Should Cats Go Outside? (Vet Explains)
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- Опубліковано 20 тра 2024
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0:00 Introduction
0:47 Common Hazards for Outdoor Cats
2:48 Cons of Letting Cats Outside
3:28 Pros of Letting Cats Outside
6:58 How to Let Your Cat Safely Enjoy the Outdoors
8:15 Safety First
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I’ll be moving this in the next year and I will be in a house which is ground level. So I’m going to build a catio outside for my two.
Awesome! You are a great cat person!! And that's what has to happen, we need to change our mindset about cats. We need to think about them before we rent or buy, and how we're going to provide the right level of stimulation for them. Kudos to you ❤😂🎉
I found my girl in the carport rafters, with a collar and no chip. She was around 9 mo old. She chose me and had to convince me to keep her.
She was outside 2 weeks before I let her in. I made her 2 shelters (November).
She loves it outside, does her business outside, plays, runs my 10 acres, scales trees and 20' deck posts.
She rings strip of bells to be let out. She's now 2.
She's brought me Voles and mice. She watches and chases squirrels (i told her they are my friends and they outsmart her anyhow) She watches and runs with Deer.
She would be depressed and destroy inside if I didn't let her out.
An apple air tag did nothing to let me know where she is.
I have a little 19yo girl and she goes outside whenever she asks to. We have a large fenced backyard with 3 good size trees and in the daytime she will do her zoomies and climb the trees, then finds a warm spot in the sun to nap. Night time she likes to go outside to go to the toilet. Athena has a couple of bells on her collar so when I hear her, I'll ask if she wants come inside and she'll meow back if she does. If I get no response, then I leave her to it. I've just realised how well she has trained me.
I have a 17yo girl and she loves to go to the bathroom outside and then do zoomies into the house too, such fun to watch!
@@bearfog07it sure is. It's like they are kittens again 🙂
I think it's great as long as they are safe in your yard and not hurting other animals ❤
I think letting her go outdoors at night is the worst and most dangerous time to let them be outdoors. I the most I would only let them go outside during the day. with some supervision.
@@elainewinter931 Athena is only out there for a few minutes. With the outside light on and her belled collar plus me looking out the window or door, she's fine. We don't have any stray cats in our area so we're lucky that way.
I'm on a 3rd floor apartment, tried to get my cat used to a harnass but she's super shy/scared, guess something happened to her as a kitten. For now she's an indoor cat with access to big windows with cat trees (she likes observing kids in the nearby skatepark), cardboard boxes all over the place. Dedicated spaces to hang out where i'm sitting. 2 fishtanks to observe and at least an hour of dedicated play/quality time. We've developed our own routine and games to stimulate her hunting instinct but she also knows that she can get a brushing session when she comes over to my desk. Once i have my own place i'll build her a safe outside area. Oh, forgot to mention that we talk a lot 🙂
That is so GREAT! Especially that you talk a lot - I LOVE it! You're a great cat person. You're responsible, compassionate of our ecosystem and of our native species living naturally in their habit, and of you sweet cat! Kudos to you ❤😂🎉
Same!! And I’m even more motivated to save to buy my own place in the next few years so I can build her a catio
I’m from Switzerland, living in the US. It was something I wasn’t prepared to see here, lots of indoor cats. In Switzerland, we have mostly outdoor cat. I feel that outdoor cats are happier as they get all the needed stimulation.
Do you have coyotes in Switzerland? Or large birds of prey? That limits my cats' outdoor time - NADA.
@@TheMombass that's the thing. I think other countries don't have rabies like we do too. :(
@@TheMombass Good point. We don’t have coyotes, a couple of wolfs only but rare to sight in villages. It’s mainly a country of mountains and farmland - ideal for cats.
I love and appreciate this advice. I have 4 cats and a dog and they all LOVE the outdoors, the sun and shade, looking at birds and
butterflies, playing, hiding, scratching trees. They are most definitely happier and healthier, BUT they stay in my backyard, I have a cat fence so they cannot get out, have almost no exposure to other animals, do not bother the wildlife (hunting) except for snakes and bugs, all are miceopchipped and get flea treatment etc.. Also they come inside at night when it gets dark, but enjoy the different temperatures and weather including rain
We have an electronic cat door and live in a pretty rural and fairly cat-safe area. I want them to have the best of both worlds, outside and chase critters and enjoy the sun, but being able run inside and plomp down on a comfy couch to nap knowing they’re completely safe in a warm and loving environment 😊.
I was going to get a chip activated cat door, until Toffee brought in her live chipmunk friend to show me she had a friend. The chipmunk was unharmed and I let it go down the street.
I had the "do not bring friends in the house" conversation with her.
She brings a Vole and leaves it outside on the rug now.
Electronic cat door - wow amazing
We do the catio thing with additional walks on a leash. Lost too many cats from the problems associated with unsupervised outdoor life.
Once my cats got old - they sort of become disinterested in going outside. Their ages are 14 and 18 years old. Historically , they went outside anytime they wanted. I had a third cat that I called a "roamer" - there was no possible way to keep him indoors. That cat wandered far and wide - sometimes I wouldn't see him for several days in a row. That was a bit nerve wracking to be honest. He passed away in 2019 :(
Did the roamer pass away from natural causes and how old was he?
How much did my cat pay you to say this?
