michaelmurfy:

 

This really annoys me when people say exactly this as it is a common misconception. Our cats are really, really happy and do have an outdoor area open during the day too. They don't even attempt to escape our outdoor area either or don't even attempt to escape the house when the front door is open either.

 

The SPCA wouldn't recommend it if it was cruel in any way at all. You ask your vet and it is highly likely they've got an indoor cat, you ask anyone at the SPCA or cat rescue places and they too will likely have indoor cats. My partner also worked for the SPCA and she has experienced some horrific things over the years working there with peoples outdoor cats being hit by cars, being targeted by other humans who don't like cats, shot and injured again by other humans, attacked by dogs and other cats etc. Our cats are relaxed, and out of harms way and are outright spoiled.

 

It is very common also in places like Canada where there are other things outside Coyotes or Wolves who hunt cats and very common in apartment living in Japan to have indoor cats. This isn't a new concept, but cats adapt really nicely to indoor living.

 

I seriously don't want to have to correct anyone on here about indoor cat well-being again. Our cats have a better life than a standard outdoor cat and my partner wouldn't allow it if it was even remotely cruel.

 

100% this. Here in Australia, in most places it's actually illegal to let your cat outside unless it is physically constrained to your property and cannot roam. It is indeed a common misconception that cats don't like being inside - and by common misconception I mean it is straight up rubbish, that for some reason some people rabidly defend as truth.

Cats do require stimulation, but a couple of random boxes, a toy fish on a string, and the occasional laser pointer interaction more than cover that. There is absolutely no need to let them outside to brutally maul wildlife, and in fact it's both cruel and irresponsible to do so.