Wandering cat....

[rockzilla]

So, last night on my walk home, I came across a beautiful and friendly cat. He was coming up to me, following me down the sidewalk, and I thought he might be lost. So, I looked at his collar, and there was an address on it a few blocks away.

I wasn't sure what to do. A lot of folks have outdoor cats, and let them wander. On the other hand, his fur and everything was shiny and pristine, he had the tag on his collar, and he was so friendly, I figured I should at least make an attempt in case he had gotten out and the owners were looking for him.

I brought him back to the condo on his tag, and the woman said that he was allowed outside, but thanked me anyways for looking out for him. I know if it had been a dog, I would have definitely been doing the right thing by returning him, but since so many cats are allowed outside, it was strange to find one with a collar and a tag -- to me, this says "return me to my home if you find me, please!"

Growing up we had outdoor cats, but no collars on them, my mom was afraid they'd get caught on something and choke the cat.

What would you do?

 

[lliang_chi]

I think you did the correct thing. Now you know if you ever see Mr. Friendly Cat again you can give him some pets and go along your merry way. I'm not a cat owner so I don't know anything about Outdoor cats and Indoor cats... What a nice neighbor you are!

 

[manderz]

Personally, I think it's a terrible idea to have an outside cat. I just don't see the point if you aren't going to love them and keep them safe and close to the family. That's just my $0.02 though, so take it with a grain of salt. I do think it's kinda weird that the lady you brought him to told you that. I think I would just have thanked you, and not mentioned that the poor kitty is allowed outside. I think it's a very kind thing that you did, trying to get such a friendly kitty back to its home, but I think the owner's reaction was kinda weird.

 

[lulu]

I think you did exactly the right thing.

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

You did the right thing!

And yes, I don't believe in outdoor cats at all.

One of my neighbors has an outdoor/indoor cat. Gorgeous black and white guy. Shiny coat, friendly, comes up to you and purrs, and a chubster. I know he's well taken care of, and I also know they let him come and go. But sometimes I see him outside in colder weather and I think - what the heck are they thinking?? I've tried to catch him on those days to at least bring him into our garage but didn't have any luck.

 

[swingirl]

I don't think it's responsible to let a cat roam, face the elements, and poop in other peoples' yards.

But with the weather being mild in CA there are still those who let their cats outdoors. A well-taken-care-of indoor/outdoor cat should have a collar with identification. Most cat collars have a piece of elastic for stretching in case the cat gets caught on something. I think the women let you know their routine so if you saw the cat again you wouldn't be worried. I don't think her reaction was weird at all. It was informative. Plus, she thanked you.

But if you don't want the cat following you home, don't pet or feed it.

 

[Autumnovember]

We used to have an outdoor cat. I remember one night my mom letting him out and I remember asking her not to. For some reason I had a bad feeling about it and what do you know....he never returned. I'm sure he was killed. Ever since then I could never figure out what possesses people to have outdoor cats. ACCIDENTS HAPPEN, why risk that with a pet you love?!?!?!?! My mom has forever felt guilty about it and now realizes how ridiculous it was to have even let him become an outdoor cat. Just my opinion though.

You did the right thing, no doubt about it.

 

[ksinger]

Cats? Depends. If you raise one totally indoors that's one thing, but to try to make an indoor cat out of a cat that has adopted YOU, and has previously been an outdoor cat, now that's a different story entirely. Some cats don't do well as indoor creatures at all. The trick with those cats of course, is to not get too attached, and to understand that their lives are likely to be shorter, but what can you do? Coop them up? Try that with the wrong cat and you will PAY. Better to let that kind of cat roam a bit. Cats are definitely not dogs and are far closer to being wild creatures. Everyone seems indignant at people who "let" their cats roam. Two things wrong with that - "letting" and "their". Most cats consent to live with you, you don't own them.

The last cat I had was a totally indoor cat and seemed quite content that way, but then she had been a showcat too - raised indoors. The next cat we get will likely be indoors also. But for the ones who adopt you? Iffy.

You did the right thing.

 

[yssie]

Cats? Depends. If you raise one totally indoors that's one thing, but to try to make an indoor cat out of a cat that has adopted YOU, and has previously been an outdoor cat, now that's a different story entirely. Some cats don't do well as indoor creatures at all. The trick with those cats of course, is to not get too attached, and to understand that their lives are likely to be shorter, but what can you do? Coop them up? Try that with the wrong cat and you will PAY. Better to let that kind of cat roam a bit. Cats are definitely not dogs and are far closer to being wild creatures. Everyone seems indignant at people who "let" their cats roam. Two things wrong with that - "letting" and "their". Most cats consent to live with you, you don't own them.

The last cat I had was a totally indoor cat and seemed quite content that way, but then she had been a showcat too - raised indoors. The next cat we get will likely be indoors also. But for the ones who adopt you? Iffy.

You did the right thing.

Love this.
I'm one of those who gets uppity about roaming cats and curses the owner as I grab it and cage it and haul it home...
But yeah, I'll concede to that one


rockzilla - I too think you absolutely did the right thing

 

[packrat]

Cats aren't allowed to roam in town here..they do, but they're not supposed to b/c of the leash laws. You did the right thing by taking him home. I'd never have an indoor/outdoor cat in town. It's different in the country-we had tons, and I mean TONS of outside cats when I was growing up. But they had regular food/water, barrels w/straw in them to sleep in inside the woodshed. Most of them were cats we saved from being put down at the vets or strays that had been abandoned.

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

Ksinger's point is a good distinction.

It can't be helped if, as she said, an outdoor cat adopts you. But for someone to take a cat that doesn't have that bias and THEN let it roam - THAT is irresponsible IMO. You know?

 

[Autumnovember]

Ksinger's point is a good distinction.

It can't be helped if, as she said, an outdoor cat adopts you. But for someone to take a cat that doesn't have that bias and THEN let it roam - THAT is irresponsible IMO. You know?

+1

 

[Gypsy]

My cats are all indoors, but many people in CA have outdoor cats. As long as the animal CAN get indoors, is fed and groomed regular, is spayed and gets regular vet visits and looks okay I usually just leave it be. Is it my first choice? No. But I also know that some cats are just determined to be outdoor (none of mine, but one of my friends has one who prefers the outdoors) and then it becomes a quality of life versus length of life issue.

I think you did the right thing.

I'm torn about the tag issue. If I don't see tags, I take the cat to get it checked for a microchip. No micro-chip to me and I'm looking for a shelter or rescue that will take the cat. That's just what I do. So a collar is good in that it lets me know where the cat belongs to. On the other hand they do get caught and those 'quick release' ones are just a waste of breath.

 

[ecf8503]

I think you did the right thing too.

 

[MishB]

All cats we've ever owned have been indoor/outdoor. We have a cat door so during the day they can come in and out as they please, then at dusk, they come in for dinner and stay inside overnight, I don't agree with cats being allowed outside at night. One of our cats mostly stays in and goes out for short walks, the other is the reverse. They rarely go outside the yard, but all of our neighbours know them both by name.

I think the idea of inside only cats is a little sad. They love to go outside, roll in the grass, run up and down tree trunks and half-heartedly chase butterflies. Yes, they dig in my garden beds but I don't really mind. One of them absolutely loves the rain, and makes a great game of getting wet, then coming in so you can rub him vigorously with a towel.

Yes, they would be 'safer' inside but what about their quality of life? No scratching post or little box of grass is a substitute for nature.

Our children would be safer if we never let them go outside, and so would we, but we take the risk in order to enjoy a more fulfilling life.