All my life, for well over 60 years now, I've had cats. They've always been free to come and go. I did learn some good info for making their outdoor time a bit safer. Love the idea of the GPS tracker, and I'll be looking into that. As you said, cats are naturally outdoor animals. I genuinely feel, for their sakes (a happy life), if they can't somehow go outside sometimes (safely), then it may be that pet owners should reconsider having a cat (for the animal's sake).
I rescued a tripod Bengal a little over a year ago who was confined to mostly one room his whole life (he was 3 when we rescued him). I immediately had him microchipped and vaccinated. I've always had cats and dogs and my home as a doggie door. In the 14 years our other cats have lived with us, they have NEVER tried to go out the doggie door. Within a few months of having the Bengal, he figured out immediately how to use the doggie door and he is an explorer! After disappearing for over a week, I was heartbroken thinking we lost him to a predator. Well, to make a long story short, the microchip brought him back to me. I was elated! I immediately did some research and put a tractiv tracker on him as I couldn't bring myself to confine him. He's so happy when he gets to explore! Needless to say, cats are all different so I try to create the best life possible for them and since he's happy exploring, I want him to be able to explore! Bengals are different - he's the smartest cat I've ever seen and I've seen a lot of cats!
_Elevated_ does not mean happy. Perhaps you meant _elated._
@@herrickinman9303 Yes, I fixed it. Thank you!
NOPE. If you really do love your Bengal put up a catio, put up wall levels, get a circular runner, play with him, train him, interact and engage with him. If we all let our animal do what they want outside at will I can promise you there will be no more cats left anywhere which would solve a lot of problems, but I don't want to see that happen.
Good video, giving both points of view. My two sisters were born in my backyard to a stray cat. They have not been outside since I caught them. They have a three bedroom house to run and play in. There are perches by every window for them. There are cat and kid's toys everywhere for them to play with. There is a cat tower and carpet pieces around the house to scratch. I move furniture and toy boxes around to give the cats something new to investigate. The cats get into the kid's toy box and pull out toys. We live in the suburb of a large city, but there are skunks, possums, owls and even coyotes at times. The cats will be staying inside for now. The best remedy for a bored cat is another cat!
We built a catio on our deck. They have a 10x12-ft space where they can be outside and also be safe at the same time.
The shelter we adopted them from requires that people sign a legally binding contract specifying that their cats will not be able to roam free outside. This is a good idea in my view particularly for people living in a city or a suburb. If you live on a farm and you have miles of space and you feel comfortable letting your cat roam more possibly in that situation but not for most of us.
They love their catio. We open the door when the sun comes up, they ask for it to be open then and we close it before we go to bed. One of the two loves it so much he'll spend as much time as he can out there and when he wants to take a nap he'll come inside and sleep on my clothes in the closet.
His brother likes to spend most of his time under the covers of my bed but he also likes to go outside. A neighbor cat likes to walk up to the side of the patio and Rumble, the braver of the two, fluffs himself up and gets ready to protect his house.
I would have enclosed the whole backyard but that wasn't feasible.
I don't know how to make it possible for them to be outside more. Not without risking their lives. If there was a way I would do it. They also have indoor enrichment, I bought some ramps and platforms and two tall cat trees. They have a whole area in the living room where they can climb and jump and have fun.
I put a cat door so the cats can come & go as they please
Same, I was told our cats could be taken away at any time if we allowed them outdoors.
@@catman19 I have a cat door to the catio also through the living room window but we aren't comfortable having them out there when there's no one home or when we're sleeping.
That is ridiculous to make people sign that. It should be up to the owners' discretion. And just cruel if they actually come and take a cat away after bonding with a family "caught" breaking their rules!
@@mph1ish I disagree. They care very much for the cats they take care of. They don't want the cats to run wild, to be hurt or to die. When you live in a city it's reasonable to impose that condition. If people don't want to adopt from this shelter they can go elsewhere.
I've had both outdoor during the day/in at night and exclusively indoor cats. All my outdoor cats seemed happier (subjective I know) and had no anxiety or twitchy tendencies. But all my outdoor cats did have shorter lives compared to the indoor ones. This is over the course of the past 4 decades, in which a couple of my cats completely disappeared never to be seen again living in a rural area. I've experienced fleas on BOTH, mostly because fleas tend to get inside for reasons other than the cats fault. So its a toss up. Living in town now, my current 8 year old all black domestic shorthair named Salem stays indoors, I've let her out to then watch her and she's the nervous type so she inevitably just wants back in within minutes (kids, cars freak her out). She does love watching the outside from windows that I prop the blinds open in from all directions for her to perch in.
For anyone who lets their cat outside lose: It is your own fault for not providing for your indoor cats, for not engaging with them, training them, etc. It is also your fault for the thousands of horrible deaths the various native animals suffered through mauling, maiming, bleeding out slowly, being paralyzed and not being able to run away or protect themselves when you non-native cat left them that way.
