Thread: One indoor one outdoor cat-problems?

Originally Posted by Karena

I really don't want to get into a whole debate about this, you are not going to change my mind and I wont yours but just a few points. Firstly I rang at least 3 reputable breeders before I found the kitten I wanted and all would have sold me one knowing I intended to let it outside. Although I personally wouldn't have been dishonest with a breeder, how do you know all the kittens you have sold have been kept in - do you keep in contact with all of them? Although sad that humans are often dishonest it seems very likely to me that it would be easy for someone to say yes to keeping it in and then not.

Secondly I had a dog that chased cars once but just because one does doesn't mean they all do. Simba has had his freedom for 2 weeks now and he hasn't even left our back garden. If I am indoors he is often with me even though the door is open. He is frightened of loud noises and if he hears a tractor going down the road out the front he runs indoors to hide so I really can't see him chasing any.

As for theft, Simba is only outside when I'm at home, theft is extremely unlike here anyway and even more unlikely during the day when we are all at home with him.

There is a lady who lives across from our field who has a MC and she has let it out since it was a kitten - he is a big healthy boy now (I think about 7) and like me she brings him in at night. She said he never wonders far. I have spoken to a few people I know, not on this forum but on a dog one I'm involved with that have MC or other pure bread cats and they all let there's out, but like me they all live in safe environments. So I think it is probably more common than you may think. And for as many sad stories you hear about there are probably a lot more happy ones that you don't hear of.

I really don't want to upset anyone - I assure you I love my cat just as much as you love yours - I'm just doing what I feel is right for me. I am not judging you and I ask you to do the same.

First of all, I clearly stated at the bottom of my post that it was my opinion. I keep in touch with every single one of my kitten owners and I have built up enough of a relationship with them to trust that they aren't letting my babies outside. Those that do have taken my advice and either cat proofed the garden or had a cat run installed.

All I will say is that every breeder that I am in touch with, Maine Coon and otherwise, always state indoor homes only and we do actually tend to advise one another if people contact us for outdoor home kittens, so that we don't make the mistake of selling to them thinking our kittens will be kept indoors.