My cat Jaffa is just over 6 months now and I'm not a 100% sure if I want to let him out.

When we first got him, we did intend to keep him in. But for a while now, he seems desperate to get out. If i having the living room window open (a small window), he climbs up the pvc frame to try & get out. He sits by the balcony door, sometimes scratching at it. If we go out, he races ahead of us to try and get to the front door.

I don't think he is bored as he has lots of toys (inc my sons toys) to play with. We have plenty of space for him to run around, he also has quiet places to go to.

A couple of things that keeps me from letting him out:

1) we live above some shops, one which is a glass company. So the allyway is covered is small bits of glass.

2) at the front of our flat is a main road. I'm worried he could get run over.

He has been neutered, which was done in November. I'm at a bit of a loss of what to do!

I know there will be lots of people coming along shortly to tell you how cruel it is to keep cats in, but my view is that if they face danger outside then it is better not to let them out.
I have had house cats for 20 years and I can honestly say they have all been very happy and well adjusted. But you do need to make sure they have lots of space and toys to keep them occupied.

Seeing that there are safety issues, I would keep him in.

Yeah I'm expecting that.

I have seen cats roaming around here, but their usually on people's wall etc. We have a massive 3 bed flat, he really does have loads of space & lots of toys. I do feel it is too dangerous for him to be out.

My cat is an indoor cat and is more than happy. He was previously an outdoor cat, but was only meant to stay for a month while his previous owner relocated to Spain, 18 months later he is still here and has adapted to an indoor lifestyle very well.

I live in a top floor flat, on a main road and I probably wouldn't have got a cat of my own as I do think its for the cat to decide what they are happiest with in terms of being indoor or outdoors. Luckily that wasn't an issue for me when my boys owners didn't come back for him.

You might have to bite the bullet and let yours out and see how he gets on, you never know once his curiosity has been satisfied he might decide that a life of comfort snoozing on the sofa suits him better!

Follow your gut instinct. It is no-one's decision but yours. The glass issue would really worry me apart from anything. Add in the main road and I don't see you have any option.

Considering your location i would say keep him as an indoor cat, but it's obvious he wants to go out and it's almost impossible to get them to forget about it. Perhaps see if your vet can advise you.

We let our cats out, but we are in a much safer location. Even before we let them out they would go mental trying to get out and it became ridiculous trying to keep them in.

Normally, I would say let your cat be an outdoors cat without hesitation. However, in your situation, use caution.

Cats in general learn to be very street smart quickly, but the glass problem could be an issue.

Personally, the glass company should be more responsible and clean up any broken glass/shards anyway, as humans could injure themselves if they come into contact.

Since you live on a main road & there is also the major concern of glass in the alleyway below, I would definitely recommend keeping him as an indoor cat.

My 2 girls are mainly indoor cats, as I don't have a cat flap but I do open the window so they can venture out every so often during the week- however I live on a quiet cul de sac and have a large garden they can roam in, but they generally seem
quite content just being indoors, even when the windows open sometimes they don't bother to go out, or they ll just sit on the rooftop surveying the street!

The last property I lived in for a year also didn't have a cat flap & was on a main road so I made sure they never went out there as I was too worried they would get run over since they're not used to cars. They did try to get out the windows a few times or run out the back door, but generally they were very happy just roaming about the house & watching the world go by from the window.

I don't think my 2 are "outdoor" cats, they do enjoy being in the garden during summer but seem to prefer being curled up on my bed! Can't say I blame them!

I wouldn't feel guilty for keeping your cat indoors , there will probably be people who come along and tell you it's cruel, but in your position I don't think it's right to let him out . And I'm sure he ll be just as happy running about the flat!

I could let him out on our balcony but I know he'd be off. I do open a window, whilst his is in my arms he pokes his nose out into the breeze and he loves it. When I took him to the vets, I spoke to the receptionist about it & she said that she wouldn't let him out.

I do have one other option but it's not one I want to take. My inlaws have said they'll take him as they have a nice backgarden in a quiet area & they have to other cats (Jaffa has already met them). Like I said, it's not I'd go through with unless he got really unhappy.

They only bother to clear up large pieces of glass. My son fell over one evening as we came home from school & got a piece stuck in his hand. That's why I'm so hesitant, as it could end up worse for him.

I wouldn't risk letting him on the balcony. As for the other option , I wouldn't give up your pet just so he can be an outdoor cat.
Has he ever been out in his life?
If not, then im sure he'll be just fine .

I'm not giving up on him, just want to keep him happy. He has been out. In fact in was at my inlaws, as they looked after him for a long weekend a while back.

Edit: When i say happy, I mean happy at our home not elsewhere

i have two indoor cats due to their breed and the area my previous cats were also indoor cats one due to illness and my first one due to location and the hours i worked all were happy my current two are so laid bk its untrue if he isnt used to outside it isnt cruel a vet told me that

From your circumstance I would suggest keeping him as an indoor cat. But you can get a cat harness for him to take him out safely and under control if you wish to alleviate some of that pent up eagerness for outside access.

If the outside is not 100% safe or you worry about stuff like glass etc it maybe best keeping cat in.
I think cats should always have options to go outside but if for whatever reason it safer not then that is best for that cat.
Maybe get a cat lead , now again this is again can depend on cat and if area close by ok to walk it .

Whatever happens you will know what best for your cat

Very difficult one to advise on. Just go with your instinct.

Outdoor is probably preferable, but as you've highlighted, it's down to locale and safety.

I'd keep him in.

Outdoor is preferable i think but my friend was moved after the break down of her marriage into a one bedroom 11th floor flat and didnt want to leave her two cats or take them to a rescue place. So she had a guard much like the one they use for dogs in the back of cars measured out and cut and screwed in across her kitchen window she can leave the windows wide open the cats can sit on the inside windowledge but not actually get out and fall 11 floors.

Thanks for all you replies, i have decided that i will keep him in as the risks out weigh the benefits. I have spoken to my next door neighbour (she has an indoor cat too) and when the weather is better, her husband is going to cat proof the balcony.

Although there's no grass, i'm hoping he'll enjoy stretching his legs in the fresh air in safe surroundings

That bit of air on the balcony sounds super.

Two of my cats are indoor cats because of health problems (one has FIV and the other is diabetic and occasionally has seizures) The FIV one used to live outdoors till we took him in and I expected it to be a challenge getting him used to staying inside, but he actually doesn't seem at all bothered. They have plenty of toys and space to run around and they seem perfectly content.

As long as your boy isn't so desperate to get out that it's making him miserable he should be fine indoors and it sounds like it would be pretty risky letting him go out. Just keep an eye on his weight as my two do tend to pile on the pounds easier than previous outdoor cats did.

You can get kitty grass that you grow indoors. My boy went crazy for it, so crazy in fact that I had to limit his time with it to a couple of hours in the evening and hide if from him during the day!

Can you make thje balcony escape proof? It also sounds like some more thought about how to make his life more interesting would be a good idea. This website might give you some ideas:
http://www.thecatshouse.com/

And this has a section on environmental enrichment:
http://www.fabcats.org/behaviour/index.php

Finally, a feline playmate might be just perfect for him.

That is such a great idea. I am now wondering if I can do something like that for my boys in the spare room.