Have 3 cats. Luna, a tabby is the oldest and won't settle for being indoors. We have a 6 foot fenced backyard. When Luna was younger it was a good deterrent. But it did not take long for her to scale the fence and take off. On a good note, one of our neighbors said she's doing a great job with the mice in her garden. Cat #2, Asher, just turned a year old. She's escaped a couple of times. She's all black so her night time ventures are difficult. I did purchase reflective collars for all the cats. It took 3 of us to corral Asher the 1st time. Our 3rd cat is Rue. She's been out in the fenced yard but has yet to make an escape. She is 8 months old. Rue isn't as adventuresome as the other two but she is an orange kitty so no doubt her time will come soon. We live on the outskirts of town so other than the parking area for each of the houses not much traffic. We do have bears and coyotes in the area so none stay outside overnight.
My cat is deaf. So for safety he remains inside. However, he spends hours on our screened in porch/catio and loves it.
I used to bring my cat out to walk on a harness and leash. He was pretty good at it until spring, when he started catching onto baby bunny smells and would get frustrated when he remembered he was on a leash and couldn’t get to them. He then would become obsessed with going outside and would always knock on and stand by the front door.
Eventually we moved next to a park and there are many dogs that walk past our apartment, and I don’t feel particularly safe bringing him out anymore. Hopefully one day he will have a fenced in yard or catio!
One of my neighbors poisoned all but one of my cats with antifreeze when I was a kid growing up. That's why I keep my cat indoors. The other reason is that I live in an apartment.
Great needed discussion. This current trend of keeping cats all indoors is concerning. I have always let my cats outside. I do many of the suggested safeguards: they are chipped, collared and I have used GPSin the past; so I generally know where they all 3 tend to go. I also keep them in at night, they come when they’re called with a shake of the treats. I do live in a small rural town that is a safer environment than many have. There is limited fencing, low slow traffic, but one huge benefit is that the neighbors on my block know my 3 Orange cats. They have many friends that know their names, what they are up to and have called me or even brought them home. I have a large yard with big trees and a deck that they love to hang out on; they are just blissful out there. They would suffer tremendously if I tried to keep them in. The older they get though they tend to want in more or just stay in the yard. They have the best of both worlds.
Same
I live in an apartment complex and I noticed my cat was really getting depressed. We started opening the windows (with wire so she can’t escape) And my apartment has a little patio that she loves to just sunbathe on. Sometimes I walk her around and she does very good to not run away or anything. We watch her carefully. She’s very content now being indoors but getting to go outside once a day to sunbathe or play in grass
My cat loves going outside - can't remember the last time I had to change litter, the box is there for emergencies these days. I feel so nasty when I can't let her go outside, but on the whole, we have a good little system where she knows approximately when I get up, etc and comes and goes on a little rotation.
The comments section should be civil i'm sure
I have 3 cats and I have a cat yo that is attached to my house and they love it. I would never let them go out by themselves.
My cat loves outdoors. I try to spend alot of time with her. I have trained her to check in periodically, and she is never out at night. She is shy of cars and noise. She would never be happy indoors only. She loves to run!
Amen🙌🏽 Let cats be cats if they want to be cats!
Uhhuh…and Coyotes will be Coyotes.
@@tala1246 life is full of risks. Step outside of the bubble. And there are ways to mitigate risks, like coyotes eating your cat.
Tried having a catico, cat didn't like it, tried a harness with leash, cat freaked out. Got my cat from a shelter, they have you sign an agreement that cat won't go outdoors, I won't go against agreement. I make sure and have play time with my cat daily for exercise! I live in the country and my cat would definitely not be safe outside! I have a cat stroller that I take him for walks to experience outdoors, he's very content to be inside.
I'm a firm believer in cats going outside. In fact, when I bought my home, I had to make sure it was cat safe. Consequently I live 1/2 mile from the nearest busy street. I live at the end of a Cal-de-sac, and I have no railroad tracks nearby. There are also plenty of mice for the cats to eat when outdoors. I have weather equipment alerting me well in advance of storms, so I'm always ready to bring kitty inside before the storm hits. My last two sets of cats lived to be 19-years-old, so I'm doing something right!
Weather equipment? What are those? Where did you get them?
And how are you protecting our ecosystem and all of the native animal species that are born outside and live outside? Are they even spayed or neutered? And what if they got killed somehow, run over, poisoned, eaten by my trained falcon, what then? If any of those things happened, what would you wish you had done to keep your cat safe?😢
@@clayrains3496 First off I'm NOT the planet's Baby-sitter. The ecosystem will have to fend for itself. As for my animals they are all fixed and vaccinated. I live in the forest on a dead-end street, they will not get run over. As for your bird, he would be killed by my big Lab-Shepard-Mastif mix dog who is very protected of his feline pack.
@@MisterPersuasion NO one said anything about babysitting. It's a matter of being responsible and accountable. If your cats are fixed and stay in your yard they are probably okay.
@@clayrains3496 When you expect to restrict my personal FREEDOMS to "care for" a planet that God made, then you're asking me to "Baby-sit." And I have no idea where my cats go when outside.
like humans, cats are capable to adjusting to their environment. An outdoor cat would feel trapped in doors while indoor cats would feel overwhelmed being outside. The country boy would feel uncomfortable in a city while the city slicker would be lost on the farm. One thing I might add is to have more than one cat, especially for indoor cats. Like humans, they need the company.
My husband just recently finished a catio. It allows them access to a portion of the back yard from our basement window. We have tons of trees so these 3 get quite a view of squirrels and birds. My 1 year old tabby required OUT he was indeed getting into fights, bored and crying ( meowing) often. He LOVES it and the two girls do too!❤️
I bought a house just so I can have cats. Now I have three cats and they love going out to hunt or just play with the other cats more than everything.
