I live in the country, but my property faces a fairly busy road and I do have neighbors within cat range. The cat I moved out here with has always been an indoor only kitty. He has no outdoor life skills and would be munched on fast. After I moved in I aquired a couple of half feral kittens. They lived in the chicken coop/run for months until they were big enough to range. For about a year they ranged all day and then came back to the coop for bed at night (or maybe for the mouse hunting. Who knows?). One evening I was sitting on the porch in the dark talking to my mom on the phone and I heard a THUD and a scream. Fagin had been hit and run by a car. Long story short he ended up okay in the long run, but it scared the willies out of me. Shortly thereafter both boys moved in the house with the other cat. They at times act like they would like to go out, but mostly they seem to like lounging about the house. They would probably be happier kitties indoor/outdoor, but I can't handle the stress. It would break my heart to come home one night and find a dead kitty on the street. We also have coyotes around and these guys would be a tasty dinner. It is safer in the long run for them all. Moon Pie the kitten was found in a ditch and is now on indoor baby. She seems pretty pumped about it actually, but she IS showing diva tendencies.
On the other hand, I have also apparently acquired an outdoor kitty. Fred the cat shows up when he feels like it. I have no idea what he does all day, but he is often off doing Fred Things. I leave out food for him after the chickens have been put up (they learned pretty early in the game where his food bowl was located and they are prone to gobble up his dinner). He would be miserable inside. I think he is a formerly feral cat who has figured out the good life. I let him do his thing and help him out when he shows up. I know that at some point he will end up dead. It will be too early and terribly sad, but it is part of being an outdoor cat. I can't make him be an indoor cat and wouldn't even try. Truthfully I don't really consider him to be MY cat. He's a wanderer that likes to stop in every now and again.
If I lived with close neighbors I would never have outdoor cats. Not everyone loves them like I do and it isn't fair to annoy the neighbors. Cats go where they want and you just can't train them to stay home. My right to have cats ends at my property line.
On the other hand, I have also apparently acquired an outdoor kitty. Fred the cat shows up when he feels like it. I have no idea what he does all day, but he is often off doing Fred Things. I leave out food for him after the chickens have been put up (they learned pretty early in the game where his food bowl was located and they are prone to gobble up his dinner). He would be miserable inside. I think he is a formerly feral cat who has figured out the good life. I let him do his thing and help him out when he shows up. I know that at some point he will end up dead. It will be too early and terribly sad, but it is part of being an outdoor cat. I can't make him be an indoor cat and wouldn't even try. Truthfully I don't really consider him to be MY cat. He's a wanderer that likes to stop in every now and again.
If I lived with close neighbors I would never have outdoor cats. Not everyone loves them like I do and it isn't fair to annoy the neighbors. Cats go where they want and you just can't train them to stay home. My right to have cats ends at my property line.
