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After a lengthy derail in the General Discussion area, several members expressed interest in an extended debate topic on this issue. This evidently is something that people get very agressive about but keep in mind that other people online can not see your pets in action and they will naturally be incredulous. Everyone loves their animals and is anxious to defend them, and by extention their ability to care for them. I recognise this and ask to please keep it civil. I myself will be adhering to this no matter how heated it may get.

Now, I have to say right off the bat that I am an advocate of indoor cat ownership. I used to work at the Humane Society and saw many cats who were hurt because of their outdoor roaming. They overall had much shorter lifespans and often had to be quarantined because of the diseases they contracted. By contrast, the indoor cats were often healthier and friendlier to boot.

In my lifetime I have owned five cats. The eldest of these is now eighteen years old and still energetic. She can play with the younger ones and is still their undisputed leader. She shows no signs of showing down to date. The second-oldest is now fifteen and is looking better than ever. Down the line is the cat I took with me when I moved out of my parents' house, who is seven. The youngest is only three. The one cat that died at age four died of genetic illness and had no other health problems.

Now, the longevity of indoor cats isn't in question but what of their happiness? My family's cats are all incredibly social, contented, and playful. You know that look a cat gets when its eyes narrow and whiskers lay flat, or the way a happy cat will hold its tail high in the air? They all do that constantly. Admittedly, I moved out of my parents' house in March (2006) and I haven't seen the 18-year-old, 13-year-old, or 3-year-old since. However, the cat I took with me is always very happy.

This last cat is the most important part to my point. She used to escape from my parents' house easily, but she never went far. She'd stay in the yard and hunt and was most often seen lounging on the fence. She spent most of her time inside of her own free will, preferring to be with the people. When I moved in with my boyfriend into the apartment we have, which has no way out, she showed no signs at all of wanting to leave. We can leave the window open and she'll ignore it.

Conclusively, I just see no reason to expose cats to predators and diseases. There are even worse things (and people) out there that can hurt those animal friends we take care of and frankly with my cats so happy I never really saw a reason to put their lives in danger like that.

I think it depends greatly on location. By and fast I believe that they should be indoors with access to a secure yard or run but can see where there could be room for manouver. Cats on farms and ranches, etc, that are kept specifically to control rodents and so forth.

that cat that my sister has is a full fledge indoor cat though I don't see it natural at all, that leads to spading/nutering and declawing .. because you know how animals are.. instincts rule all else

I don't believe that indoor cats should be "allowed" sort to say, it's not like that can't survive outdoors... how I know, my granfather has a farm (he lives right across the street) and all the cats that I've seen out in that barn are tough as nails, though there is only one left (the others got really sick looking, and one had got attacked by something and lost it's sight and hearing) but that's not the point. Some cats that are outdoors are more "wild" than others and some can even get into scuffles with cyotes (there's a lot of them around here) ... but every cat that I've ever seen at that barn can take out a rat that is the same size of it or bigger

so a cat being outdoors will toughen it up and it's instincts will kick in... that's why cats that are neglected that roam outside look soo healthy, they find food and they survive, they adapt. but an indoors animal can't adapt if it gets stranded outside or runs away, it's a foreign environment

that's why I believe cats should be left outdoors but only brought in if it is severe weather outside (barn cats have cover in the barn and in all the sheds around the barn) so a pet cat should have the same authority to it... right? just an indoor cat becomes so dependent on its owner

I don't disagree with letting cats outdoors. I just stronly agree that indoors is the way to go. However, if one lives in a cty, I HIGHLY discourage people letting their cats outdoors at all. As I mentioned in my last post, it's dangerous.

You bring up a point with the natural being outdoors thing, except that they're not wild animals. They've been domesticated, and are far from wild, which is why not all cats and dogs, when released into the wild, can survive.

Cats in big open areas like farms I don't have as much as a problem with. But there are still dangers, like mentioned earlier; predators such as coyotes and even eagles, hawks, and owls. If they are kept indoors in even a barn loft or something of the sort at night, I think there's less of a risk, even though cats wander out on their own anyway, especially at night. If the cat is spayed or neutered, then by all means, do what you want. But don't let a cat have free roaming when it's perfectly able to pro-create. We don't need any more kitties running around, especially ones that can put a dent in songbird populations.

We live in the woods. One of our cats [25 pound Maine Coone] goes inside and outside at his own free will [but is always in at night]. He loves being outside [especially in the spring and fall] - and is still extremely affectionate.

On the other hand, I don't let my Bengal outside. She's small, slightly feral still [2nd generation], and valuable. She's my baby - I'd kill myself if she got hurt, lost, or stolen. She doesn't express too much interest in going outside unlike our Maine Coone, who as a kitten escaped at every chance he got. I do take her on our screened in porch sometimes [but that really doesn't even interest her too much, she just likes to follow me around everywhere].

So in my opinion, it is up to the owner - and depends greatly on where you live, the conditions outside, and the cat.

[ By the way, both cats are neutered / spayed ]

cats needs to be indoor cause if there outdoor they will get hit by a car or someone will take them or maybe some ppls that doesn't like cats will shoot them but its up to the owner if they want there cats outdoor or indoor