If i owned property, I would allow my babies outside and enclose the backyard. One of them was stolen, and I miraculously found her. She's indoor only now. I can't risk losing her again. Her brother was also taken, and I've never gotten him back 😭
That’s my biggest fear 😢
@DELLRS2012 There are some really evil people in this world. In an ideal world, we wouldn't have to worry 😢
His can anyone steal a cat - most cats run away if a stranger approaches them. But that’s awful for you - they must be very trusting cats. 😢
@@stephaniesamra7960 my cat is a total flirt! It would be nice if I could live in a safe neighborhood since he would love to hang out on the front porch and run up to pedestrians to say hi and get pets.
My cat cries if I don't walk him twice a day. He doesn't like the leash and harness, but he puts up with it. If I had more space, I might let him out on his own.
Where we live the outside cats, never make it more than a year
My cat, Maggie, is now an indoor only cat. She was my niece’s cat originally and had a tough outdoor life. She lived in a high traffic area and aside from hiding from trucks she often had to fend off other cats and was often found hiding under a porch or other structures.
Various things happened in my niece’s life and I ended up adopting the Maggie. Maggie has an enclosed outdoor patio to hang out in whenever she wants to. She never shows any signs of wanting to go outside. And even when I accidentally leave the door open she never ventures past the threshold.
My cats have had so many serious injuries from going outside, asides from getting stuck in places they cant get out, that i cannot fathom ever letting them outside again.
This is a great video. I used to let my cat outside in the backyard (supervised) until she got injured from a mysterious spinal issue! A year ago, during one of her outings, she suddenly screamed out of nowhere and couldn't move her back legs and her tail was flaccid. Long story short, after ER and regular vet visits with severe cystitis and bladder infections, she recovered and is back to normal. But now, she has a catio/patio fully enclosed and she really enjoys it. One thing none of the vets recommended during her illness was to put her on probiotics after being on antibiotics! I learned that from UA-cam vets! She's doing great now. Thanks for your channel and all the great information.
Took me 6 months to habilitate my 3 indoor cats outside.. In that time 3 feral cats moved into my place.. So I'm now swamped with cats..
My indoors wanna be outside.. The outside ones don't want to leave. 😂
😂😂
That’s funny 😂😂😂
Lol! Yours is a similar story of how we went from 1 cat, to 2 cats to 7 cats! At least another 4 cruise the area! Fingers crossed they have owners somewhere - or one of my kids will have to marry a vet! Best wishes! ❤
@@serenitytrek I'm laid down end of day with my two in their perches..
3 stray cats on my bed with me.. Say how? It's been a while now.. They think I'm their owner. Haven't seen a few others that window sill feed either daily or every few days.. The food I put out is being eaten. Some really skatty ferals that are scared but know food is here. Definitely crazy old cat man in a barn here.
@@Max_Snellink You can "tame" 'skatty cats' by immediately putting food out only when they show themselves. Using an accompanying sound like a bell, or clanging dish, with feeding time habituates them very quickly.
A local group, (or u can be trained) to TNR (Trap Neuter Release) the strays to stop them breeding & their suffering. Personally, I believe the above "R" should stand for "Rehome," as cats need caregivers.
Furball Farm has 350 feral cats living in a cageless indoor sanctuary with outdoor catio access. I don't know how they do it? 4 of mine get along, but 3 don't with any others!
My cat always eats the grass and when she comes in, she throws up but I feel bad for keeping her trapped in my room all day.
When cats do that, the food is most always the culprit. If you have her on dry, start there by moving her to wet full time. Jess Caticles is a pet food nutritionist. I highly recommend giving her a close look on her channel.
@@illiniwood Eh, sometimes you just get a cat that eats too much grass. My boys eat a wholly wet diet. My ginger will eat grass to the point of getting sick. . .he's done it twice since we got him about a year and a half ago. Now we just don't let him eat grass when going outside on leash.
We live on a 15 acre homestead in rural central Florida
We have 9 cats and a pet door. We still have a covered litter pan in the Florida room but only our one neurotic siamiese cat uses it. I use essential oils for fleas, they eat inside and
I never have problems.
They get along with the 2 LGD BLUE HEALERS, 2 roosters, 25 hens, 6 ducks and even my 47 year old sulfer crested cockatoo.
With _catveats_
My cats are always outdoor cats. To date they’ve all lived to over 19. But then I live in the country.
We let our cats out when we lived on a farm - until they were almost eaten right outside the house by a coyote.
Then they became indoor cats. It’s sad.
@@edwardlulofs444 - thankfully we have no coyotes here. Only pine martens, owls, badgers, foxes, ospreys & humans. To date after 50 years living here none of our cats have succumbed to a wild predator. Actually, they’re pretty good at defending themselves. ☺️
@@shonaphilp9321 ohhh, be careful about those wild, vicious creatures called humans. But since you haven’t had any problems with them, your area sounds like cat heaven. 😊
We live in a quadplex apartment with a yard around the building. We will let him out if we're home plus quick trips to the grocery store that is across a non-busy street and we walk there. We do not go to bed with him outside. He stays close. So we're not worried. It started when he swatted at me one night and I let him out and told him he could run away if he didn't like it here. He comes back and our relationship has gotten way better. I also do a stroller and I'm starting to do short car rides, as I was on the way back from somewhere with him. I slipped my hand in the carrier to pet him and he got out and jumped on my shoulder while I was driving. We were gonna take him for a drive together so my husband could drive the other day and my phone buzzed with someone asking me to work in an hour, so we had to postpone it.
