Shall I Free My Cat?

mokapi

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Jun 22, 2017
Messages
586
Purraise
614
I want to clarify that I don't think any of us are particularly divided over the outdoor living environment, where it's what we may each individually consider to be a countryside, or a small farm, or a large bungalow household. That is not the point, at least to me.

The point remains that the option that you're referring to involves you letting your cat outside in hopes- not guarantee, but hopes- that others will shoulder the responsibility of feeding him, caring for him, and letting him live indoors when the weather is bad; that other cats will accept him and not run him off; and that he won't fall victim to the innumerable predators that we've brought up, whether they be invertebrates, mammals, humans, automobiles, weather, etc. Again, this is irresponsible. I don't know what positive word you could attach to this choice.

I was under the impression from the beginning that your cat has enjoyed your walks and that it has already become part of your routine.
 

Shane Kent

Crazy Cat Gentleman
Top Cat
Joined
May 9, 2016
Messages
1,319
Purraise
5,965
Location
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
My cat Zoe cries at the door a little bit. I don't feel sorry for her she is like a kid to me and there is no way she is going outside without me. I feel they deserve to have as much freedom as a human child. People don't let toddlers wander the streets nor do my cats.

I say keep the cat and keep taking it for walks. I bet the cat will miss you a lot if you take it somewhere as it is likely bonded with you.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #63

solomonar

TCS Member
Thread starter
Super Cat
Joined
Jan 13, 2017
Messages
938
Purraise
830
Location
Romania
What does it mean "set free a cat in the countryside"?

Here the countryside means villages. Many households owns little plots. In a household can be one cat, more cats or no cat. One cat can belong to more than one owner (=more than a household).

A household owner in the countryside may own few cows, few sheep and so on. There is on corn plot, one vegetable plot and so one. Many households are self-sufficient. But because of various things to do, people have little time to spent with dogs and cats. Dogs are supposed to guard, cats are supposed to eat mice.

Usually, cats in countryside have shorter lives than the urban ones. But they enjoy close-to-nature life.

Indeed, in the countryside people are less caring to dogs and cats than their urban homologues.

Because of multitude of households and various leftovers and opportunities to hunt, it is un-likely a cat may starve to death. Not impossible, though.

Letting aside cruel people, nobody will put a cat at the household gate and leave. Free to country-side is a real re-homing, but rises risks for the cat. It is better than a shelter? I think it is. Or not, in same cases. A cat I know was re-homed to countryside and in one week her belly wound got infected and had to be brought back to her home-shelter.

This is typical countryside:

 

mokapi

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Jun 22, 2017
Messages
586
Purraise
614
Okay. What, exactly, are you wanting from this thread?

It's just going round and round in circles. And now it's like you're saying your options are 1.) "countryside" and 2.) shelter. A shelter hasn't even been brought up in the previous 62 posts.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #65

solomonar

TCS Member
Thread starter
Super Cat
Joined
Jan 13, 2017
Messages
938
Purraise
830
Location
Romania
Because I not only walk my cat, but also carefully watch what he does, I am now very confused and a lot of questions runs through my head. The cat behavior is different and strange when walking in the forest. I read ethology, I have some idea about cat's behavior and health. But believe me, the cat exhibits a very mysterious behavior.
 

mokapi

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Jun 22, 2017
Messages
586
Purraise
614
I am completely confused.

Again, what are you wanting from this thread?

The way that you describe your cat walking like a dog...that is not unique to any one cat. Consider going to instagram and searching "#adventurecat". It's a whole movement.

My older cat walks on a leash. I live on 4 acres. I take him to parks. We go in the woods. He climbs up trees. We walks on hiking trails. He walks across fallen logs. He crosses rivers. His pupils dilate. His ears twitch. His nose twitches. He becomes very excited. He chirps at birds and stalks insects.

He walks like a dog.

He has a long history of bringing me voles and birds.

He was indoor/outdoor for a year and a half.

None of these things mean that I should expect and/or hope that other people take care of him.

Because I love my cat, and he is very dear to me, I feed him. I cuddle him. I walk him. I make sure he has water. I make sure he's taken to the vet if I notice anything amiss. He's fed a diet that very closely resembles what he would eat in the wild. I play with him when he feels like it. He's kept warm or cool.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #67

solomonar

TCS Member
Thread starter
Super Cat
Joined
Jan 13, 2017
Messages
938
Purraise
830
Location
Romania
Well, there is just an example, to understand what I am talking about. To understand something, it has to be compared. It is just a method.
I am not looking for a clear solution (I doubt it even exists), but for opinions. So far there were many and very useful.

For instance your lines:
"The way that you describe your cat walking like a dog...that is not unique to any one cat. Consider going to instagram and searching "#adventurecat". It's a whole movement."
I got this relevant info because I keep asking for a multi-perspective approach.

