Indoor/Outdoor Cat? - Update post #10

[ParisApril]

On Monday we finished cat sitting our neighbours 10 week old kitten for a week while they were away. The kids and I would bring her down and play with her during the day and take her back home in the evening.

Yesterday, Wednesday we were taking some stuff to the second hand store and out of nowhere the kitten comes over to us. I was surprised because we live on a busy street and at 3:30pm-6pm the street is extra busy and that was when we were out there. We took the kitten home and the owner wasn't concerned about the kitten at all.

I am so sad. This kitten is going to end up squished in the street. I told my DH this and he said on his way home from work he saw a dead cat up the street from us. We are pretty good friends with these guys. We even team up for bike races in the summer. If and when the kitten gets killed I am going to be pissed off and my kids will be sad.

What can I do?

[ElaynesMom]

Unless you live somewhere where it is illegal to allow cats to roam free outside you probably can't do much. It's their cat so they get to decide how to care for it even if that means making decisions you wouldn't. It's kind of like parenting that way.

I'd maybe mention that your dh just saw a dead cat on the road when he was coming home and you were concerned about their cat. If they don't care then I'd leave it at that, you probably would just strain your friendship by pushing the issue too much.

[WaitingForKiddos]

Nothing you can do.....

Sucks though. I'd tell the owners that you saw a hit cat and are worried about theirs. If it keeps you up at night you could take the cat and find an indoor only home.

[ElaynesMom]

Yikes, no offense but I would not just take their cat and rehome it. That's stealing and is illegal.

Originally Posted by WaitingForKiddos

Nothing you can do.....

Sucks though. I'd tell the owners that you saw a hit cat and are worried about theirs. If it keeps you up at night you could take the cat and find an indoor only home.

[Theia]

I don't know if this will be helpful but here goes....

Legally you can only mention your concerns to your friends, but I wouldn't push them.

I had an indoor only cat, but grew up in a rural area and had many outdoor cats and dogs. I've seen one pet die under the wheels of a car.

In a discussion with some fellow pet lovers a few years back this became a point of contention. What was better for the health (meaning mental and physical) and longevity of the cat? A cat who gets to spend time outside gets to do more cat stuff. Hunting, climbing trees, freedom to roam, eating a more normal diet, etc. In general an outdoor cat does have a shorter lifespan, and there are other concerns about the environmental impacts but I'm sticking just to the cat's experience. An indoor cat (with a good owner) is in the lap of luxury. A warm dry place to sleep, food is plentiful and easy to come by, and the biggest/most common danger is getting underfoot (usually). How can we judge which life the cat enjoys more? Many cats simply were not given the type of personality that does well as an indoor only pet. Many cats couldn't survive or would find it very difficult to survive in an outdoor environment even part time. Maybe to a cats perspective being an indoor/outdoor cat is the best of both worlds, it will probably live fewer years, but will have more say in how it spends its time here.

If this cat is already an indoor/outdoor cat, it might never fully be able to adjust to being an indoor only pet. Gently I am saying; Yes, the chances are that it will have a shorter life, but it's not your place to decide what is right for your friends cat. If the unfortunate happens and you find out the cat was hit by a car, it will just be an expression of the cycle of life and death and imo is a good thing for children (age appropriately) to experience.

[lonegirl]

Not much, unfortunately.

I know when we moved to our house...a very quiet neighbourhood....I saw lots of outdoor cats....When I talked to owners they asked if we had any cats...yes 2. I say to them "being a vet tech I have had the misfortune of tending to many hit by car cases...some who come DOA, so my cats are strictly indoors"....lol

I would much rather have my cat for 16-20+ yrs...

[ParisApril]

Originally Posted by Theia

I don't know if this will be helpful but here goes....

Legally you can only mention your concerns to your friends, but I wouldn't push them.

I had an indoor only cat, but grew up in a rural area and had many outdoor cats and dogs. I've seen one pet die under the wheels of a car.

In a discussion with some fellow pet lovers a few years back this became a point of contention. What was better for the health (meaning mental and physical) and longevity of the cat? A cat who gets to spend time outside gets to do more cat stuff. Hunting, climbing trees, freedom to roam, eating a more normal diet, etc. In general an outdoor cat does have a shorter lifespan, and there are other concerns about the environmental impacts but I'm sticking just to the cat's experience. An indoor cat (with a good owner) is in the lap of luxury. A warm dry place to sleep, food is plentiful and easy to come by, and the biggest/most common danger is getting underfoot (usually). How can we judge which life the cat enjoys more? Many cats simply were not given the type of personality that does well as an indoor only pet. Many cats couldn't survive or would find it very difficult to survive in an outdoor environment even part time. Maybe to a cats perspective being an indoor/outdoor cat is the best of both worlds, it will probably live fewer years, but will have more say in how it spends its time here.

If this cat is already an indoor/outdoor cat, it might never fully be able to adjust to being an indoor only pet. Gently I am saying; Yes, the chances are that it will have a shorter life, but it's not your place to decide what is right for your friends cat. If the unfortunate happens and you find out the cat was hit by a car, it will just be an expression of the cycle of life and death and imo is a good thing for children (age appropriately) to experience.

