Yesterday I was preparing the house for an evening dinner party out on our new terrace (it was my daughter’s 21st, so not something I could postpone). This coincided with the hottest day of the year so far, which would normally be 100% wonderful on such an important date, except that with new kittens in the house the usual rushing around and coming and going became that much harder. We can at least open the living room doors into the newly constructed ‘kitten cage’ but still…it was hot is all I’m saying.
In the post party lull this morning I idly looked up on the web as to current advice on when kittens can be let out of the house. It’s not that I’m going to do it now – they definitely need more time to get used to us and their surroundings (and need further vaccinations) – it’s just that with yesterday’s events, it was clearly on my mind. I was quite surprised at some of the views expressed on a forum after some poor woman had been wondering exactly the same as me. Responses included the suggestions that anyone who lets their cat out is cruel (clearly aimed at the enquirer), that the cat will die within a year (!) but that, conversely, indoor cats could live up to age 20. Curiously enough, so can indoor-outdoor cats because here’s the deal folks: It depends where you live.
Now …I had typed up a whole blurb below about all the unwritten rules there are to pet ownership where I live but it’s frankly too ferkin boring to relay here. The bottom line is – we’re an overwhelmingly responsible lot in this island and we in this house are minor experts on our feline friends because we’re cat fans and have shared our lives with a fair few over many years. I can tell you that if keeping cats inside is necessary where you live because of traffic, dangerous predators or any other safety considerations, then of course you must. However if you have the ability to safely let your cat come and go as it pleases then I personally have no doubt at all that they will have a better quality of life. They are, after all, little predators, and it is in their nature to be curious, rummage, hunt and explore. They do need to be neutered and vaccinated up to the nines of course (ask your vet for advice) but then for the sake of safety so should indoor cats. They also need a cat flap that allows them to come and go as they please – I’ve never permanently locked our cats outside at night. (You’ll have gathered from today’s entry that I’m quite miffed at the suggestion that I am a bad cat owner – trust me, ask our vets and they will tell you that we are anything but).
Our new kitties have been going bonkers, in and on everything, exploring and endlessly running at high speed like a couple of furry, spotty little tornadoes . They’re intelligent cats and clearly already bored with the mere 2,000 square feet that is our humble (currently virtually sealed) home ….compared to the one room they were in before. Seeing them at the weekend, when they finally had access to a little bit of outside, with all those exciting sights and smells was just wonderful and it dramatically altered their behaviour. Yes they still career around, yes they’re still kitten playful/naughty but they’re calmer, more confident and more content.
Advice on vaccinations and general kitten care and health can be found here (RSPCA), here (Pet Planet) and here (Animal Rescue and Care).
~ The Gentle Voice ~ 