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Post by AnnaAmber on Jun 13, 2013 17:46:35 GMT
In my opinion cats should be allowed to roam, whether pedigree or not. After all, it's the life in their years not the years in their life that counts! That's only what I think though
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Post by SarahHound on Jun 13, 2013 22:11:59 GMT
In my opinion cats should be allowed to roam, whether pedigree or not. After all, it's the life in their years not the years in their life that counts! That's only what I think though I totally agree with this. I'd rather my cats had a shorter more exciting life, than a long boring inside one. I realise not all inside cats are bored, but my own cats would be.
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Post by Pawsforthought on Jun 13, 2013 23:20:51 GMT
Thanks for all the replies, guys! It certainly is interesting, and clarifies the subject for me a bit more. As I've said before, I used to have a cat. She was a black moggie with white bits, and she moved in with us by her own choice. She was ferocious, she hated every other cat in the world and would often bite and scratch us for getting a bit too cocky with her. You couldn't pick her up at all. Going to the vet was traumatic for everyone. I loved her to pieces, she was my hot water bottle at night. Anyway, she was SO road savvy and never got in any sort of trouble at all. I lived at the time on a fairly busy road very near to a VERY busy road (that led directly into Southampton town.) I'm not naive enough to think all cats are like her, she was a CRAZY bitch but it's reassuring in a way to hear that it's not one way or the other in terms of what people think. In the future sometime, we want a Bengal (with another cat who we will probably adopt - two Bengals at once is a bit excessive moneywise!) and we weren't all that keen on keeping it indoors unless it wants to stay indoors of course (highly unlikely.) We'll probably be living in the same sort of area, we're very much country folk possibly even a bit quieter than here but we'll see. This is all just hypothetical talk at the moment. Also, don't roll your eyes and say to yourselves 'Bengals are so mainstream' or anything it was the Bengal's (apparent) love of other animals that first drew me in, in the first copy of Your Cat I ever bought (years ago now) and I've been in love with their looks ever since. I'm hoping that to the non-cat-enthusiast's eye, Bengals can often look just like a tabby cat (ie. English Shorthair/moggie type) and I know for sure that if we lived around here, the people who live here are so friendly and genuine, and a lot of them have cats too. Anyway, you've all put my mind at rest a bit. It was that one person who said it was cruel to them that made me a bit like WHAT? Lol!
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Post by Pawsforthought on Jun 13, 2013 23:22:55 GMT
In my opinion cats should be allowed to roam, whether pedigree or not. After all, it's the life in their years not the years in their life that counts! That's only what I think though I totally agree with this. I'd rather my cats had a shorter more exciting life, than a boring inside one. I realise not all inside cats are bored, but my own cats would be. These points are EXACTLY why we want to let our cats roam! I didn't want to say in case it offended anyone though! I'm sure everyone knows what their cat is happy with I also think because we have dogs, cats get a bit pissed off with them and want their own life a bit you know?
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Post by tonib on Jun 14, 2013 0:03:15 GMT
I know someone who let's their Bengal out for a short while each day, mind you its a quiet area.
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Post by SarahHound on Jun 14, 2013 8:59:16 GMT
Thanks for all the replies, guys! It certainly is interesting, and clarifies the subject for me a bit more. As I've said before, I used to have a cat. She was a black moggie with white bits, and she moved in with us by her own choice. She was ferocious, she hated every other cat in the world and would often bite and scratch us for getting a bit too cocky with her. You couldn't pick her up at all. Going to the vet was traumatic for everyone. I loved her to pieces, she was my hot water bottle at night. Anyway, she was SO road savvy and never got in any sort of trouble at all. I lived at the time on a fairly busy road very near to a VERY busy road (that led directly into Southampton town.) I'm not naive enough to think all cats are like her, she was a CRAZY bitch but it's reassuring in a way to hear that it's not one way or the other in terms of what people think. In the future sometime, we want a Bengal (with another cat who we will probably adopt - two Bengals at once is a bit excessive moneywise!) and we weren't all that keen on keeping it indoors unless it wants to stay indoors of course (highly unlikely.) We'll probably be living in the same sort of area, we're very much country folk possibly even a bit quieter than here but we'll see. This is all just hypothetical talk at the moment. Also, don't roll your eyes and say to yourselves 'Bengals are so mainstream' or anything it was the Bengal's (apparent) love of other animals that first drew me in, in the first copy of Your Cat I ever bought (years ago now) and I've been in love with their looks ever since. I'm hoping that to the non-cat-enthusiast's eye, Bengals can often look just like a tabby cat (ie. English Shorthair/moggie type) and I know for sure that if we lived around here, the people who live here are so friendly and genuine, and a lot of them have cats too. Anyway, you've all put my mind at rest a bit. It was that one person who said it was cruel to them that made me a bit like WHAT? Lol! I'm on a rabbit forum, and everytime a discussion about indoor v. outdoor cats comes up, it gets about 200 replies and then gets locked, with several members getting warned! It's one of those topics, like feeding dogs, that will never be agreed on! I don't think its cruel to keep a cat indoors, nor do I think its cruel to let one out. However I do feel its cruel to go against what a cat wants, and I think you really can tell. I got my first cat in August 2001, he died in October 2001, after being hit by a car. Sadly he wasn't just hit, he was run over repeatedly. We lived on an island, right beside the ferry terminal, and he had obviously been hit by one of the earliest cars coming off, then many many after that it was pretty much only from his collar that we knew it was him. After that we got another kitten from a rescue, and said she would NEVER EVER be allowed out, and while we lived there, she wasn't really. She got allowed out supervised from 2004, because we adopted a stray who lived in the garage and because he had been out, we couldn't keep him indoors, and she wanted out too. We moved here in 2008, and its such a safe area, there's risks anywhere, but they are very small. I got another adoptee last year, her previous owner handed her over to the CP because she was bored and frustrated indoors, despite having climbing posts, beds, tunnels etc, and the other three cats were very happy indoors, but she wasn't and had started to cause fights because she was bored. She's sit at the window and door and try to escape any way possible. So the CP were looking for a home where she could be let out. She can have that here, and she's so happy. I have her previous owner on FB and she can see that too. Skye doesn't fit with the other cats, she comes home and goes to sleep, giving me cuddles and kisses. She never goes far, she goes in the garden and field, where there's a good mousey supply. She also comes for walks with the dogs. I have no doubt she would never live as an indoor cat again, she was born to be out being busy! I absolutely love Bengals, although I've never owned one. Hope you'll give loads of photos if you get one My plan is for a big black Maine Coon, that everyone can think is a panther
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Post by judypops on Jun 14, 2013 9:33:25 GMT
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Post by SarahHound on Jun 14, 2013 11:25:27 GMT
Yep he'd do! Honestly, I'd be happy with any colour, but I really would love a big black one Ginger ones are a favourite too.