My daughters cat got out due to a negligence of a babysitter. They lived in a country like area and lucky this cat came back home in 3 days. He contacted a virus that is wet or dry depending on what other cat he was in contact with. He died 2 years later. No cure. This can happen in a catio. No no cat belongs outside ever. It’s a death sentence. 😖🥺
my friend, life is a death sentence.
FIP? there is a cure
Did he have his shots?
If not,,why not?
@@catman19FIP has no vaccine its corona virus for cats that mutate and its low chance but has 100 percent death rate without the drugs.
My old cat with bad hips use to be an outdoor cat but with lots of new predators hanging around our yard, the deck was fenced in and she walks me on a harness around the yard when the weather suits her old bones. Thank you for your video's.
My cat goes outside. He’s a rescue and I think was feral his early months. He is chipped and I give him monthly tic meds. Has all his shots. He always hangs pretty close to house and goes in and out often. He comes home by dark and sleeps with us all night. Seems very happy and plays indoors with me all the time. Always worry about him but he loves the outside! Im toying with GPS tracker because I would be checking where he is to much. Thanks for your videos.
I've been able to leash train my cats. I adopted my present cat as a 6 year old adult; it took a year but I was able to leash train her as well and she's part Bengal. Dogs were also originally outdoor animals yet we are much more cautious about letting them roam free. Cats and dogs are domestic animals; we should prioritize the survival of wild species such as birds. I'm sure my cat would be a killing machine if I let her roam free.
👏 👏 👏 outside with a leash is wonderful!
Mine is always happier after a walk :)
I kept my girl Matcha indoors until she was about 11 months to one years old. She’s a good cat, she always comes home and had only a few entire nights out. Matcha is now 5 years old and I only got Tractive collar for her only last June 2023 and it really does give peace of mind.
My cat Charlie lived to be 17 years and he was an indoor/outdoor cat. He would go outside for hours on end when he was younger (with supervision of course). As he gotten older he spends only an hour outside at most. He was an active orange tabby. I truly miss him. I believe in a cat being an indoor/outdoor cat since they're just like humans. Can't stay cooped up inside all the time!
I recently moved. But before my move UCD Veterinarian hospital was his home vet. I got Dillion at Yolo county animal shelter during the paradise fires. He was on the “barn cat list”. And he was SPICY. I took the advice of the vets and started harness training, and yes gps. Because he was/sometimes is a door dasher. We go out for a walk once or twice a day. BUT also being harness trained means I can tie him on a long lead outside my condo. Where he can sit in the sun, and chase bugs. It takes care of a lot of aggression issues, versus him being inside
Best vets in the world
My former neighbors had two outdoor cats. After a big storm, I never saw one of them ever again.
Hell yes. I take my cat outside on a leash for like half an hour and he enjoys it immensely. So much stimulation!
Nope I won't let my cat outside especially in the neighborhood I live in.
D-Con rat poison highest sales come from minority communities which, in hand have the highest wildlife mortality rates.
Should have a hamster instead of a cat tbh
My cat got injured in a cat fight and needed surgery. So I keep him indoors now
@@auntykriest ... That is a stupid comment.
I agree!
2:39 Very well done video. All you say is true. Outdoors is dangerous to humans as well, yet it's in our nature too get out as well. It makes them happy to have their adventures outdoors. It's a perfect place for them to be a cat as you say. My neighbours kitty is let out tied to a leash and with a tracker.. Maybe that's a good compromise for some cats and humans. It depends where you live and the cat, also as you say.
Nope, nope, nope, nope. I have neighbors p/Nextdoor app that "brag" about what they do to cats and none of it is good. I've personally seen drivers swerve to purposely hit a cat crossing the street. People around me "trap" cats and drive them to other areas of the city and drop them. My 5 fur balls are all chipped, id collars, and only go out side when in a harness and leash. I do this to not only protect my cats, but to also protect my neighbors as well.
I always thought that the term ‘scary cat’ was a made up term. Well we have a literal scary cat. She was not socialized to people as a kitten. When we were lucky enough to become her guardians, we figured she would outgrow some of this as she grew up and got to know us. She is the only cat in our family and she knows and loves us and isn’t afraid of us, but if something falls, there’s a loud car outside, someone comes to the door, someone comes inside or a million other things, she becomes invisible.
On the other hand, for the most part she has a very large home to explore, she is usually calm and relaxed, has five humans who cater to her needs for food, playtime and rest. We love her more than I can say.
All this being said, I think if we let her outside, she would be so terrified and we would never see her again. So, she has lots of playtime, cuddles shen she accepts them and tons of pets and brushing. Ty fot thre video.
I am fortunate that my super senior cat, Fog, goes as far as the front fence, or she stays in the back yard. I believe the plants in my yard, being Australian Natives, are safe. Only the Kangaroo paws are toxic but she tends not to go near those plants anyway. She sleeps on one of our chairs or under a big old Grevillea bush which has a big hollow area underneath. I call it her Grotto!
