My cat, indoors or outdoors?

I believe that all cats should be indoors only.

The only time a cat should be let outdoors is it you have a cat run, an enclosed veranda or alike.
I have seen too many cats dead on the road - just today I saw a black and white cat on the side of the road near my boyfriends house..poor thing.
Also cats are incredibly good hunters, and if let out they will hurt and kill small animals. Only letting them out during daylight hours will decrease the chance of them killing other animals, but it certainly won't stop it.
Feral cats have become a major threat to Australian wildlife. Although your cat is domesticated, there is a chance it can become feral if let to run the streets.
http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/publications/cat-factsheet.html

So yeah I would either just try and teach her that going outside is out of bounds. Or you can start trying to make time to take her for walks, and look at buying a large fully enclosed cage to put outside for her to go in for a few hours a day.

well done guys you all have offered some great advise, cats in or out always seems to be a big issue, i have 6 indoors cats i've tried cat runs and enclosures and 2 of the cats like it and the other 4 won't even go out there, they are happy being inside, they are all de-sexed, micro-chipped and all still have collars with id tags and bells on just in case an accident does happen, my neighbour has already lost 2 cats since i have been living here, 1 was hit by a car outside her house and the other was poisoned by some one who did not like the cat going on his garden, the rspca could not do anything as the cat was not on her property at the time so he gets away with what he did..very cruel and could have been avoided if only she kept her cats inside..

Oh that reminds me, a couple of years ago a guy in our neighborhood was dowsing cats in petrol when they came on to his property. Some died , some recovered.  I was lucky because when Charlie got older she did not leave the borders of our property. But yes that's certainly when you have to limit their wanderings, unfortunately.

what a horrible man, this is when i believe in karma,how can a person be so cruel..

Yeah, he's actually dead now so we don't have to worry about other neighborhood kitty cats.

Neighbours from hell hey?


Does anyone care to share their thoughts on these http://www.barkcontrol.com.au/buy/petsafe-cat-containment-system-pig00-11007/613

"Item Description

Recommended for cats from 2.5kgs. If your cat approaches its boundary too closely (into the warning zone) the receiver collar gives warning tones to let it know it is too close. If it continues, harmless but effective electronic pulse stimuli are given, “telling it to turn around”.

The PetSafe Deluxe Cat system was designed specifically for cats, with the smallest, lightest, containment collar receiver available and reduced power levels to better suit cats’ temperaments.

It provides reliable containment for your cat with tone only plus 4 levels of correction that can be selected to best suit your cat. The collar strap is very slim and has an elasticised section for your cat’s safety and easier fitting."


harmless but effective, sounds painful...

They aren't painful at all. They give like a 'Buzz' thingy, and I think you can have it on low, or high, the highest being like a 'ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!' thing you know?

Its designed to startle the animal, so then the cat figures out that if he/she goes to that certain place, he/she will be 'buzzed' which to them is uncomfortable. Its kinda the same as putting your phone on vibrate and then taping it to your neck, the only difference is is that the cat has no idea what it is, but that it can be avoided.

im lucky i dont live in town - but on 300 acars, we have 2 cats - both rescued, one from the rspca and the other was going to be drowned as a kitten -

The cats run inside and outside, i think its cruel to leave a cat inside 24/7 just like a race horse in a stable 22 hours a day.

If you live in town or in the suburbs let them out (provided you're not worried about roads) and if you live where they're likely to get birds, native rats or antechinus keep them in.

How does your cat like being on a lead? We tried that once and ours hated us for it.

This is my indoors only cat on a lead. He loves it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYJxpQCaFbI