A good starting point: http://cats.about.com/cs/catmanagement101/a/indooroutdoor.htm Here's my Balance Sheet of the pros and cons of keeping cats indoors for reference, in case you're still undecided: Pros: 1. Injury or death by vehicles 2. Poisoned intentionally or accidentally 3. Injury or death by fighting with other cats 4. Infectious diseases contracted from other cats: FIP,FIV,FeLV,URIs 5. Parasites: fleas, ticks, ringworm 6. Injury or death by sadists 7. Injury or death by dogs or predators 8. Killing of wildlife by outdoor cats 9. Getting lost, picked up by A/C 10. Theft for sale as laboratory animals or "bait" for illicit gaming 11. Problems with neighbors: cats littering their yards Cons: 1. Indoor cats are lazy, and don't get the exercise they need. 2. Cats by their very nature deserve the freedom of outdoor life. 3. The cats love the outdoors, fresh air and sunshine, and I love watching them there.
I keep my cat inside not because I don't trust him...I don't trust people. Simple as that. It's not a human, it doesn't know better. Unlike a child, you can't teach a cat how to avoid dangerous situations.
http://www.columbusdispatch.com/news-story.php?story=253394 Authorities locate ’cat lady’ suspected of killing 650 animals By Rita Price The Columbus Dispatch Friday, March 16, 2007 3:20 PM Investigators say that a woman who confessed to killing 650 cats and dogs is expected to return to Columbus to face criminal charges on Monday. Maureen McLaughlin, 56, apparently had checked herself into a mental-health facility in the Mansfield area by the time authorities went to her North Side apartment on Wednesday, Assistant City Prosecutor Bill Hedrick said. Hedrick said that a social worker who knows McLaughlin told authorities that the woman has a bipolar disorder. “I want to make sure our mental-health experts are ready,” Hedrick said. Investigators from the Franklin County Animal Shelter and the Capital Area Humane Society say McLaughlin has described drowning hundreds of animals in a large trash can filled with water. Hedrick said McLaughlin told them she got the animals from rescue groups and neighbors. She said she killed them because she didn't want them to languish in the animal-welfare system. McLaughlin has been charged so far with one count of animal cruelty. Two animal rescuers have told authorities that they gave Maureen McLaughlin about 150 animals during the past five years. Hedrick described the apartment as "meticulous," with no signs of pets, though neighbors referred to McLaughlin as "the cat lady." She had called Columbus police over the weekend telling of her crimes. When investigators from the Franklin County Animal Shelter and Capital Area Humane Society went to McLaughlin's apartment, she told investigators that she had killed 650 animals and showed them how: She would put an animal in a crate, then drown it in a large trash can filled with water, Hedrick said. McLaughlin also showed investigators 16 envelopes that had names and descriptions of animals written on them as well as the dates of their deaths, Hedrick said. The envelopes contained fur or hair. On Sunday, Cpl. Joe Rock of the Franklin County Department of Animal Care and Control met McLaughlin and videotaped her confessing to killing the animals. She then led him to the most recent grave, which was in some woods near her home. He said the remains of a short-haired gray and white cat were inside. McLaughlin was charged with one count of animal cruelty. Sam Massie, a private security guard and animal rescuer, said he hates to think McLaughlin lied to him all these years. They met in 2001, and he began bringing dogs and cats to her because she said she was affiliated with an organization that did not euthanize animals, he said. He estimated he and his wife brought McLaughlin 100 animals. "It's heartbreaking," Massie said. "When we heard, it made us sick to our stomachs." The Humane Society, the County Animal Shelter, the Columbus Dog Connection and the Columbus Cat Welfare Association, where McLaughlin volunteered about a decade ago, said they have not taken in any animals from McLaughlin during the past five years. Hedrick said that building a case might prove difficult. The statute of limitations prevents his office from prosecuting animal-cruelty cases more than 2 years old. McLaughlin, who got around by bicycle, told investigators she dropped the bodies in parks and different forested areas around the county. When investigators returned to her apartment at 4331-B Malin Dr. E. with a search warrant Wednesday, the envelopes, crate and trash can were gone. McLaughlin had left a note saying what she wanted to be buried with.
Again.... It's against the law (and there's reasons for this). It's disrespectful to your neighbors and neighborhood. It's disrespectful to the well-being of the animal. Call the SPCA at 713-869-7722 and ask them. They'll confirm all three of the above statements.
There is a leash law in the city of Houston. I don't know if this statement is entirely true for all outlying areas, however.
EXACTLY! In my previous post, I wasn't trying to say cat's don't enjoy going outside. Of course they do. But they also enjoy living indoors. They like kitty condos and scratching posts as much as they like dead birds and climbing trees. In other words, they won't hate you or get depressed just because they live indoors. They live in the moment. Couldn't agree more. The risk posed by letting them go outside greatly outweighs any potential benefit.
I'll just say this: to each their own. If you want to let your cat stay inside, don't patronize people who choose differently and vice versa.
Encouraging someone to let their pet cat live outside is the same thing as encouraging your friends to have unprotected sex with crack whores. Yes, their lives will certainly be a walk on the wild side, but they will probably die young of a horrible disease. Back in the late 80's and early 90's, before I knew about the FIV epidemic I had two cats waste away from Feline immunodeficiency virus. You have to decide just how much loss of bowel control you are willing to clean up before you have to put them down. If you live on hardwood floors you'll go a little longer than if you have carpet.
Awww... he's cute! Oh! and look! He just sprayed the neighbor's grill! He's so funny! And curious, too! Now he's in droxford's back yard crawling into that metal cage...
I just walked out on my front porch and 3 cats were engaged in a massive fight. I hissed em away, but I can't believe that neighbors are this fricken rude. Keep your danged pets in your own yard. DD
Kids are 10000 more times annoying than any cat. I wish my neighborhood would outlaw them. If your kid came into my yard I would beat the **** out them.
Would it be illegal to leave a tainted bowl of cat food out in my back yard? I mean if a stray cat just happened to eat it and die, could I be held responsible? DD
Can I go up to the elementary school and scatter poisoned candy around? Maybe accidentally leave a Nintendo DS laced with Anthrax... There are currently too many Taylors, Tylers, Hunters and Hannahs running around. Somebody needs to take control.