There is a cat that used to come visiting, not sure if it's friend or foe, but I had to chase it out of my yard a couple of times. I DON'T need the vet bills! She tends to spend overnight outside and comes in during the day. I've only ever seen her catch mice, she loves to just watch the birds. Fog's relatively safe and loving life!
Thank you enjoyed the video. I'm in two minds. When i first adopted my Aura she wouldn't go out, but i started to let her out while i worked in the garden and now i want her inside, but she wants to stay out. My previous cat died of FIV complication, others have been run over. It's a worry
All cats are outdoor cats to me. And I walk with them without a leash. But my cats are lucky that I chose a house in an area where most vehicles drive less than 15 miles /ph. Four of my cats were runners, that came to me, a fifth was from my late parents and a sixth was born here. Yes some of my cats died, but not by traffic .
But the nice thing about walking without a leash was that my cat pack always stayed together. And none of my cats went further a way than 300 metres (about 300 yards) from my house. And yes in my front yard I have dense bushes coniferes etc.
In my backyard little less dense but they love it. They are happy cats, always tails up. They sweet cats, a little bit naughty (as I like it). And yes they go out in the snow of if it is freezing cold... but they soon come back than.
So yes, outdoor cats are happiër cats!
I have an indoor only cat (he has a nice cateo) and an outdoor cat. The outdoor kitty used to live next door to me and then her caretaker passed away. "Annie" would visit me on occasion. Finally, my neighbor's sister asked if I would take care of her. So "Annie" lives by me now, she has a couple of outdoor houses and loves the outside. Seeing her sleeping in the sun curled up on a patio chair enjoying life brings a smile to my face. Do I worry about her, sure sometimes, but she has always lived outside and I don't want to take that away from her. "Annie" does sleep at night in my enclosed porch, curled up on a heated mat. There are pros and cons. I think it depends too on where you live, I'm from Chicago and I would never, ever leave an animal outside on their own in a large city. Even my indoor boy knows how to ride in a backpack just to give him a different view of the world.
I live in a rural area- in the prairie in W.Tx,on a goat / sheep/ cattle ranch. My two girls stay inside (both spayed) simply because of all the dangers that are outside. Scorpions,snakes,
dangerous long thorned mesquite trees,possums, skunks and all sorts of potentially rabid wildlife are around. Bella and Tabby were raised inside and are actually afraid to go outside.I keep them plenty of window seats with bird houses outside where they can be entertained too!
I’ve tried to bring my cats outside but they get so stressed out leaving the apartment. I do think they may be bored inside when I’m away, but I have to make sure to play with them as much as I can to keep them happy
My cats love outsise and inside. They are chipped and parasite controlled and very happy, they play together outside and in. They have their catflap to come and go as they please and we don't live near a main road. They won't go far, they like our back garden.
My sweet girl will be 20 in July. She's a very shy girl and always has been. She's never been outside and never wanted to. She's perfectly happy ( me too) to be the queen pea on a soft pillow.
This is my first time to comment in this channel; and I agree cats should be able to enjoy the outdoors. I recently rescued a stray cat; and as happy, loving and grateful she has been, I was surprised she would occasionally want to go outside and she's been even happier about it. Whatever she missed from having to survive outdoors, perhaps she now enjoys, without worrying about having to find something to eat. She even does her business in her litter box and then wants to go outside. I actually worry more about my malicious and gossipy neighbors than anything else; and she seems to have learned this too because most of the time, she's just chilling in our driveway, looking at passing cars, people walking dogs, kids in their bikes and birds flying by. I have seen that letting her go outside has created a balance she enjoys, making her happier when she prefers to be indoors with us. I don't think I'll ever walk a cat with a leash or put her a tracker; but I do invest in protection from fleas, ticks and heartworms. Other than that, I'm just letting her be herself and it's been great. Whatever works for you and your cat, best wishes. Cheers!!!
My husband recently rescued a feral (found him sick under his pickup truck in a parking lot in town). The cat is now an indoor cat. He has a big yard, but doesn't feel the need to go outside. Maybe he had his fill of the outdoor life. On the flip side, we have another cat that I call my "barn cat" because he is an avid hunter and loves going outside, including when it's cold and raining. He draws the line at walking in the snow. We got him as a kitten and raised him indoors until spring, when nature called.
I’ve always wanted quality of life for my cats. They are indoor outdoor. I appreciate the safety tips. I built a catio last summer and the houdinis kept getting out of it. I’m going to make some revisions. Thank you!
Same here, my Terry Bom Bom is an indoor cat.
Outdoors with supervision! Train them to respond to a whistle so you can call them back 🏡 home
My sister lets her cats go outdoor 1-2 hours daily. Actually, when they see human stay by their sides while being outdoor, they love to stay close to human, investigating what is human doing, in my case is gardening. When we finished watering all the plants, we just called them back and they know what to do. However, when we have not got time to watering plants or gardening, the cats will not be allowed to get out and we both can see stress is building up in them and when they have a chance to get out, it will take longer for them to be satisfied and they will be hesitate for answering our calls to get inside.
I’m really glad you made this video! I have 2 kittens (5 mo old) and I also believe cats are outdoor hunters. However we live right next to a major road which I can’t even cross, and the neighbours cats were both killed on it. I worry about their mental health too though, although boredom is less of a problem since they spend most of their waking hours running after each other and knocking everything over. I like the idea of a catio, so I’m going to look into that.
