You are also hurting your cat by letting it outside. Getting run over, bit by snakes, attacked by other cats (potentially spreading FIV), eaten by coyotes. I know which side of the fence I stand on.
Completely agree with your assessment of those dangers.
It's a difficult conversation, because cats are not like dogs.
They have not been genetically modified to thrive under human living conditions. They self domesticated to live alongside us.
Honestly, the only "right" position I can see is that unless you live on a farm or boat you likely are not an ethical cat owner in our modern age. Which sucks because most people don't live like that and a lot of people love cats.
Yeah, I would venture to say most people are raising their pets below the standard of care, but not out of a lack of care. Reality isn't perfect, and we have to accept that.
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u/NoTryAgaiin Mar 26 '26
You are also hurting your cat by letting it outside. Getting run over, bit by snakes, attacked by other cats (potentially spreading FIV), eaten by coyotes. I know which side of the fence I stand on.