My beloved Mr. Rogers is the only cat who has been part of my family so far. When I got him, he was older and used to going outside; in fact, he and I would have never become close had he not been outside a lot. So, when I got him, I knew Mr. Rogers understood how to best keep himself safe. I also knew how much he loved being outside. And, of course, I knew how much many different people loved having him outside. I could never have made him an indoor cat. But I worried about his safety when it was me letting him outside. Over time letting him out got easier. Still, I was never 100 percent comfortable when he was outside. That was especially true about the times he would wonder away from home.
All of that is to say, I have some appreciation for the difficult decision of whether or not a cat should go outside. I chose to write this post, because I have been thinking a lot about how even many who truly appreciate and love animals attribute their ideals and feelings to the animals when having to make tough choices about their animals.
I have had several conversations with people who love their cats. During many of these conversations when a person has told me their cat is an indoor cat, they always let me know how their cat is very likely to live longer as an indoor cat. They correctly cite several of the dangers cats face outside. Some of them even talk about the reality that indoor cats are less likely to get sick.
Rarely when I talk to people who have chosen to keep their cat inside about the decision do those people tell me what they think their cat wants. The reason for this is obvious: they know their cat wants to go outside.
Whether we like it or not, cats instinct is to be outside. Nature has made them hunters. Nature has made them social animals with members of their species. Nature has made cats explores. And, of course, almost every living thing appreciates the sunshine and being outside. No matter how many cat toys, cat tunnels, and cat tents you buy, you cannot simulate the outdoor life nature has intended cats to live.
It’s sad that our world isn’t set up for cats to be safer than they are today when they go outside. But I truly believe most cats, if they could comprehend the risks and rewards, would choose to go outside sometimes. I acknowledge that in sharing my belief I, too, and projecting. But almost every cat I have ever known spends lots of time looking outside and wanting to go outside.
Had I forced Mr. Rogers to stay inside, I know I would have broken his heart. I know I would have seriously decreased his quality of life. One of the reasons I let him go as soon as his kidney failure was diagnosed is that his illness would have forced me to keep him inside. At that point, his quality of life would have been much less. I didn’t want him living a life that wasn’t the life he truly wanted simply because losing him was going to break my heart.
I will never know what Mr. Rogers would have chosen for himself. I will never know how sick he felt. But I know with complete certainty that being outside was a huge part of his life and happiness.
All of this is to say I understand why people keep their cats inside. But I don’t believe that’s the life most cats want to live. So the question becomes is it right for us to force cats to live against their nature because we know they are likely to live longer, healthier lives? If someone told me I would live 10 years longer if I stopped playing basketball and spending a lot of time outside, I could not and would not want to give up being outside. Maybe most cats would agree with me. It’s hard when we have to make decisions for our animals without really being able to fully communicate with and understand them.