My cats were fine going outdoors when I lived in the country. But when I moved them to a suburb my male cat was fighting with other males coming into the yard and got a couple of abscesses. Long story short, his health declined and I had to put him down at age 12. His sister stays indoors and is still healthy as she approaches her 14th birthday.
My young dude's nickname is Magellan. From the day I adopted him he's been an explorer. I tried a catio, leash walking, and putting him in a cat pack for walks. But nothing satisfies him like being free to explore on his own. Tractive is excellent and when activating the Live ootion, I can see where he goes. I know there's risk letting him out and I limit it to every other day. I also know his quality of life is tremendously elevated by having outdoor time.
My family walks our orange and white cat on a harness (thanks to Jackson Galaxy's channel). He was so nervous when we started, but he asks for it now. Sometimes it is hard to get him to want to come inside. :)
I like the range of options and agree with pretty well all points made. One comment is that you often hear proponents of always keeping cats indoors claim that the average outdoor cat lives only 2-3 years. There is no way that claim applies to loved and cared for family pets (as opposed to feral cats, which undoubtedly make up the bulk of this silly statistic) . Or maybe I have had incredible luck and it’s a pure fluke that I’ve had several indoor/outdoor cats live into their twenties!
While logical, in our neighborhood, which is considered suburban, the biggest danger is vehicle traffic. Our cats are too domesticated to be aware of vehicles when crossing streets. We live in Hawaii and our neighborhood has very few areas of devoid of traffic. There's also a few people that would not think twice about tossing out poison.
Catio or leash only would be my limit, the GPS would not solve for predators or even some diseases/poisons. I also think enrichment is necessary and important for indoor living. The individual cat and location/environment are important factors for those who may let their cats out. Some situations are just too threatening for the cat’s safety, and that’s not responsible. However, if an outdoor cat adopts YOU, they may demand to have outdoor access, but catios are still a great option! 🐈 🐈⬛ ❤️
My cat only goes out with supervision. He only goes out when I am with him. He was a stray as a kitten, and I brought him inside and he grew up inside.
Back in the 80s, my declawed cats (yeah, I know, now) were indoor/outdoor cats and would literally come when called. They easily hopped over 6' fences to roam the neighborhood. They could even climb up a telephone pole using just their rear claws. It was a nice quiet suburb bordering on farmland, so few predators and they were nimble and smart enough to avoid any yards with dogs. I haven't declawed any of my cats since then and they are all now exclusively indoor cats, as coyotes and disease are real concerns in my recent neighborhoods.
The collar should be a break away design. Unfortunately this increases the chance it will be lost.
🙁 I used to love the routine I had with my cats . Outdoors /indoors whenever they wanted and strictly indoors at night. Turned completely indoor only 7 months ago when a coyote took one of my just 1 year old cat. Was devastated . And even harder to not allow my other cats outdoors anymore. They had severe stress destroyed property inside but all that stopped after a while. Now that the weather is warming up again the wanting to go outside has kicked in again especially in one of them. It’s heartbreaking to see them struggle but him especially. He’s even lost interest in playing like he used to. I do use the Feliway and play with them everyday and it’s not helping. I live in an apartment so I can’t build a catio so I’m frustrated with the idea of letting him go outside again but I would risk too much him get taken away by a coyote like his brother was. Any ideas?
Very sad for you 😢
I have no ideas but perhaps GPS and microchip.
I live on the third floor I let my car go out on the patio she loves it… when I step inside she follows me… I trust her I know she’s a cat and will change in a second..but she is shy and timid she hears the garbage truck she run by back inside lol
My new cat is basically an indoor cat. Its how she was brought up from when I got her. I would have preferred her to be more of an indoor and outdoor cat. Although she does go outside sometimes during the day for about 10 mins to sniff and chew at the grass. I live in a cul de sac street so its fairly quiet here. The.trouble is, when night time comes she gets restless and wants to go outside and I wont let her for fear of her getting lost since she is an indoor cat basically. Also the council doesnt want cats to roam around the neighbourhood. My old cat was an indoor and outdoor cat and was basically always very close to the house when he went outside. He never went far or at least not far during the day. I don't know where he went at night? But he lived till 16 years old
We originally planned on keeping our girl indoors. At the age of 9 weeks she was already fast and escaping like a flash every time we went out. Her nature said "I'm going to be an outdoors cat". So I started training her with Greenie treats to come when we called her and she's now 1 y/o and it still works. We felt better getting her a Tractive GPS collar for our peace of mind. So now we let her out only in daylight. She's let out an hour or 2 after sunrise and we get her in an hour or 2 before sunset. Now she's happy and we are too.
Yeah, I agree. There are a lot of benefits to outdoor time IF YOU LIVE WHERE IT IS SAFE TO DO SO. Reasonably safe. Give kitty some credit to use the razorbeans if she's in a bind, but it is good for exercise, stimulation, knowing where they live - wc is VERY IMPORTANT, etc. and you should be using a flea treatment every month anyway. And get them microchipped. Just in case.