It is just another way to make use of a forum social knowledge, which differs from looking for a certain clear and well-shaped answer. This approach also has a latin name, which I cant remember so late in night. :-)
 
Last edited:

mokapi

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Jun 22, 2017
Messages
586
Purraise
614
Ultimately this is going to come down to what you feel is best: we can try to explain our side of the coin (or whatever 3D object best suits the number of different opinions; a two-sided coin may be too black and white for you, so to speak), but it's up to you.

Hopefully we have given you some useful answers that you can use to make your decision. All of us only want what we feel is best for your cat. I do understand that you're only wanting that, too. There are cultural differences that are coming into play and I am very opinionated about this sort of thing, so sometimes it can be difficult for me to grasp them.

Many of us are also speaking from experience. Like I said, my older cat was indoor/outdoor for some time. I'm sure he did enjoy it when it "worked", but he almost died because of it and that was the final straw. I don't want that to happen to your cat. My situation was very difficult to prevent because, at the time, I had a parent who was purposefully letting him outside to punish me.

I do want to encourage you to look up adventure cats, regardless. I think you'd find it very interesting:

Adventure Cats - Living Nine Lives to the Fullest
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #71

solomonar

TCS Member
Thread starter
Super Cat
Joined
Jan 13, 2017
Messages
938
Purraise
830
Location
Romania
Perhaps walking cats in the woods deserve a separate thread. It is amazing! Your experience in walking your cat is very exicting for me.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #72

solomonar

TCS Member
Thread starter
Super Cat
Joined
Jan 13, 2017
Messages
938
Purraise
830
Location
Romania
That adventure cats links are splendid! I didn't know that there are people doing this sort of things. I am very happy to know that I am not getting crazy :-).
 

amethyst

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Nov 25, 2016
Messages
948
Purraise
2,850
Location
Alberta, Canada
The impression I am getting, and correct me if I am wrong, I think there may be a slight language issue causing confusion, is solomonar is wanting to know if their cat would be better off being rehomed on a farm. I think the point of the thread was the cat wants to go out and they are wondering if that means he wants to live outside since that is common in their area. Since walking cats is not common there they are making sure they are doing right for the cat. Am I right solomonar?
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #74

solomonar

TCS Member
Thread starter
Super Cat
Joined
Jan 13, 2017
Messages
938
Purraise
830
Location
Romania
amethyst amethyst
Right!

The word "farm" is the one causing confusion (we have few farms here and nobody will say "rehoming to a farm"), as well as my abusive use of "free".
 

danteshuman

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 27, 2017
Messages
5,030
Purraise
6,077
Location
California
I had cat named Merlin. He ran away, 2 months later he came back. He never wanted to leave the house again. I think if you found a farm family to adopt him, it would be OK. Still everything you have written says that your cat is already in a great home & happy. Why change that?

Also don't forget cars kill cats when they roam freely. It was how we found 2, 10 day old kittens in our air vent ... the mother got hit by a car.
 

mokapi

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Jun 22, 2017
Messages
586
Purraise
614
Perhaps walking cats in the woods deserve a separate thread. It is amazing! Your experience in walking your cat is very exicting for me.
We could absolutely make a cats-outside thread! :D

I'll try to take a video for you next time. He sometimes acts extremely silly. He did get stuck in a tree once and I had to climb up and get him. It was slightly pathetic, but very adorable.
 

Shane Kent

Crazy Cat Gentleman
Top Cat
Joined
May 9, 2016
Messages
1,319
Purraise
5,965
Location
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
What does it mean "set free a cat in the countryside"?

Here the countryside means villages. Many households owns little plots. In a household can be one cat, more cats or no cat. One cat can belong to more than one owner (=more than a household).

A household owner in the countryside may own few cows, few sheep and so on. There is on corn plot, one vegetable plot and so one. Many households are self-sufficient. But because of various things to do, people have little time to spent with dogs and cats. Dogs are supposed to guard, cats are supposed to eat mice.

Usually, cats in countryside have shorter lives than the urban ones. But they enjoy close-to-nature life.

Indeed, in the countryside people are less caring to dogs and cats than their urban homologues.

Because of multitude of households and various leftovers and opportunities to hunt, it is un-likely a cat may starve to death. Not impossible, though.

Letting aside cruel people, nobody will put a cat at the household gate and leave. Free to country-side is a real re-homing, but rises risks for the cat. It is better than a shelter? I think it is. Or not, in same cases. A cat I know was re-homed to countryside and in one week her belly wound got infected and had to be brought back to her home-shelter.

This is typical countryside:

Countryside means the same here. Not the city. What kind of wildlife lives around that place?
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #78

solomonar

TCS Member
Thread starter
Super Cat
Joined
Jan 13, 2017
Messages
938
Purraise
830
Location
Romania
When I walk my cat in the woods he was happier than when I walk him in urban park. At least that was my impression.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #80

solomonar

TCS Member
Thread starter
Super Cat
Joined
Jan 13, 2017
Messages
938
Purraise
830
Location
Romania
Foxes, owls, otters (few). Sometimes bears. We have thousand of bears.
 
Top