Is it normal to not let my cat out?

89% Normal
7 Comments

I've had her for 19 years and when we lived at home she would spend the entire day out, I'd come home from school let her in, maybe she'd go out for a couple of hours after dinner then I'd get her in before bed. 17 years later when I moved out into a different area she didn't go out as much, she'd still explore but she got attacked by a dog (she was in a very bad way, the vet did not want to operate).
I have moved from that area since and she has fully recovered, she is still as mental as she used to be but now I don't let her out.
I'm worried she'll get hurt and because of her age she can't defend herself like she used to and I have a horrible feeling she'll get lost. Plus there are a lot of cats round this area and I'd kill anything that hurt her now, is this bad for her?
She seems happy, she's always asleep when I first get in after work and then she is pretty much attached to me during the evening for snuggles (I sound about 60!) and she still play fights with me all the time but I'm wondering if keeping her in would be affecting her mentally? I know it would drive me insane but then again I'm not a cat lol

Voting Results
89% Normal
Based on 35 votes (31 yes)
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Comments ( 7 )
  • snarkygirl
    7 years ago

    I never let my cats out. I have a screened in porch that's enough nature. Nature isn't always nice so I take no unnecessary risks.

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  • Snowmine
    12 years ago

    If the cat doesn't ask to be let out, it's fine. I know because our cats used to always love the outdoors, and would ask to be let out quite often.

    Unfortunately, my oldest cat was hit by a car two months ago, but that didn't stop me from allowing my other cat the privilege of the outdoors.

    Although there is always the looming risk of a car, or a dog, or other cats killing him, I'm still not going to deny him of his right. I mean, he's a cat, not a newborn baby. The circle of life and all that.

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    • snarkygirl
      7 years ago

      I find that a strange attitude. Why tempt fate?

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  • howaminotmyself
    13 years ago

    I've always had outdoor cats so keeping them inside is weird to me. But I've always lived in cat friendly neighborhoods. My best friend lived on a highway with lots of coyotes so her cats never went out. If it is safe then I see no problem with letting them out, but if they don't ask to go out, they will be perfectly happy inside.

    One of my cats only goes outside for a "smoke break" He's so weird. He literally goes outside for 10 minutes while I smoke a cigarette and then cries at the door if I leave him out there for too long.

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  • Anonymous Post Author
    13 years ago

    Awww MissSorel that is so sad =( after the whole dog incident, which I feel horribly guilty about, I just don't trust the world (I sound like an over-protective mom lol!)

    She sits on the window sill but when she used to want to go out she would cry and pace the window sills or sit in front of the door, at this place she doesn't do any of this. That's good then =) I just don't want her going stir crazy!

    Thanks for the advice =)

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  • moomus
    13 years ago

    Does she try to get out when u open the door or window? Or meow to be let out? If not don't worry about it. Sounds like she is happy as she is. I have a cat and live on a reasonably busy road and don't let mine out, but she has never attempted to go out and doesn't seem interested which is fine by me :0)

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  • [Old Memory]
    13 years ago

    It's normal :)

    I had a cat for 16 years and then she went missing one day (she never ever went missing, she always came home) so I knew immediately something was wrong with her. After three days I found her alive underneath a bush in someones garden. Although she was not herself, seems she had a stroke because she could not walk properly and was wobbly.

    She still purred her head off though but she sadly ended up dying.

    I now own two young cats and I do not let them out except in the back yard (which has tall walls around it) because I don't want to repeat what happened.

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