Whilst I dont agree that cats should be only kept indoors I think its rubbish to assume a cat can never be happy if its not allowed outside, some breeds dont like the outside by their nature and are happy to stay in all the time.
House Cats
- Thread starter SoSolid
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This is so wrong, please ignore it.
I swear one of mine is in competition with me, she's curling them out like a Cumberland sausage factory on overtime.
No way is she normal, no cat craps its own body weight in a day
The white crystal type litter is the best for keeping the pong down and it doesn't get spread around the floor so much, also handy to have some nappy bags to clear up with.
Quoted for Truth.
Soldato
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So you don't think it is unfair to disallow an animal it's freedom outside?
You'll get a different side of the story depending on who you ask. Our cat was a house cat for the first 9 months of his life - he now goes out when he pleases (which is most of the time) and he is far far happier.
At one point we had 6 Persians living in my small 2 bedroom flat (My wife bred them before she moved in with me), using an enclosed litter box with charcoal filter and Catsan litter (wouldn't recommend anything else!). Daily litter changes and hoovering meant no smell.
Ragdolls are needy as previously mentioned and love to play and cuddle up. One will be fine and so long as you give it plenty of attention (play is essential for the exercise and stimulation) - Royal Canin do a dry food aimed at Long haired & house cats, just ensure it has access to fresh water at all times.
Also make sure to get it insured - I'd recommend females as males (even neutered) will spray - that's what stinks!
Enjoy, they're brilliant.
Ragdolls are needy as previously mentioned and love to play and cuddle up. One will be fine and so long as you give it plenty of attention (play is essential for the exercise and stimulation) - Royal Canin do a dry food aimed at Long haired & house cats, just ensure it has access to fresh water at all times.
Also make sure to get it insured - I'd recommend females as males (even neutered) will spray - that's what stinks!
Enjoy, they're brilliant.
I have two house cats, we have the luxury of having a separate bathroom to the ensuite which is basically a laundry room. The litter tray goes in the bath and for 2 cats it is changed every 3rd day.
I would say some breeds of cats are better as house cats than others.
I would say some breeds of cats are better as house cats than others.
+1
I have recently acquired a "House Cat". She had previously lived up at my Mums as an almost exclusively out door cat! But she was getting on a bit, had developed Thyroid problems (For which she has had <Touch wood> extremely successful, though eye-wateringly expensive, surgery)
She had made it quite clear that she now wanted to be indoors and since she has lived with me she hasnt even "Looked" at the door! (Let alone attempt to leave)
I am reluctant to let her outside where I live since we are next to a busy road which she is not used too and I would be heartbroken if she got herself run over (Especially after having spent so much on her!
) but as yet she has shown no real desire to do so.What happens when the weather gets nicer though I do not know!
Though yes, back to OP, My flat now smells like a Kzinti Latrine! I don't think one can avoid this in truth, But one gets used to it, Interestingly she has, all on her own, figured out how to use my loo (At least for #1's)
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We have a house cat that was litter trained as a kitten and never had an issue, Litter tray is emptied each day and litter is replaced weekly.
So you don't think it is unfair to disallow an animal it's freedom outside?
Yea sure, if you live in a studio apartment.
Any pet you buy is your responsibility, it's not cruel to keep it inside as long as you have enough room and actually play with it.
TICA and the GCCF both have guidelines with the minimum amount of space they suggest is suitable for a cat to be confined to, it's easy enough to increase the space available with cat trees and shelves so they can climb also.
I find it funny people can say it's cruel to keep a house cat when that basically means that they think the vast majority of cats in America are being subject to animal cruelty. A lot of people with this mindset seem to forget that cats ARE NOT their wild ancestors, they've grown accustom to being house cats and no longer suffer health problems from the reduced exercise.
My personal opinion is that it's more responsible to keep a house cat where you can build a garden enclosure and/or take it for walks. If people let their cats out to wander then they accept the risks which we've seen numerous times in the 'Show us your Kitty Cats' thread and GD. Plus this argument comes up every time there's a thread about a cat getting hit by a car or going missing.
How do you measure happiness? I don't personally see how people can see a difference unless they suddenly take away the privilege which is in itself a cruel act.
Agreed, insurance saved someone in the kitty cats thread.
The earlier you get them neutered or spayed can actually affect their growth in a positive way and it also decreases the chance that your male will start spraying (Females can also come into heat very young). If you go for two I'd suggest Males as Females are more active about being dominant over one another.
What are you feeding her on?
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Soldato
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Ah I remember now, you are the guy who keeps his cat locked up then take him out for a walk on a lead. Gotta love that control!
Someone walks their cat?
I've taken the cat down to the beach to chase birds on one of those cord leashes before! All the looks from the people walking their dogs was just sheer jealousy.
Care to explain why?
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Really the complete opposite is true. As a vet, every single day I see the effects of outdoor cats (or cats that have access to free roaming). Abscesses, legs hanging on by pieces of skin, shattered pelvis's/skulls, poisonings, infectious diseases from other cats (to other cats, not people), it truly is that horrific. Other cats/dogs/foxes, cars, trucks, bikes, people.. Then think about the wildlife your cat kills..
I would never expose my cat to such dangers. I am also one of "those" people who walks my cat, he enjoys it, I enjoy it and I know he won't get hurt. In the end I have a very, very happy, healthy cat.
When I get a house I will make a sheltered cat run outside, but at the moment we are in a flat. As for the cat litter - I just use a smaller amount and discard the lot each day (I use recycled paper litter). Sure it probably is a little wasteful, but the cat has clean litter (they are very clean creatures) and the smell is minimised. I'm not going to lie and say when you come into my flat you can't tell I have a cat (hell I live on top of the vet clinic, the whole building smells like animals..), but the smell is minimised.
Soldato
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Geez, guys I'm a doctor and with children it really is the complete opposite!
I see the effects of outdoor children (or kids that have access to free roaming). Abscesses, legs hanging on by pieces of skin, shattered pelvis's/skulls, infectious diseases from other children (to other kids, not animals), it truly is that horrific. Other children/dogs/foxes, cars, trucks, bikes, people.. Then think about the wildlife your children kills..
I would never expose my child to such dangers. I am also one of "those" people who walks my kid, he enjoys it, I enjoy it and I know he won't get hurt. In the end I have a very, very happy, healthy child.
When I get a house I will make a sheltered child run outside, but at the moment we are in a flat. As for the loo paper - I just use a smaller amount and discard the lot each day (I use recycled paper roll). Sure it probably is a little wasteful, but the child has a clean bum (they are very clean creatures) and the smell is minimised. I'm not going to lie and say when you come into my flat you can't tell I have a sprat (hell I live on top of the doctor's clinic, the whole building smells like CHILDREN..), but the smell is minimised.
Soldato
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But you are the guy who keeps his cat locked up and walks him on a lead though, right?
If the answer is true, then I am not talking crap; I'm stating the truth
