Reminder if you have an outdoor cat that you feed in your house, you are subsidizing it killing birds. Outdoor cats who are fed at home don't usually eat the birds they catch since they have a more reliable source of food at home, so they kill almost as many birds as a feral cat with no other food source but don't eat any of them and just leave them to die once they they're not fun to chase anymore. So outdoor cats killing birds is not "nature," they're an invasive species being fed farm-raised invasive species by the most widespread invasive species of all so they can go out and kill native birds that they won't eat.
this post was submitted on 21 May 2025
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I find this to be a very cultural thing as to whether it's acceptable or not. Where I live cats roam the streets, if an American visited here they would be horrified.
Definitely. In the UK it's generally normalised that letting your cat roam outside is the more humane way of keeping them. The majority of cat owners have "moggies" (unknown mix) and only people with purebreds tend to keep them inside for fear of theft.
This is relatively modest compared to e.g. Istanbul where there's essentially an informal arrangement to look collectively after the semi-feral cat population.
The US anti outdoor cat thing strikes me as a very suburban HOA viewpoint.
cats in this way of living have literally exterminated entire species
Ok I will grant that in areas where cats were more recently introduced because of colonisation the indoor cat drive may have more merit
It’s actually quite rare for cats to kill birds, it’s a skill very few cats have. None of our cats has ever brought back a dead bird, while they have gone on an absolute killing spree among the local mouse population.
The birds around our house (mainly jackdaws, which are wicked smart) like to taunt the cats though.
You say that like it's an option as if this dumbass creature that lives here would survive two hours in the streets
If you live in an area with wild predators that could pose a threat to small outdoor pets, maybe don't get a cat.
It's the same with the whole de-clawing thing. If you don't care for sharp teeth and claws, don't get a cat or ferret or any kind of carvivore.
Cars shouldn't be outdoor pets. They are an invasive species in most parts of the world, and devestate local wildlife. Keep them inside.
I agree, cars are invasive & devastate local wildlife. But they don't belong inside, either.
Theres only indoor and feral cats.
Same for humans. We're invasive too and shouldn't be allowed outside.