Hey. So… i live rural and my cats are pets but also are working cats to keep the rodents out of my house.
Just saw some saltiness going on in the comments and wanted to address it.
Didn’t make this post with the intention of making anyone upset and I apologize to those I did.
You only really need to do that in spring when there’s loads of baby birds about. Birds are pretty good at evading predators, just don’t feed birds in your garden if you have a cat.
Not sure it’s healthy to keep an animal locked inside for all of its life. I rescued my cat from some nutter who had 20 cats in a flat. The charity wouldn’t let me take her without a home visit to check it was a suitable home.
You can also have them supervised outside or on a leash. You’re presenting this as a false choice between two options: keep them locked up forever, or let them roam unsupervised.
There are ways to be a responsible cat owner. Letting them decimate local birds, reptiles and small mamals is irresponsible.
Also, allowing pets to wonder and be hit by cars is very irresponsible pet ownership as well. I get so pissed off at whoever the guardian was any time I see a cat or dog hit on the side of the road (happens too often around here). If someone let’s their animal wonder freely and it’s struck/lost/killed, the pet’s guardian is fully responsible.
“My cat/dog knows better…” Yeah, until they don’t and they’re dead…
Maybe you could choose a pet more suited to your environment instead of having what you want
My roommate had a Persian that wasn’t allowed out unless on a leash. It tried to hang itself at the first opportunity.
Then maybe don’t have a cat if you can’t care for it properly?
Mine lived to 18 and I only had her put down because she went blind and the vet advised to.
Maybe get a pet that suits your home?
We took the ability to live in the wild away from them, now it’s our responsibility to keep them safe.
Safe from what? they’re an urban apex predator
Vehicles mostly, but also predators that are larger than them. I live in what is essentially an urban forest and cats absolutely get picked off by larger predators. Domestic cats are only predators to small, essential ecosystems now.
True. I grew up in a village and cats got ran over often. I live in town now and rarely see it. Town cats are different, one sits in the middle of the roundabout near me and stares down every dog, car or pedestrian lol