside. I state in my contract that all of our Maine Coons need to be indoor cats or go to homes where they have a garden enclosure.

Apart from anything else, they do not have any road sense like moggies seem to have bred into them and a family down the road from me had a Maine Coon who ran out in the road chasing a car and got knocked down and killed - I was the one who found her body. You also have to bear in mind that these are pedigree cats and therefore much more likely to be stolen, something which is made much easier by their nature which makes them want to be friends with everyone.

Just because your moggies goes out, doesn't mean your maine coons should. My opinion obviously but I do not know a single other reputable breeder that sells to outdoor homes.

Originally Posted by Heather2mc

I think it is just the Australian breeders that want the MC inside. We do have lots of venomous snakes, spiders and other dangers here. We also have some unique small animals that are dwindling in numbers.

Most of what I would consider the serious US MC breeders insist that you keep their kittens inside (or possibly outside under your supervision). This is in the contract that you sign to purchase the kitten. Most contracts state that you can be forced to forfeit the cat if you fail to meet the obligations spelled out the contract. I would think these contracts would be very difficult to enforce, but they do impress on the potential buyers what is expected. Other obligations typically relate to neutering, access to vet care, food, vaccinations they are not to have, etc. I have seen some that are quite, er, comprehensive, requiring that you never leave the cat alone for more than n hours, etc. Actually, that reminded me of one of such breeders that I came across when we were looking at one point. Here is their questionnaire: http://www.bstreetcattery.com/Adopti...stionnaire.pdf and here is their contract: AGREEMENT FOR SALE OF CAT OR KITTEN

We have cat proofed our garden as well but didn't extend the hight of the fences and still works really well. I have 2 moggies that were used to going out and I, like you, thought the MCs might not like seeing the others go out. Now all four will eventually be able to go out into the garden.