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RE: Pros of being an outdoor cat

shadowfax — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:19:39 GMT

1. It's fun

2. Can get regular excersice

3. Can keep rodent population around your home down.

4. Can interact with other cats

5. Can have less stress

6. Can have good behavior

7. You can leave your doors and windows open in the summer.

8. Short term commitment, since they tend to not live as long.

9. They use the litter box less, saves money on litter.

10. They can climb and scratch on trees instead of furniture.

That said I have decided that Chloe will be an indoors only cat until and unless I get the porch screened in. I have had two cats die in the past ten years. One hit by a car and one just vanished. I live in a very quiet neighborhood with lots of trees and grassy yards and not too much traffic. We have coyotes in the area. There are loose dogs in the area. Too much to go wrong. I do wish I could let her be an indoor/outdoor cat but I just don't want to bury another pet for a long time.

RE: Pros of being an outdoor cat

Laurenec — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:45:13 GMT

I can't think of any pros for an outside cat either. I myself have 3 inside cats. I used to have an inside-outside cat and all I did was worry my life away. So I was determined to always have my cats inside. They are a lot safer inside and they do live longer.

RE: Pros of being an outdoor cat

jynnan tonnix — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:29:36 GMT

Our cats are mostly indoor cats...meaning that the ones we got as kittens are strictly indoor, but the ones who showed up as adults and decided they lived with us remained indoor/outdoor. They just seem to get very antsy being cooped up when they have spent their first years being able to go outside as well. One of those we lost to the road, one disappeared, and one is currently living with my parents since we moved.

Our first cat was also indoor/outdoor, and lived until the age of 13, when she got cancer....as did another one my parents inherited from us, who lasted 16 years indoors and out.

But I agree that keeping them indoors is the best!!

RE: Pros of being an outdoor cat

annthreecats — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:13:27 GMT

I know some people believe that cats need to be outside to have a full life, but I do not let my cats outside. The best place for my cats is in my home. They don't have fleas and I don't have to worry about them not coming home.

RE: Pros of being an outdoor cat

shadowkitten44 — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:49:32 GMT

I don't believe being a completely outdoor cat is a good thing either, but I do think sometimes in certain cases, being an indoor/outdoor cat is necessary, it IS far more dangerous though. I've had 2 kittens that absolutely COULD NOT grasp the idea of using a litter box! I know a lot of people say that you really don't have to teach a cat to use a litter box, & that it comes naturally to them, but that was not the case with these cats. But they eventually learned to adapt & one of them would even ask to be let outside like a dog.

RE: Pros of being an outdoor cat

Ocimom — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:13:07 GMT

Negatives of an outdoor cat far outweigh any pro's. Most of your "pro's" can be the same (and a lot safer) as an indoor cat. IMO there are no pro's to being an outside cat!

RE: Pros of being an outdoor cat

ScarletDreams489 — Fri, 02 May 2008 06:47:27 GMT

There aren't many pros to a completely outside cat. But I believe that for some people, depending on the area you live in, having an indoor/outdoor cat isn't a bad option. My grandmother's male cat is 16 years old and has gone outside all his life. He is inside at night and when it is cold out. We live in an area that is populated enough to minimize risk of predators, not so populated so that we would have to worry about cruel neighbors (we know most of them), the house is off the road a bit (although the road is pretty busy) and he comes inside too so he can get the extra care and the vet care that he needs.

However, with all that said he has had one continuing problem throughout his life. He likes to fight with other cats. His ears are ragged and one is shorter than the other from 16 years of cat fights. But he would never allow himself to be an inside cat. He would destroy the house. But my point is, he's lived for 16 years going outside, so if you're a responsible enough owner and are willing to take the time and money for extra vet visits then it isn't so bad.

Although, I don't let my kitty out around here. Don't want to take my chances. She content with being indoors for the most part

RE: Pros of being an outdoor cat

Kenogirl — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:50:47 GMT

Like everyone else, I think the cons far outweigh the pro's.

I don't know if anyone mentioned it or not, but another risk faced by outdoor cats is people. Whether we like to admit or not, there are a lot of sick, twisted people out there who think that catching and torturing a cat is the hottest thing going!

RE: Pros of being an outdoor cat

divinemslou — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:33:37 GMT

The negatives of being an outdoor cat are so very dangerous and life-threatening that they far out weigh any positives. If you have an indoor cat, PLEASE don/t make him / her an outdoor cat. If you have an outdoor cat, please, please bring it inside.

RE: Pros of being an outdoor cat

crazykatlady — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:27:04 GMT

I aggree with everyone else there are no pros really. Cats live better and longer indoors only.... Sorry couldn't help you!!!

RE: Pros of being an outdoor cat

PeaLoki&Gabe — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:51:44 GMT

Most of us see more con's than pro's to outdoor cats.

I think you've gotten all the pro's there are to be had. And some of your pro's aren't really, like #1 and #4

Fun depends on your perspective; an unaltered female may not find it fun, an unaltered male will get into more fights, so it wouldn't be fun for him.

#4 cats aren't social like dogs, where they'll eventually be accepted into the pack. Cats don't like other strange cats, that's why people have to introduce new cat additions to a household so slowly. (With dogs, you can almost put them together instantly especially puppies). A tom will fight another male, and more than likely kill a strange kitten.

RE: Pros of being an outdoor cat

slegned — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:26:51 GMT

My biggest reasons for keeping my cats inside:

1. They are deathly afraid of dogs

2. They are afraid of men

3. There are coyotes, red tailed hawks, and feral cats around where I live (Columbia River Gorge, OR)

4. They hate getting wet (and it rains a lot here)

5. They prefer being inside where it is warm and comfortable

6. We live off a very busy road

RE: Pros of being an outdoor cat

Willow — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:01:20 GMT

There aren't a lot of benefits for cats being outdoors. It is more interesting for them, yes, but it's also a lot more dangerous. Outdoor cats do not live nearly as long as indoor cats, on average. Cars, wild animals, and cruel people kill a lot of them. Plus, it's really hard to keep track of an outdoor cat's health, so they don't get as much vet care as indoor cats. There are way more benefits to keeping your cat indoors.

Pros of being an outdoor cat

herekittykitty11 — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:38:54 GMT

Hi! Please give me some Pros of being an outdoor cat. These are the ones I have already thought of-

Pros-

1. It's fun

2. Can get regular excersice

3. Can keep rodent population around your home down.

4. Can interact with other cats

5. Can have less stress

6. Can have good behaivor

7. Give me some ideas

8. Give me some ideas

9. Give me some ideas

10. Give me some ideas