Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My ragdoll mix spent his first two years outdoors before I got him, I keep him indoors now because I live near some busy streets. I love him to death, but I am looking forward to moving because he is just too much cat for my little apartment. I have to vaccum daily becaue of the shedding, and the long hair on his toes tracks litter everywhere. I understand the increased risks for outdoor cats, but I grew up with long lived, healthy indoor/outdoor cats-we never had a problem with keeping cats outdoors in a quiet suburb.
Mieander

After all I've seen at the vet clinic my kitties will live safely and happily indoors. Many people say they had outdoor cats while they were growing up that lived well into adulthood, but the odds just aren't that good, especially these days.

Plus, I want to be able to know if my cats are having litterbox problems (which can be very serious), or have vomitted and I want to know *exactly* what they are putting in their mouths. Seen way toooooo much.

I have to agree with Martisimo. My crew are all indoor only cats and are very content. I had a cat slip out the door one time and not come back and the agony of not knowing what happened to her haunts me to this day.
Have you considered taking your cat in for periodic grooming and fur trimming? My daughter has 2 persians that she has shaved into a lion cut 2x a year and that has kept the shedding down to a minimum. Just an idea.
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Purrs,
Munchie

Must say I have to agree with the others on this one. Have seen too much with my ferals. Mine all live inside where I can check them daily and know what they are up too. Have friends who have indoor/outdoor kitties who have had long lives but who have also worried when they didn't come in when they were expected or worse, just never came home. I could not stand that. I worry enough when one of the ferals goes poof.........
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PHWildCat
Cat Board Monitor and Chat Host
Pet Hobbyist
A house without cats is like a garden without flowers

I have noticed a lot of more roadside-fatality cats in the past month or 2 with the warmer weather. Sometimes one or two a day, and these are not just kittens, but fat, healthy looking adults. I can handle the raccoons and possums (sorta) but seeing a cat always upsets me for the whole day. And this is in the country, not even along a busy stretch of road I am talking about. For this reason, I would say keep your cat(s) indoors. I keep my Inky indoors, though he would love to be outside, but there are foxes around too, so it's a no-brainer out here.