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Post by kittykatmeow on Jun 14, 2013 19:54:43 GMT
I suppose it's an issue of personal circumstances - some people don't feel they have the room to confine a cat to the house all day, some have no choice because of the area they are in. Cats do like roaming and i suppose in some ways it's less guilt on your behalf because you know they will be keeping themselves occupied if you're out of the house but the issue of road accidents/injuries and theft have to be taken into account. For me personally i would be worried about the cat spending too much time outdoors or perhaps not returning. Don't forget there's also the likelihood of them bringing birds/mice into the house. I intend to get a pedigree soon and personally won't be letting it out of the house because of the area and because the breed is just too inquisitive for its own good - i would rather know its safe and invest more personal time keeping it occupied than worrying sick about whether it's ok. Perhaps just way up the pros and cons and see what works out best for you?
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Post by Pawsforthought on Jun 14, 2013 22:08:04 GMT
SarahHound - I ADORE Maine Coons. Ever since we first got Monty and, one day out on a walk, came across a guy practising his martial arts skills in the common. He had to say hello to Monts, and he said he reminded him of one of his Maine Coons. We asked him what a Maine Coon was, and he told us they're HUGE cats (which immediately sparked our interest!) and that they adore people and all other animals. He said they are people-oriented rather than territory-oriented, and his moved house very happily with him because they care about being with him, not in their 'territory.' Anyway, following that, and many years of research and wishful thinking, they are, along with Bengals, the cat I would most love to own (and someday I will )
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Post by SarahHound on Jun 15, 2013 8:33:35 GMT
SarahHound - I ADORE Maine Coons. Ever since we first got Monty and, one day out on a walk, came across a guy practising his martial arts skills in the common. He had to say hello to Monts, and he said he reminded him of one of his Maine Coons. We asked him what a Maine Coon was, and he told us they're HUGE cats (which immediately sparked our interest!) and that they adore people and all other animals. He said they are people-oriented rather than territory-oriented, and his moved house very happily with him because they care about being with him, not in their 'territory.' Anyway, following that, and many years of research and wishful thinking, they are, along with Bengals, the cat I would most love to own (and someday I will ) This is the local village one, I don't know his name, but I call him Leo. I say he's local, he was living in the village, but started fighting with other males, so the family rehomed him 2 miles away at the beach. He's still in the village every single day though he's very dog like, nothing scares him and he quite happily walks along behind people talking away. Sadly he's not very well looked after, probably because he's never at home, so he's covered in matts and ticks, and probably fleas too. But he's still so lovely, he can't help that he's a bit gross. For a while when he first came here, I thought he was a stray and fed him a lot, but he's such a wanderer he never stayed close. He ate my food and would leave! I don't think he wants to be anyone's cat, he's a free spirit! I wanted a Norwegian Forest for a long time, my Auntie has three. I found a NFC cross at a a rescue, and she's just craved that wish, she's smaller, but still has the fluff and she's very like them in mannerisms. So now I just have to get my MC
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Post by Pawsforthought on Jun 15, 2013 11:43:21 GMT
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Post by tonib on Jun 15, 2013 20:37:29 GMT
What a lovely looking cat, a real shame he's not properly looked after. My favourite pedigrees are NFCs & Maine Coons with the MC first, but I still love the non-pedigree especially our 4 I was at a cat show today & spoke to 2 people there the first owned a gorgeous Maine Coon & in fact has 15 (& he's not a breeder just loves the MC!!). They do go out but only into his garden which he has made into one big cat pen. They love being out. The other had a NFC one of 18!! She breeds though & has a litter of kittens at the moment. Again they do have a degree of outdoor access but in ariel runs, pens & soon a tree house. Bearing in mind the size of these cats that two large families of cats Pawsforthought the NFC is only slightly smaller than the MC. The MC is probably a bit more solid. (I'm not an expert but that's just what I've seen at the few shows I've been to.
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Post by dutchkitties on Jun 16, 2013 14:08:21 GMT
Tommie is outside most of the day and evening, but in a safe garden. Tosha also likes the garden. Only Misty prefers to stay in. I wouldn't let them out otherwise.
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Post by BorderTerrier on Jun 16, 2013 15:36:47 GMT
If I had a pedigree cat I would allow it out. I am sure that cats live a more fulfilling life when they can explore outdoors
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