This is very touching to me. I've almost always made the decision to let my cats out, sometimes supervised and sometimes not. The last one was a wild purebred who had to police her massive territory very seriously and got very bored if she had to stay in. I always managed to grab her struggling into the house for night!
One morning I let her out and she never came back. She was not quite 2 yrs. Through the luck of the neighbourhood and her microchip, I was able to find out she was seen running scared straight into traffic and died due to a hit and run driver.
How many of my cats have met their deaths indoors and how many outside? All I know is that I can't bear the full incarceration of cats. Cats are wild and only deign to join us for a short time! How precious.
Yes. As you say. I think we gain far more from relishing life than seeking primarily to preserve it — which is why we feel a thrill every time we witness people doing the most beautiful things with their bodies. What looks reckless to some looks like “truly living” to others. And ultimately, we shall die. In a very short time. Is it better to spend thousands of days cycling through a primarily dead and static house filled with inanimate objects somewhat bored out of our minds and without purpose (as a cat) or a few hundred days embracing the fullness of our being and potential in a lush world that stimulates all our senses? Most people wish lions and tigers and bears living caged in zoos could be released to wildlife sanctuaries or back into the wilds from which they came — how is small cat incarceration in an apartment, condo or home any different? ❤️
This is so true. I only wish I had more than a fenced backyard that doesn't contain cats well. But I'm just a street away from moderately busy traffic. The other cats I've had here apparently didn't go in that direction but Honey was unstoppable and very bold.
Her last adventure only happened in early January. Even though I'm nearing 70, I'm still keen to have 'just one more', then I think of this terrible dilemma. I question the whole system of 'rehoming' pets and the pet system, then I think of the delight of having these incredibly human companions for another stretch of our short time!
Take care and thanks again for your lovely essay and for this comment! Have fun with your kitties!
As I get older, I think I’ll move into being a foster mom to various animals in transition and waiting for a new forever home. I’d be okay keeping a cat indoors for a few weeks or even a couple months, if I knew they were moving on soon — or maybe specialize in kittens from birth to 3 months of age who can’t yet climb the fence? ❤️
You mean, it would be too hard to fall in love with fostered kitties and have to send them off to new homes? If so, I concur. It is super hard. But, I did it in my early 20's and it was wonderful to see so many strays getting vet care, love, food, and then a new, forever home. Anyway, we shall see. I currently have two youngish sibling kitties and it wouldn't be fair to ask them to have stranger dogs and cats coming and going all the time, so we shall see...
This is very touching to me. I've almost always made the decision to let my cats out, sometimes supervised and sometimes not. The last one was a wild purebred who had to police her massive territory very seriously and got very bored if she had to stay in. I always managed to grab her struggling into the house for night!
One morning I let her out and she never came back. She was not quite 2 yrs. Through the luck of the neighbourhood and her microchip, I was able to find out she was seen running scared straight into traffic and died due to a hit and run driver.
How many of my cats have met their deaths indoors and how many outside? All I know is that I can't bear the full incarceration of cats. Cats are wild and only deign to join us for a short time! How precious.
Yes. As you say. I think we gain far more from relishing life than seeking primarily to preserve it — which is why we feel a thrill every time we witness people doing the most beautiful things with their bodies. What looks reckless to some looks like “truly living” to others. And ultimately, we shall die. In a very short time. Is it better to spend thousands of days cycling through a primarily dead and static house filled with inanimate objects somewhat bored out of our minds and without purpose (as a cat) or a few hundred days embracing the fullness of our being and potential in a lush world that stimulates all our senses? Most people wish lions and tigers and bears living caged in zoos could be released to wildlife sanctuaries or back into the wilds from which they came — how is small cat incarceration in an apartment, condo or home any different? ❤️
This is so true. I only wish I had more than a fenced backyard that doesn't contain cats well. But I'm just a street away from moderately busy traffic. The other cats I've had here apparently didn't go in that direction but Honey was unstoppable and very bold.
Her last adventure only happened in early January. Even though I'm nearing 70, I'm still keen to have 'just one more', then I think of this terrible dilemma. I question the whole system of 'rehoming' pets and the pet system, then I think of the delight of having these incredibly human companions for another stretch of our short time!
Take care and thanks again for your lovely essay and for this comment! Have fun with your kitties!
As I get older, I think I’ll move into being a foster mom to various animals in transition and waiting for a new forever home. I’d be okay keeping a cat indoors for a few weeks or even a couple months, if I knew they were moving on soon — or maybe specialize in kittens from birth to 3 months of age who can’t yet climb the fence? ❤️
Good for you! I know that would be too many losses for me.
You mean, it would be too hard to fall in love with fostered kitties and have to send them off to new homes? If so, I concur. It is super hard. But, I did it in my early 20's and it was wonderful to see so many strays getting vet care, love, food, and then a new, forever home. Anyway, we shall see. I currently have two youngish sibling kitties and it wouldn't be fair to ask them to have stranger dogs and cats coming and going all the time, so we shall see...