this post was submitted on 11 Jan 2025
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[–] [email protected] 32 points 17 hours ago (2 children)

Don't feed any cats that are not yours. not even once.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 8 hours ago

yeah, feeding the wrong food wil give them liver disease in the long run, and they cant handle suddenly switching food sources. They'll also get way to fat which gives them depression and also kills them. being 'nice' to a cat that has an owner by feeding it shortens their life by ~3 years.

[–] [email protected] -3 points 9 hours ago
[–] [email protected] 50 points 23 hours ago (25 children)

Don’t let your cats roam, it’s a dick move in so so many ways. Be responsible and keep and eye on your pet on your property, if you don’t think cats are indoor animals, don’t get one

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

This a thousand times. Allowing a cat outdoors is the single worst thing for the environment the average person is capable of doing.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 hour ago

Not particularly great for the cat, either.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 10 hours ago

Instead of a catio I installed fences around my property so my cats could enjoy the outside without roaming outside. It wouldn't work for everyone because my property is half walled to (not the regular american layout) but it works like a charm.

[–] [email protected] 30 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

There are cats that definitely come with pre-conditions. For example our last cat was abandoned and he chose us next. But first he spent about 4 months learning to like being outside. So until we moved* he wouldn't let us keep him inside. He'd literally climb out the window, up the wood framing, to the roof, get into the pine trees and work his way down from there. Eventually we'd just get a meow at the front door when we thought he was still chilling in the living room.

If you're adopting a shelter cat or bringing up a kitten you should absolutely keep them inside. But some cats will let you know they have terms and conditions to your relationship.

Note - Once we moved he no longer wanted to roam so much and was content with being a balcony cat. Which strongly suggests it was tied to some idea of territory or familiarity with that area.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 20 hours ago (8 children)

Woah, is lemmy pro letting cats outside? It's so terrible for the cats and local wildlife why would you be in favor of it?

[–] [email protected] 10 points 19 hours ago (7 children)

How is it terrible for the cat? Their natural habitat is outside!

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 hours ago

No, it isn't. Domestic cats do not belong outside. The exposure to numerous hazards literally cuts their average life expectancy by half.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 hours ago

Their natural habitat is outside in the near-east and egypt, not anywhere else. That's not to mention, most people live in urbanized areas with a lot of hazards that aren't natural.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

Mostly cars, but it's also how they end up getting lost or grabbed by people thinking they are lost, and also wildlife like coyotes or owls and raccoons often can kill them because they don't have a natural sense of fear for predators anymore. As well as transfer of disease from mingling with other outdoors cats. Or getting pregnant by meeting up with other outdoor cats while not being fixed themselves.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

"fixing" is such a weird way to describe breaking something

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 hours ago

It’s fixing a problem.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

No it isn't. Cats are domesticated. They have no natural habitat because they aren't wild animals.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 hour ago

The house cat's natural habitat is a door jamb.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 17 hours ago (3 children)

Cats do not have cars in their natural habitat.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

Their natural habitat is outside!

A cat's natural habitat is not North America. They are very destructive to our local ecology.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 17 hours ago

After they domesticated themselves I am pretty sure their natural habitat is whatever we decide it should be. We already are deciding if they can breed at all so....

All the cats in my neighborhood that were outdoor cats have been killed within a week. Coyote has had some good eats this week.

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

I’ve had 3 cats(all rescued), one that refused to stay inside and would run out the door before I knew. I live in a house now with him and he goes out with the dog. He’s outlived his siblings and keeps the mouse population from the field behind my house from getting inside. I also keep a loud bell collar on him to assist those wild critters.

The smart reply isn’t to keep(force) your pets inside, it’s to get them spayed or neutered and stop having so many fucking cats.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

If you care about your pet or neighbours keep it inside. Don’t make your pet other peoples pests. Can you imagine if dog owners just opened their doors at night to let them roam? Why do cast people think they’re special?

P.s. i found a cat leg in my yard the other day, since we have coyotes and birds of prey in my area. So there’s some consequences for you

[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 hours ago

Not to mention how much damage cats do to wildlife populations.

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[–] [email protected] 54 points 1 day ago

Adorable little asshole!

[–] [email protected] 42 points 1 day ago
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