Cats: Inside or Outside?

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Me and Glacier (the new cat- I'm not ready to talk about him again yet *sigh*) are both inside-only cats and we're pretty content to look at outside from the windows and patio doors.

Some people think it's cruel to keep a cat locked up inside, citing that cats are animals that need to roam free sometimes. Some people think cats should never be allowed outside due to their destructive nature.

An argument for the latter thought, from sfgate.com:

The National Audubuon Society estimates that upwards of 100 million (and as many as a billion) birds fall prey to domestic felines each year. And because there are enough full-time strays, experts agree that it's not fair to the songbirds and their feathered brethren to add your own well-fed, well-cared for kitty into the mix. It also isn't fair to the cat: regular stints outdoors are estimated to knock three or more years off a domestic cat's life.

Despite the quantifiable benefits of keeping cats indoors, many cat lovers anthropomorphize the "emotional needs" of their cats and insist on letting them roam free. The following is a list of arguments made by those in favor of having outdoor cats, and their rebuttals.

•Cats are free-willed animals and should not be kept indoors: The independent nature of cats is one of the characteristics that cat fanciers often find most attractive about their pets. However, domestic cats rely heavily upon their human caretakers to provide them with food, security and health care. Cats can and will happily demonstrate their free-willed nature indoors, but it is important that their people provide stimulating toys and environments in which they can play.

•Cats are only happy outdoors: Sleeping safely in a warm and comfortable spot away from the noise and dangers of the outside can make most cats quite content. Indoor cats generally love to sit and watch the outside world go by, so providing them with window hammocks, screened in areas for them to roam and cat trees with a view can give them a fun and safe way to enjoy the outside world. Harness training is an option for people who want their cat to be able to investigate the great outdoors safely.

•Cats will not scratch the furniture if they are allowed outdoors: Scratching their claws is a fundamental requirement for a healthy cat. All cat owners should invest in an indoor cat-scratching post and monthly nail trimming sessions.

•Outdoor cats don't need a litterbox: All cats should be provided with a litterbox to ensure that they maintain proper elimination habits.

•Cats are lazy and will get fat if they stay indoors: As long as an indoor cat is given the right amount of food, toys and stimuli, there is no reason he or she should become overweight.

What do you think? Do your cats get to go outside?