[Windflier]

I'm not hysterical. I just happen to love my cat enough to take responsibility for him.

Oh, you're hysterical, alright. If you don't understand that cats can live perfectly normal lives without being confined to four walls, then you really do have the same mindset as a card carrying PETA liberal.

You assume much and know little, if you think we don't love and care for our animals. We do. We just don't confine ours, like you do yours. They're happy, well adjusted, and love their freedom. Just like we do.

[fatnotlazy]

It appears to me that you are operating under some misconceptions about cats and how to care for them. Contrary to a popular misconception, cats do not have to roam, although intact cats are driven to roam by biological urges to breed. Once a cat is spayed or neutered, it doesn’t have those breeding urges and thus, has little desire to roam.

My present cat literally just walked into my house, decided he liked the accommodations and stayed. He has no desire to roam. In fact, if I open any door to the outside, he runs and hides. He has a good life with me and there is no way he will risk being “accidentally” put outside.

I suggest that sometime you should read up on proper cat care. You may be surprised, as I was, about how much you don’t know and how many misconceptions you have.

[erlayman]

Agreed that there are millions of house cats perfectly content to perch at the windowsill or play in an enclosure pen watching the world and its dangers go by. They still have fun with the occasional house bug but it isn’t worth risking life and limb over a rodent. Kitties were not bred to be hunters in the wild like dogs, they aren’t automatons and it isn’t their job to be your pest control service. And btw, no political affiliation has a monopoly on love of animals. I have known just as many liberals with outdoor cats as conservatives (actually more, and more irresponsible owners). These are animals without the mentality of future danger risk or personal responsibility for heaven’t sake, not pawns in an ideological battle.

[miss marmelstein]

I keep two ferals in my backyard. They are part of the ASPCA’s “trap, neuter/spay/release” program. My cats have one ear clipped so volunteer animal shelter folks don't retrap them. I feed them every day and they are quite healthy. At this point, their rabies shots are up to date.

I also have an indoor/outdoor cat and an indoor cat. The indoor cat's coat looks terrible and she is always ailing. It's unnatural to have cats indoors 24 hours a day. I'll never do it to a cat again.