Thread: Maine Coon cats as wanderers?

Of course statistics show that indoor cats live longer. But statistics also show that animals such as tigers that live in captivity also live longer but that doesn't mean that it's a better life for them. I'm not sure if there's a happiness rating scale for cats, but I'd be interested to see how happy indoor cats are compared to the cats that are allowed to venture outdoors. Of course indoor cats are happy, I'm not denying that, but generally they are also lazier and at greater risk of being overweight.

Of my 3 previous cats who have sadly passed away 2 of them died at a young age from congenital heart failure. Sadly the other was hit by a car at 10 months, but she lived a very happy life. She often returned to the house with her recent 'killings' which mostly consisted of jammy dodgers and cooked sausage.

I'd like to say I don't think there is a right or a wrong answer to this debate. I just know that I strongly feel that my cats deserve to be able to go on outdoor cat adventures. That said, they spend 80% of their time in the house anyway!

Tigers aren't domesticated house cats they're wild animals, cat have been living with man for 10,000 years, that's comparing apples and oranges.
Any cat can get fat and lazy with an ample supply of food, it's up to the owner to provide their pets with exercise and play.
It's up to each owner to weigh the risks and rewards for keeping their pets indoors or allowing them to roam.
For me the risks (dead kitty) out way the rewards.
My cat lived 16 years and never went outside, she got cancer and I feel terrible about it even though she lived a wonderful life and was never sick until her final day, for me I couldn't bear the guilt I'd put myself through if she died outside run over by a car.
That's me that's my choice, I get choked up when ever I sees a cat lying on the side of the road dead, I wonder if it was loved or a stray and how it came to this end.

Any breeder I spoke to when we were looking said the kittens must be indoor cats - I didn't have to sign an agreement (well I did but it was just to agree to have him neutered) but it was mentioned right at the beginning.

We keep Rasputin inside and then occasionally take him out on a leash. He does show interest, particularly in going out the front door (which he only ever goes out of in a cat carrier).
At first, I really did feel it would be unfair to keep him indoors (garden's not really cat-proofable) as when I grew up we had moggies that were allowed out.
Thought about it though and decided that as we don't live in the best area and get quite a few chavs bombing down the roads at 60 (despite it being entirely 30 mph residential area) it just wouldn't be safe for him to go out. If we ever move to somewhere in the middle of nowhere with plenty of roaming space without coming across any major dangers then I would consider letting him outdoors but it's just not worth the risk round here!

Against her better judgement my breeder friend agreed with one owner to be able to let cat out for a short period of time,he lived miles from anywhere & a long track led to his house off of a road that was barely used,once he had beeen neutered the routine was to let him go out for a short while before breakfast,most times they could watch him just patrolling round & not leaving their sight,on his return he was fed in his safe area which included trees for him to climb,ideal home & compromise,no doubt you can already guess what happened,one day he didn't return for brekkie & they went looking & found him dead just a short way down the track,he had been run over,no one had been to the house that early & they can only think someone had come down the track by mistake but what a sods law & the people never forgave themselves,I think their son now has the breed but the dad could never bring himself to own another...