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Housecats? Anonymous
Dear /an/,
I come to ask your advice. I would like to get a cat. However, I live in a very busy urban area and I am concerned for the animal's safety. Is it in any way detrimental or cruel to keep a 'housecat'? I have had cats in the past, but they have always been allowed outdoors, as I lived in a more rural setting. What special requirements does a housecat have and what precautions need to be taken? What vaccinations will an indoor cat need? Are there any advantages to keeping a cat indoors?
Any advice you can offer will be a great help. Thanks guys!
>> Anonymous
pros: It won't get flees'n'shit
>> Anonymous
Exercise(play with) your cat. If you're in the mood to clean up less poop, try food labeled "indoor cat food". Use that "small spaces" litter.
>> Anonymous
One of my cats chooses to stay indoors, the other one would go crazy staying in all day. Maybe get an older cat so you are already aware of its preference if you don't want to be cruel. I don't really notice or do anything different with either cats except the indoor one probably causes more shit in the litter.
>> Anonymous
It's not at all cruel to keep an indoor kitty, so long as you give it plenty to do. Invest in some cat furniture for it to climb on and some toys to play with when you're gone, and play with it and give it lots of attention when you're there. Kitty will be happy.
>> Anonymous
I have 2 indoor cats, brothers, they keep each other busy, well somewhat, usually they just sleep and lay around, but they seem happy.
>> Anonymous
I have 4 cats. A mother and her 3 adult kids. They don't go outside. Since there's a group they seem to be fine with keeping each other happy. I keep them indoors for the same reason.

If I lived in a rural area I wouldn't mind letting them out but I don't want to see them get hit by a car or something.
>> Anonymous
My cat is deaf, so instead of letting him run around outside, I've gotten him used to a harness+leash. He doesn't really walk on it, but he loves to go outside and lay around.
>> Anonymous
>>83949
agree.

cats need a lot of atention, it dont matter if its indoor or outdoor.
if you just keep the "shitbox" clen, give it loads of food and somewhere to sharpen it's claws the cat will be allright.
>> Anonymous
Both of my cats are indoor kitties. I have never had a problem with either of them. No spraying, no clawing furniture, no crying to be let out. If you keep the cats inside and keep their litterboxes clean and give them toys and plenty of stuff to scratch on, chances are they'll play with that or each other instead of tearing up your belongings.

I don't think a housecat would need different vaccinations from an outdoor cat. Sometimes mine get fleas (they get carried in from my landlord's outdoor dog on my clothing >>;) so you may need to get FrontLine one in a while.

The only reason I can see for a cat to NEED to go outside is for exercise. But if you feed them a healthy diet and make sure they're active, I'm sure they'll be fine and healthy cats.
>> Anonymous
Most cat adoption agencies are actually now recommending that you keep your kitties indoors only. It's just safer. So don't feel bad at all, you're actually doing a service to the kitty by keeping it in.