Is it cruel to keep cats?

[jsmoke]

Serious question. Grew up with cats and dogs years ago so remember it to a degree. Recently acquired a cat about 3 years old. Usual stuff. They start to become more and more human like by the day, however their wild instincts kick in now and again and it reminds you that they are not human and are pure instinctive survivalists.

So should even, 'domestic cats', still be left in the wild. Of course we can feed them and pet them but ultimately by doing so are we downgrading their natural instincts for our own selfish purposes.

 

[Malevolence]

however their wild instincts kick in now and again and it reminds you that they are not human

What the **** are you smoking? You know what reminds me that my cats aren't human? When I look at them I see CATS!

 

[Ocean Breeze1]

I don’t think domestic cats can survive in the wild can they?

They have been bred to be domestic animals for hundreds/thousands of years have they not?

You should allow them to go outside. I thinks it’s wrong to keep the as indoor cats.

 

[firstborn]

however their wild instincts kick in now and again ...

mice, squirrels and birds local to me would take little comfort in that, well the bits of them I constantly find littering the
garden wouldn't

 

[Kreeeee]

.

 

[cyber69]

Nope, no way my cat Garfield is becoming more human

 

[Sparky__H]

I don’t think domestic cats can survive in the wild can they?

If i remember rightly cats retain most of their instinctual behaviour are are better able to revert back to a feral state.

This all of course is dependent of food availability and the animals ability to hunt for it, age etc.

 

[Woden]

It's different work cats, they self-domesticated.

 

[=XDC=FluphyBunny]

Unlikely domestic cats will do well in the wild. One of my cats was spooked in the garden and ran off When we found him he was terrified we now have an out door secure space where they can climb and get fresh air without the risk. Cats are opportunists and having a life of been fed loved and warm and secure is not cruel.

 

[CaptainRAVE]

Cruel on neighbours and local wildlife.

Plenty of domestic cats can survive in the wild. Depends where and how domesticated they are.

 

[Vonhelmet]

Cats are great. It’s not cruel to keep them, no. I don’t see why you’d think that, unless you take issue with all pets.

 

[something daft already!!]

Have you ever owned a cat? Cats are parasitical lifeforms. They thrive when leaching off a human. It isn't cruel, it's a one way street in favor of the cat. They get all the fuss, attention, grooming and food from us while we will get some affection back but only on the cat's own terms.

 

[Vonhelmet]

Have you ever owned a cat? Cats are parasitical lifeforms. They thrive when leaching off a human. It isn't cruel, it's a one way street in favor of the cat. They get all the fuss, attention, grooming and food from us while we will get some affection back but only on the cat's own terms.

It’s symbiotic, not parasitic. By your own admission we get something out of it.

 

[Mynight]

Have you ever owned a cat? Cats are parasitical lifeforms. They thrive when leaching off a human. It isn't cruel, it's a one way street in favor of the cat. They get all the fuss, attention, grooming and food from us while we will get some affection back but only on the cat's own terms.

Someone got shunned by a cat in their youth .

 

[dannyjo22]

I miss Tank, someone would mention anti freeze in a cat thread and he would go feral.

 

[teaboy5]

Cat are the pain in the ass. There's one who keeps ******** on my stones in the garden and of course I have no idea who the owner is. Even if I did i doubt they would care or could control it.

Can't wait until I see it when the hose is out which should hopefully warn it off.

 

[Rroff]

I don’t think domestic cats can survive in the wild can they?

They have been bred to be domestic animals for hundreds/thousands of years have they not?

You should allow them to go outside. I thinks it’s wrong to keep the as indoor cats.

Seem to do OK - when our old next door neighbour died her cat ended up abandoned somehow and for a few years roamed the neighbourhood - used to come to our back door every now and then after returning to next door and finding no one there:

https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/posts/29514114

 

[Deleted member 66701]

No one 'owns' or 'keeps' a cat.

Dogs have owners, cats have slaves!*

*Says a serial cat person.

 

[firstborn]

Cruel on neighbours and local wildlife.

Plenty of domestic cats can survive in the wild. Depends where and how domesticated they are.

Why is it cruel on local wildlife? My cat eats everything it rips the head off of, what's the issue...

 

[something daft already!!]

Someone got shunned by a cat in their youth .

LOL no. I love cats and I think they are amazing. I have two, Daisy and Dusty. A right pair of little tarts they are when it suits them. But it is always on their terms only. Like the expression herding cats, they do as they please. They own you really.