Thank you for this video Dr. I struggle with keeping my cats inside; I feel their abject boredom and restlessness. I worry about their effect on wildlife and of course for their safety. I feel they deserve to live the natural vital lives Nature intended for them yet I continue to imprison them for all the reasons you listed. I will think about what you said and reconsider. Deepest thanks for your guidance in this matter.
I love in a apartment on the second floor my cat loves going for walks usually if I'm going for a short walk I'll carry him or if I'm going on a longer walk I'll put him in his backpack Carrier and I take him with me even going to run errands like grocery shopping he'll come in his backpack and the staff at my Walmart all love him
My cat was both indoor and outdoor but was always within sight when out doors l would go out with my cat and l would set an alarm clock sometimes and look to bring them in if they were out for 15min to 1/2 an hour
I think if you have a Catio that is okay. It is like being outside, but in a screen environment. I have a screen on my garage. I think outside is too dangerous. I have a two car garage and it is like a Catio. I have a leash. I was going to put the harness and leash and walk in the fenced in yard, but letting them run free is too risky!!
Yes, cats are nothing similar to plants or indoor animals, as many people think and they need to go outside.
My first cat was stray cat that one day came to our home and decided to stay. He was about one. I noticed immediately that he wants the most of his time to spend outdoors. A couple of times he needed to stay several weeks indoors due medical reasons - when he was neutered or being sick or injured when fighting with other cats, because he was very territorial. This time was a nightmare for him and all of us, so I installed a cat door and ha was happily going out whenever he wants. He was very streetwise and cautious in presence of dogs and stayed close to our home. One day after 10 years he disappeared, probably reason was predator as coyote which came to our neighbourhood during lockdown. I was devastated but at least he had a good life.
My second cat is marble bengal who I rescued at age two. He is amazingly intelligent and capable but at the same time totally not aware of dangers from outside as other animals, people and cars. This is reason I trained him to walk on leash and I never let him go in our fenced backyard without supervision because he could clime a tree, jump on the street and the rest could be dangerous for him. I think that he lived indoors for the first 2 years of his life and this is reason I keep my eyes on him all of the time.
I had two well-adjusted indoor, declawed (I adopted them as declawed kitties) cats; one was afraid to go outside and the other just walked the fence line and then was done with his "adventure". I now have a teenaged kitty and a kitten. Neither one has much interest in the outdoors. They play with each other and seem as happy as can be.
I love the idea of my cats going outside. I do have a catio patio but I have a lot of cats. The only problem with that is if the strays around my house come in contact with them they could spread disease or ear mites.
My Samantha is a 10 year old calico girl. Once she jumped up into the open window a gave her, with a stick in her mouth. Suddenly I noticed the stick was a snake, which I quickly threw it back outside !! Unfortunately she came home bleeding with a large gash in her leg one day, (Caused by a rusty wire). That "Last time she went outside" cost me over $600.!!! I'm finally buying a large house cage for her, because I know she loves the outside. Better late then never !!!
I would have like to have seen breeds and lifespan discussed here. My previous Siamese lived to nearly 22 and started out as a NYC apartment cat who was never left to roam on his own. He did enjoy going for a walk on his harness and leash, as well as using the toilet bowl. All my friends’ cats died much too young. Siamese are definitely not outdoor cats! Cheers, Michael Albuquerque NM USA
Yes. My Cats were out in my Garden half the time. They were so happy! I lived in a small town outside a city - the only Wildlife were Possums and Raccoons and Groundhogs. My Garden was totally organic - I used no chemicals. They watched Birds at my Feeders but only one - whom I adopted as a feral youngster - ever hunted anything. They were pretty safe and were very happy.
Eventually I had to sell the house (needed a gut renovation and I wasn't up to it) and I had to find homes for them. I only have one cat left - she's 10 years old and hasn't been happy since we moved into an apartment 2 years ago. Nothing I can do about it, now.
I use a harness and two long leashes with mine, started using as a kitten and he loves exploring and trees. He also sits in the enclosed patio. Chipped, had GPS, and info tag.
We inherited an elderly cat that had been neglected and confined to a small apartment. The first Spring we had her, I got her a harness and took her out in the back yard. She was not happy. But the next day, she sat by the door and asked to go out. She just didn't like the harness. But she loved exploring, the grass, bushes, the scenery, birds and even visiting with neighbors.
Each day, she asked to go out for 'jungle time' and we hovered over her, always ensuring she was safe. As she was older, there wasn't a concern about her running away. She even chased a butterfly. 😂
I think a harness is a great option if cats associate it with going outside. I've also seen pets with AirTags attached to their collars.
I like a combination of indoor/outdoor. However, because of recent dangers, I embrace the idea of leash walking.
I completely get your points but as an urban dweller, outside is not an option for Bronto. Nothing is sadder than walking to the 7-11 and seeing cats on the street. I'll be moving next month to a highrise and my new apartment has a balcony, so you're inspiring me to build / get a catio, but it would have to be absolutely unclimbable. I'm also getting a kitty condo as a move-in gift and he's gonna love that. He has his claws, a clean bill of health and seems happy living with me cuz I give him all the "tensions" he wants and needs ;)
Love your content ❤ I rescued 4 strays and they live in my front porch. They all get their own beds and are fed wet food at timed intervals and are allowed inside when my dog is upstairs. And since they’re mostly outdoors, they’re up to date with their shots and parasite meds. I watch over their health and bring them to the vet when needed. They seem very happy and content.