Hi Littlebobo,
Well here's my sixpennyworth
All my cats are indoor cats for mixed reasons, Alfie and Frankie because of them being FiV+ and Suzie because she likes it that way and, at 17 Y.O and adopted so late in life, she's very timid and sleeps a lot.
As I'd always had outdoor cats in the past I did wonder how things were going to work out and if cats could live happy lives exclusively indoors. All of them had been outdoor cats to one degree or another, Suzie, my mum's cat had lived 16 years as an outdoor cat but took to the indoor lifestyle without any problems, I guess as a senior "catizen" she's happy to have warmth, security and comfort and has never even tried to go out. From what I know of Alfie's history, which isn't that much really, he was certainly a stray and had therefore experienced the outside world for a while but I think that he was originally a "flat-cat". He's only once dashed out onto the landing of the house (converted into flats) and he promptly turned around and rushed back in. He rarely expresses any interest in trying to get past me as I enter or leave and seems happy with his domain. Frankie, of whom I know even less background wise, was certainly an outdoor cat but, like the others, he doesn't seem at all interested in going out. I try and make their habitat as fun and interesting as possible and they seem to delight in one another's company when I'm out.
As for hygiene considerations I'm pretty sick of all the rubbish that gets preached nowdays regarding the "germ-free" bubble we're all encouraged to live in. As kids we grew up exposed to all sorts of germs, I had all the childhood illnesses, Measels, German Measels, Mumps, Chicken Pox and the like. Our house was clean but we didn't use the army of household disinfectants that you see advertised today. I keep the flat clean but deliberately avoid using most of these products and, considering that the boys have FiV and Suzie is in her ripe old age we all manage to stay germ resistant, in fact the thing that sets Alfie's conjunctivitis off, I discovered, is any air borne spray such as insecticide, air freshener etc. so I won't give them shelf room. As we all know, accidents aside, cats are extremely clean creatures, Alfie makes me feel guilty when he licks my arms as if to say, "Only one shower a day, that's simply not good enough"
.
I'll readily admit that I do enjoy the peace of mind for their safety that having indoor cats brings as, myself included, we all know the heartache of RTAs but, if I thought for one moment that any of them weren't happy in their lifestyle then I'd have a long hard think as their happyness is of paramount importance but maybe we have all "bonded" well and enjoy each other's company and that has formed the basis of a contented lifestyle if you'll forgive the flowery terminology.
Cheers
Leigh