I totally understand what you are saying. Quality of life, I eat free range meats after all. My kids will get to deal with pet death soon as we have an old dog.

Last year a neighbour adopted a cat that had been hit by a car. The vet said they could have it on condition they never let it outside. They let it out and within days the cat was dead on the street. Our street is just so busy at times it would be nice if the kitten lived long enough to become a cat.

Not my cat, not my business I guess. I knew that but it make me sad anyways.

[nd_deadhead]

If your community is like mine, it is illegal to let cats (or dogs) roam free. The leash laws apply equally to cats and dogs. Unfortunately the law is only enforced WRT dogs!

I understand your concern, and I am a HUGE believer in the idea that if cats are kept as pets, they should be kept indoors. If they are not capable of living within the confines of a human house, then they are not fully domesticated, and should not be kept as pets at all.

So many people attribute human thoughts and feelings to their pets. They think "Oh, Kitty sits at the window all day - she must have a really strong desire to go outside!" But if Kitty has never been outside, she doesn't know what she's missing - and she probably just likes looking out the window, just like we enjoy watching TV.

[sunnysandiegan]

The kitten found you on a busy street???? Hmmm.... I'm thinking she likes you and misses you (your family). When we cat-sit, we typically continue to visit the cats (various friends ask us to cat-sit) for a little while to ease the transition for all.

The indoor/outdoor conversation can be a bit tricky, but it may be a good one to have with your friends. Approach it as a learning experience for all. I'd have it and mention the recent dead cat in a friendly, conversational way...not confrontational nor challenging their beliefs. Maybe you'll learn something new? Maybe they will? In any case, the air will be cleared and you may feel better about the situation.

[ParisApril]

Update

Well the kitten has been hanging around more and more. The owners are NEVER home, in fact I think they left on a vacation because there have been no vehicles there for a few days. They left a towel on the porch for the cat but no water or food. The kitten spent part of yesterday on our roof, in my neighbors tree hunting birds and trying to get into mine and other neighbors houses.

I am seriously considering taking her to the SPCA.

Anyone living in Southern Ontario want a super cute kitten/cat?

[lonegirl]

Well you could bring her to the OSPCA and explain the situation....You also risk her not being adopted. Or if she is microchipped they will return her to the owner.
HAve you gone over to their house to confirm they are indeed away? If it were me...I would first confirm they were gone, then likely take her in or at minimum go put some food on their porch for her. I would also be concerned that although we have had a very mild winter this year in S.ON it is still winter....You could also take her to the nearest Veterinary hospital.

[WaitingForKiddos]

I'm still of the opinion that the kharma
of saving a cat's life beats that of 'stealing' a cat.

What I'd do, and have done, is take the cat to the local no kill shelter. Do no say you know the owners. Just drop it off as if it is....well, because it is, a stray.

Should I ever decide to be careless enough to think my cat be outdoors, esp in a busy area, may my actions be returned to me.

[SophieAnn]

If it were me (and I'm also in Southern Ontario but dh is allergic to cats unfortunately)....

I would call animal control (look up the phone number for your local humane society) and explain to them that:

- there is a kitten loose in your neighbourhood
- you have looked after this kitten before and know the owners
- the owners routinely allow the kitten to be outside
- it appears the owners are away on vacation
- you are concerned that it is cold, the cat has no access to food or water

The animal control officer should come to check it out. You could offer to help find or contain the kitten for them. The animal control officer will follow-up with the owners and communicate the dangers to the kitty of being outside. Perhaps they will take the advice more seriously if it comes from the humane society.

That's what I would do anyway. I am in the "camp" of opinion that cats should be indoor-only for safety reasons, as is the Humane Society.

[Bea]

This may be way out there for some people (cruelty wise) but I've read before that putting a cat in a cat carrier in front of/beside a car and revving the engine really obnoxiously loudly can frighten them to the point of avoidance.

It's not exactly solving the problem but it might make the cat a little more street smart/wary of vehicles.

I know I used to hit the clutch and gun the gas when my cat was a litle guy and he got cocky with the car when I came home from work.

Boy, could that cat run

[Arduinna]

I don't agree with indoor only cat policies but these people are being irresponsible, the kitten is 10 weeks old and they are just leaving it outside with a towel to sleep on and no water dish? If it was an adult cat allowed access to the outside I wouldn't do anything, but this is a young kitten that sounds like it's being locked out and not provided food and water. I'd totally call.

[SophieAnn]

Originally Posted by Arduinna

I don't agree with indoor only cat policies but these people are being irresponsible, the kitten is 10 weeks old and they are just leaving it outside with a towel to sleep on and no water dish? If it was an adult cat allowed access to the outside I wouldn't do anything, but this is a young kitten that sounds like it's being locked out and not provided food and water. I'd totally call.

Whether or not you agree with indoor-only cats.... this is a young kitten, and over the last 2 days we've had a snowstorm (10 inches?) and it's been -2 degrees C outside as a high daily temp here in Southwestern Ontario.

[greenmagick]

Just wanted to point out...there is a difference between indoor only and responsibly letting a cat out. You can fence in a portion, take them out on leash, etc....just like you would for a dog. If they are our pets they are our responsibility to keep safe and contained.