Don’t feed any cats that are not yours. not even once.
Don’t let your cats roam, it’s a dick move in so so many ways. Be responsible and keep and eye on your pet on your property, if you don’t think cats are indoor animals, don’t get one
There are cats that definitely come with pre-conditions. For example our last cat was abandoned and he chose us next. But first he spent about 4 months learning to like being outside. So until we moved* he wouldn’t let us keep him inside. He’d literally climb out the window, up the wood framing, to the roof, get into the pine trees and work his way down from there. Eventually we’d just get a meow at the front door when we thought he was still chilling in the living room.
If you’re adopting a shelter cat or bringing up a kitten you should absolutely keep them inside. But some cats will let you know they have terms and conditions to your relationship.
Note - Once we moved he no longer wanted to roam so much and was content with being a balcony cat. Which strongly suggests it was tied to some idea of territory or familiarity with that area.
let
Lmao
Woah, is lemmy pro letting cats outside? It’s so terrible for the cats and local wildlife why would you be in favor of it?
America-centrist I see
How is it terrible for the cat? Their natural habitat is outside!
Mostly cars, but it’s also how they end up getting lost or grabbed by people thinking they are lost, and also wildlife like coyotes or owls and raccoons often can kill them because they don’t have a natural sense of fear for predators anymore. As well as transfer of disease from mingling with other outdoors cats. Or getting pregnant by meeting up with other outdoor cats while not being fixed themselves.
No it isn’t. Cats are domesticated. They have no natural habitat because they aren’t wild animals.
Cats do not have cars in their natural habitat.
time to get rid of cars then
also, you let your children play outside? how terrible!!! they might be hit by a car! be a responsible parent and lock your child up so they are not exposed to any danger ever
After they domesticated themselves I am pretty sure their natural habitat is whatever we decide it should be. We already are deciding if they can breed at all so…
All the cats in my neighborhood that were outdoor cats have been killed within a week. Coyote has had some good eats this week.
Their natural habitat is outside!
A cat’s natural habitat is not North America. They are very destructive to our local ecology.
I get that they can harm the environment (especially when there is an overpopulation); that’s not what I’m asking. The question was how is it bad for the cat?
you lock your cat up inside all the time? fuck you
oh they’re a threat to local wildlife? our cat is too lazy to get off his ass and hunt anything, it will be fine. also there are many roaming cats in the neighborhood so it won’t be a difference
Nah
Outdoor cats have a far shorter life expectancy and damage the local ecosystem. Why don’t you care?
Not every place in the world is America, there are many places where cats are native, and dont get driven over as much because all is full of cars, i got mine to specifically damage the sorounding mice ecosystem because having the pest control there every six months is expensive.
There’s plenty parts of America that are like that as well. A lot of areas, having an outdoor cat is almost necessary you want an outdoor garden, since otherwise the local rodents will just eat it all.
Cat moment
Adorable little asshole!
