djchameleon

My older kitty disappeared and I found him a few days later but he decided that he liked it outside better and didn't want to come back when I called him.

He was the type that would always come to me when called. He wasn't running loose though when I lost him. It was summer time and there was one window I had open without a screen. He must have jumped out of it chasing an early morning bird. I did get him from a rescue so years earlier he used to be an alley cat. I am sure he was able to survive well on his own.

I do know that miserable feeling though for the few days when I couldn't find him.

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Fame, fortune, power, titties. People say these are the most crucial things in life, but you can have a pocket full o' gold and it doesn't mean sh*t if you don't have someone to share that gold with. Seems simple. Yet it's an important lesson to learn. Even lone wolves run in packs sometimes.

skyline

I tried to keep my cat in, thought it was a little cruel to keep it cooked up inside all the time and after so many escapes I thought it would be better to just leave her to it. She never goes far and spends most of her time in the next door neighbours garden, she seems to like it because it's fenced off and full of bushes she can hide in.

I lost my dog one night, a particulary heavy storm blew the side gate open and there was no trace of him the next morning, he was by no means a small dog either. I got him as a pup from a friend when I was about 8, he was really getting on by the time that happened so I was already expecting to lose him within a year or two, I just can't fathom out where he could have got to.

Worst story I heard happened to one of my neighbours, there was a string of burglaries going around (people travel down from Dublin and target more isolated areas) and his house got hit, it was a pure bred so he assumed it was stolen, didn't give a **** about his belongings he just wanted his dog back. Found it 2 days later in a terrible state with all four legs broken, ended up putting it down. People can be cruel ****ers.

John Wilkes Booth

cats belong outside imo. they can hunt and have a little taste of freedom. an indoor cat is a waste of an existence.

ladyislingering

The thing about this situation is that there's many acres of forest and coyotes and other terrifying **** in those woods. One might argue that cats aren't dumb, but you don't have to be dumb to trip on a branch when a great big terrifying coyote is chasing you.

I'm sorry for your loss.

Someone I was very close to lost their dog for 3 days, following extreme weather. State troopers found her a couple miles away, with a broken leg. She kept re-breaking that leg in the months to come, then contracted an infection and had to be put down within the year. They were another one of those rural families that let their animals run wild everywhere - two years later I got the news that my favorite cat of theirs, Charles, had been captured by a coyote. I was far away at the time but I cried for weeks. It was devastating.

I guess maybe things are different when you live way out in the woods or whatever, but in many cities there are leash laws to keep animals safe (and they remain safe as long as you keep an eye on them). My parents kept their last cat on a leash and kept watch through the storm door and windows. He lived a long, healthy life, and never really got into a shuffle with another creature. (He got sniffed by a black lab once, though.)


I'll kindly disagree with that, as they're generally safer indoors, less prone to disease, and usually live a bit longer. If you have an indoor cat and they're unhappy, you're not a very good cat-parent. You have to spoil those little angels. My cat (mentioned above) was a mostly indoor cat - we spoiled him with tons of blankets, toys, his very own sofa; he was allowed to eat his breakfast at the table with anyone who was also having breakfast (and of course you really needed to talk to him because he liked that). From his point of view, the treat containers were bottomless. He was very, very spoiled and loved to be held, kissed, snuggled, sung to... he was such a lovely cat.

Caring parents know where their kids are at all times.

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Urban Hat€monger ?

My cat hardly ever comes inside, It either sits on the doorstep and stares at you when you're cooking or it sleeps in it's nice warm greenhouse.
Follows me around everywhere when I'm outside though.

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skyline

I suppose that makes sense, worst thing cats over here have to worry about is other cats and stray dogs. With dogs on the other hand you need to worry about poison, the farmers put it down during lambing season. Lots of people lost dogs that way. Though tbh dogs should be kept in for everyone elses benefit.

I tried buying my cat toys, she only likes cardboard boxes, cable ties and milk bottle lids, buy her anything and she looks at you as if you have two heads. I wouldn't say she's unhappy, she just likes sitting by the window watching birds and people go by so she naturaly feels compelled to go out to investigate and becomes agitated when she doesn't get her way.

The Batlord

Cats like being outside, so why not let them do what makes them happy? It's safer for kids to stay inside too, but not letting them go out and play isn't going to make them any happier.

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Mojo

A cat is probably only gonna be happier outside if that's what it used to, and therefore unhappy if you keep it indoors.

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Last.FM | Echoes and Dust

The Batlord

Never kept my cats indoors. We just have a doggy door and they come and go as they please. Some spend more time inside, some less, but they all go out at some point.

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Mojo

Well, I dont have a cat, so I'm far from an expert or anything. But a friend of mine has a few, works for the shelter, all that jazz, and my point was just what she once told me, which is (and I'm paraphrasing) that it isnt cruel to keep a cat indoors if thats what its used to but if a cat is used to spending lots of time outside and is then adopted and forced to stay inside, it will likely be unhappy.

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Last.FM | Echoes and Dust