- Joined
- Mar 13, 2020
- Messages
- 60
- Purraise
- 113
Hello! I have three cats (13 years old, 3 year old and 3 months old) and the two oldest one have been indoor cats for over a year now. Before that, they were free to come and go as they wished, and the youngest one apparently was living in the street before we adopted her around a month ago, so all of them were very used to being outside.
The reason I decided the oldest two should stay inside was because they started to come back injured, and every few weeks I had to take them to the vet to seek treatment and medication. It wasn't good for their health, and it wasn't good for us financialy either. Also, three years ago my first ever cat left one night and never came back, and it really hurt me emotionaly. So everytime my cats went out, I kind of freak out until they came back.
Now, I have family and friends (none that live with us) that keep telling me that I should let them out, that I'm just harming them, not allowing them to be normal cats. I know if it were up to my cats, they would be out all day and night.
Inside they have space, safe food and water, they play and sleep and they are happy and healthy. I took then to our backyard a couple of times a day so they can be in the sun and see the sky and chase bugs. It's not a big space, but they enjoy it.
I don't know what to do. Should I allow the oldest two to go out a couple of hours in the morning? I wouldn't let the youngst one out because she isn't neutered yet. I really don't want to let them go outside, but maybe it's better for them?
I should add that I live in a city, which means a lot of people I don't know, a lot of cars, and a lot of dogs too.
The reason I decided the oldest two should stay inside was because they started to come back injured, and every few weeks I had to take them to the vet to seek treatment and medication. It wasn't good for their health, and it wasn't good for us financialy either. Also, three years ago my first ever cat left one night and never came back, and it really hurt me emotionaly. So everytime my cats went out, I kind of freak out until they came back.
Now, I have family and friends (none that live with us) that keep telling me that I should let them out, that I'm just harming them, not allowing them to be normal cats. I know if it were up to my cats, they would be out all day and night.
Inside they have space, safe food and water, they play and sleep and they are happy and healthy. I took then to our backyard a couple of times a day so they can be in the sun and see the sky and chase bugs. It's not a big space, but they enjoy it.
I don't know what to do. Should I allow the oldest two to go out a couple of hours in the morning? I wouldn't let the youngst one out because she isn't neutered yet. I really don't want to let them go outside, but maybe it's better for them?
I should add that I live in a city, which means a lot of people I don't know, a lot of cars, and a lot of dogs too.