Should I make my cats stay outside?

Outside cats die much younger than inside cats. On the other hand, my cat is an escape artist too, so I can’t always keep him in.

It’s going to be very difficult to change this behavior now, but DO NOT make your cats solely outdoor cats. Like @dpworkin said, cats that are exclusively indoor live a lot longer and are generally healthier than cats that go outdoors. They won’t always want to be outside, like when it rains or if it’s cold. I’d say try to break them of their outdoor habits.

Inside only cats live longer & are healthier. I know others will disagree but I’d feel like an irresponsible pet owner if I let my cats roam the neighborhood.

Like what’s been said, outdoor cats statistically have shorter lifespans.

However, according to my vet, outdoor cats have better immune systems, so while indoor cats are exposed to less, they are more susceptible if they are exposed somehow.

So, just know that if you do keep the cats indoors, you still need to keep them vaccinated… a common mistake made by many indoor-only cat owners.

From experience, I’ve had two cats that went outside for years and years before being forced into being indoor-only pets. It was pretty easy, but then… it was just me coming in and out. No roommates who didn’t have the same diligence.

I wouldn’t put their food outside, keep it inside as an incentive to stay in, and no need to feed the strays.

I don’t think there is any point in trying to prevent them from going outside, but I certainly wouldn’t put their food and water outside. That should be something they have to come in for. It would also make in cheaper for you. I would suggest flea treatments and get your cats a rabies shot.

Putting food outside also attracts whatever local fauna you have. Racoons are a pain in the backside.

My cats love being outdoors. I live in a pretty quiet neighborhood and have a large yard so I don’t feel too worried about my cats roaming around; they don’t usually stray too far.

With my cats we trained them not to go to far as well as we could. When they were young we took them out on leashes and let them explore the yard, making sure to avoid problem areas like the street. We also ALWAYS feed them indoors, so the cats will eventually come back to eat. Similarly, we don’t let them out after they’ve eaten dinner in the evening.

As for fleas, it’s important to use flea and tick prevention medications on all cats, not just outdoor ones. Use FrontLine or another such product, especially in the summer, to prevent fleas from getting into your house. It will also help prevent flea- and tick-borne illnesses spread to your cats and even humans.

I tend to believe it’s in a cat’s nature to go outdoors. By giving my cats their outdoors time, they seem more active, happier, and less likely to destroy our furniture due to pent-up energy. But it’s important for the owner to monitor cats’ time outdoors as well as they can. You’re running the risk of the cat getting into fights or getting hit by a car, so make sure you’re very careful whatever decision you make.

When I had a cat, she was outdoors only. She was a great hunter. And she taught her kittens how to hunt.

These cats are natural born killers, too. When I first got them they cleared the entire block of any living thing from crickets to birds. But during the cold months I kept them in as much as I could and now they don’t seem to want to hunt as much as they used to. Do I need to get flea medicine from the vet or just some place like WalMart?

@z28proximo You can get FrontLine from your vet or a pet specialty store like Petsmart or Petco. I don’t know if WalMart sells it personally.

Keep them as indoor cats. Keep the food indoors. Use Advantage or Frontline once a month between June and September to prevent fleas. Accept that the cats escape to lounge outside soimetimes, but always keep them as indoor cats.

I have an old fashioned milk door set-up from the old days of milk delivery. There are 2 little doors set beside each other ,one to the outside, one to the inside. This has been the ‘cat door’ forever. The food and water is in the house and if it’s too cold, it’s shut (with cat inside). Today she’s been asleep on my bed for 36 hours, it seems!!

Feed them inside and let be outside for part of the day

The big male cat sheds like crazy, anything he touches gets lots of fur on it, especially if you pick him up it’s all over you. And he’s white. Would lots of baths help this? Or is that just way to dangerous?

Getting rid of the cat all together helps with that. I dont know how to keep cats from shedding so much. A vetrinarian may be able to answer that question.

@z28proximo As far as shedding goes, that’s pretty typical for cats, especially around this time of year. I suggest getting a comb that picks up loose underhairs and such (here’s one that looks good, but you can probably find cheaper ones too). Combing your cat a few times a week or even daily will be the best way to reduce shedding.

My big female cat sheds like crazt, too. I have to blow cat hairs off my keyboard!!

Invest in the Furminator.

@netgrrl … but I’d feel like an irresponsible pet owner if I let my cats roam the neighborhood

So pleased you are a responsible cat owner. I have a lovely garden which is slowly being trashed by cats scratching and doing their poo on it.

@partyparty Cats usually hate citrus. Orange peels along the flower beds may help deter them.

@netgrrl Many thanks, I am slowly using anything and everything that has been recommended to me. Eventually I hope something works. Will try the citrus, thanks