It is certainly cruel to rehome a free-roaming cat as a housecat, thats for sure. However ive raised cats in the past as house-cats and theyre very happy. As long as they have a pal and have enough stimulus, theyll be happy. I have had 2 cats killed in the past whereas my house cats have been safe. I know which id choose. Hamsters and rodents are meant to be kept in the wild (more so than cats), yet most people find it acceptable to house them in tiny cages. One rule for one, another for something else.

I'd say it depends on the temperament and age.

My cat was about 5 when I got her. Had previously had a garden. She was very nervy, though, and didn't mind becoming a house cat at all.

My wife's cat roamed free for 14 years. But now he's old and is also very happy to join us in the flat: not least because he loves my wife to bits and is happier with her than not!

It's ridiculous that when our cats have gone, we won't be allowed new ones from a shelter despite both being huge cat lovers and having had cats our entire lives.

I think people are allowed to keep cats indoors. I have had 4 cats, from 3 different rescues, only one homechecked, and they didn't have a problem with her being an indoor cat too. There are many posters here, that have indoor cats from rescue centres. Lets face it, there would be a lot more cats in rescue centres, if rescues didn't allow cats to go to indoor homes only. Many people live in flats, next to busy roads, small yards for gardens etc especially in cities and busy towns.

My Poppy is the same as Rainbowgirls states earlier in the thread. Were in a ground floor flat and when we are in she can come and go as she pleases through the open window but I would never leave her out all night or all day whilst we are at work. I would be worried sick!! Leaving them out in all weathers in plenty more cruel than being protective imho. And, as a previous poster said, as soon as anyone walks past she flies back in the window!

I have to agree re the comments about rehoming from cat shelters. I find it preposterous that they would not rehome to me as I had children under 5 (yes, a blanket ban, despite temperaments of the cats etc) - but it's ok to let the poor cats sit in a concrete cage endlessly. I now have two v happy cats, living a lovely life, happy to be around my children and my children are learning how to care for and respect the cats - all no thanks to cat homes!

Sorry, that was a bit off topic

no you are right they moan constantly how the centres are overloaded but won't rehome to people who really care

thank you for your replies, just wanted to know if anyone had a similar situation to me. i agree cats should be let out to explore etc but not everyone can so this.

here in spain there are a lot of stray/wild cats, the spanish are a lot better towards them than i believe they use to be. they are often left food and hang around in packs.

we have a stray that lives in our garden and every year there are kittens.

i think though even if i had a flat on the ground floor i would be concerned letting the cat out because of all the strays...i suspect they would be a lot tougher than a domestic cat and also a lot of the cats are infected and there is a chance of the infection being passed onto a pet cat.

like i said thanks for the replies, think i will just have to handle visiting my mums cat when i go back to the UK for a holiday!

I got my youngest cat from Cat Protection and they didn't even ask if he'd be an indoor or outdoor cat. We did foster him first though so maybe they weren't as thorough with us as they usually are.

He tested positive for FIV a few weeks after we adopted him so he has to stay indoors now, especially as he is a fighter. Luckily we'd not let him out prior to the test because we were waiting till he was well enough to be neutered. I thought he'd be a nightmare having previously been a stray and obviously used to having his freedom outdoors, but he's never shown any desire to go outside.

As long as you provide plenty of toys and mental stimulation some cats can live indoors quite happily. Certainly with Arwyn it's a far better option than either having him put to sleep (he's very healthy at the moment despite the FIV) or risking him infecting other cats.

They can indeed live indoors fine. Some don't like going out. Some prefer being out all the time. Some like a mixture of indoors and out.

My cat is a mixture of outside and inside. I prefer her outside during the day where she can play with her adopted Mother and catch the bugs and bring down the mouse population.

She does not go far. 5 gardens max.

My old cat was a wanderer and went a lot further afield sometimes disappearing for days and I worried about her but she was ex railway stock and their skills were ratting and mousing.

My local Cats Protection League is always looking for homes for INDOOR cats with FIV. I think your post is very patronising.

The keyword there being FIV, I think you will find they prefer "normal" cats to be let outside

I think your post is stupid quite frankly as obviously there will be special circumstances where cats are required to stay indoors (as I mentioned in other posts), but as a rule (like I said) most rehoming organisations will not let people who live in flats rehome cats.

If you don't like that and my opinion on not letting cats go outside then that is your problem.

Laura from what I have been told by several rescues they are looking for many indoor homes because in some areas cats are in danger out side from traffic or cruel people they insist on indoor homes for FIV cats and prefer indoor homes for any that are young enough to adapt.

This is true. The standard statement on this is:
If your property is on a busy road we will only consider homing an indoor only cat with you, for the cats safety. We can re home to flats, but once again, if the cat cannot gain direct access to outside via a cat flap, we would only consider homing an indoor only cat.