Ugh!
Yesterday morning when I woke up I discovered Taxi had gone walkabout sometime during the night… perhaps when I had gone out at 10PM to make sure my car was locked- I’m not sure when he went. He follows me everywhere- literally- and even more so since we came back from our holiday, so its possible he slipped out the door and I didn't notice, even though I am very careful to check where they all are all the time.
I knew something was up that morning when there was no Taxi on my bed, and Greebo was sitting looking at me with big, worried eyes.
After walking downstairs, I found Taxi was at the front door when I eventually heard him calling over my calling (he doesn’t have much of a voice).
He’s such a narna when he does get out! He doesn’t go anywhere- he just sits at the door he finds first and asks to be let back in. I checked all the windows and doors again, to make sure he doesn’t get out again.
And then when I mentioned it to someone they said perhaps I should let them go outside (and I quote): “…well, if he wants to go out he’ll get out, you know…”
I nearly lost the plot, and it’s not the first time someone has said this to me.
So let me just quickly make something irrevocably clear, before someone tells me again that I should let them go out and I’m doing them a disservice by keeping them in.
My cats have not, and will not, ever be allowed to go outside unless they’re on a leash with me.
In South Africa especially, keeping a cat indoors is unusual, and I regularly get told that I am being cruel or spiteful by not letting my furbabies roam.
I disagree completely.
And I researched this whole thing years ago when I decided to adopt a cat the first time. There’s huge international debate about which is best for cats- indoor or outdoor- and if you Google it you'll find plenty of arguments for and against. You have to make up your own mind.
For one thing, Taxi has FeLV (feline leukemia virus that attacks the immune system) and this is a problem in that he can infect and be infected by other cats with all sorts of illnesses.
Magic and Greebo are “safe” because they don’t fight, which is how the disease is transmitted if they are not already carriers at birth like Taxi was.
Statistics all over the world also show that cats are healthier and safer if kept indoors. In fact- most of the planet’s pet cats are indoor cats, or “window watchers”.
And anyone who’s met my cats will know that there’s nothing wrong with them at all. They’re happy, healthy, highly intelligent and lovable.
And I have the bonus of never worrying about them being hit by a car, or going into someone else’s house or garden, or being accidentally "adopted" by someone thinking they're strays.
Now keep your fargin opinions to yourself. Just because you allow your cat to roam doesn't make it right.
Here're some links where you can read more on this debate:
1. HARPSIE'S WEBSITE
2. Indoor VS Outdoor
3. If you are thinking of getting a cat, or already have one, there are some things that you should know…
4. THE INDOOR OUTDOOR DEBATE
Yesterday morning when I woke up I discovered Taxi had gone walkabout sometime during the night… perhaps when I had gone out at 10PM to make sure my car was locked- I’m not sure when he went. He follows me everywhere- literally- and even more so since we came back from our holiday, so its possible he slipped out the door and I didn't notice, even though I am very careful to check where they all are all the time.
I knew something was up that morning when there was no Taxi on my bed, and Greebo was sitting looking at me with big, worried eyes.
After walking downstairs, I found Taxi was at the front door when I eventually heard him calling over my calling (he doesn’t have much of a voice).
He’s such a narna when he does get out! He doesn’t go anywhere- he just sits at the door he finds first and asks to be let back in. I checked all the windows and doors again, to make sure he doesn’t get out again.
And then when I mentioned it to someone they said perhaps I should let them go outside (and I quote): “…well, if he wants to go out he’ll get out, you know…”
I nearly lost the plot, and it’s not the first time someone has said this to me.
So let me just quickly make something irrevocably clear, before someone tells me again that I should let them go out and I’m doing them a disservice by keeping them in.
My cats have not, and will not, ever be allowed to go outside unless they’re on a leash with me.
In South Africa especially, keeping a cat indoors is unusual, and I regularly get told that I am being cruel or spiteful by not letting my furbabies roam.
I disagree completely.
And I researched this whole thing years ago when I decided to adopt a cat the first time. There’s huge international debate about which is best for cats- indoor or outdoor- and if you Google it you'll find plenty of arguments for and against. You have to make up your own mind.
For one thing, Taxi has FeLV (feline leukemia virus that attacks the immune system) and this is a problem in that he can infect and be infected by other cats with all sorts of illnesses.
Magic and Greebo are “safe” because they don’t fight, which is how the disease is transmitted if they are not already carriers at birth like Taxi was.
Statistics all over the world also show that cats are healthier and safer if kept indoors. In fact- most of the planet’s pet cats are indoor cats, or “window watchers”.
And anyone who’s met my cats will know that there’s nothing wrong with them at all. They’re happy, healthy, highly intelligent and lovable.
And I have the bonus of never worrying about them being hit by a car, or going into someone else’s house or garden, or being accidentally "adopted" by someone thinking they're strays.
Now keep your fargin opinions to yourself. Just because you allow your cat to roam doesn't make it right.
Here're some links where you can read more on this debate:
1. HARPSIE'S WEBSITE
2. Indoor VS Outdoor
3. If you are thinking of getting a cat, or already have one, there are some things that you should know…
4. THE INDOOR OUTDOOR DEBATE
