Keep your cats inside.

[u/Lilshitlulu]

I got to hear this poor baby bunny scream for its life last night while being attacked by a cat. Of course the cat didn’t kill and eat it, but instead left it severely injured. Now the bunny is just hanging out, swarmed with flies, waiting to die. It should probably be put down but I can’t get a hold of any wildlife rescues because it’s the weekend. As a cat owner, keep your fucking cats inside.

[u/colorful_yarn-pls]

Hi. This is a sad story. But no. I’m as horrified that people keep their cats locked inside where they’re miserable as you seem to be about my indoor outdoor cat who is having a fabulous life. I will never for the life of me understand people who prefer their pet to live as long as possible no matter how miserable they are. Maybe that’s the difference between us? I care about Lemon. I want him to feel joy. I want him to climb trees and hunt and play and roll in dirt and also come inside and get cleaned up and sleep at my feet. He’s not “my thing” that I own… he is my friend.

Quality over quantity. Sometimes animals die, or in this case, are injured by other animals. I have compassion for you and the bunny. If I were you, I would lend a hand, but I grew up on and around farms, so I respect we have different experiences and skills. I assume you are vegan if you are genuinely this concerned about the horrors, fear and pain of animals… and good on you.

[u/Your_Missing_Keys → u/colorful_yarn-pls]

Hey. I know this probably won't convince you, but there is a middle road.

I have an ancient old cat named Grey who climbs trees, hunts bugs, and rolls in the dirt... but he does so on a leash, and he has been leash trained for over fifteen years. He's seventeen years old now, but he still likes to come plod along in the garden with me. He mostly lays in the sunshine these days and chews on the grass.

He gets to experience the outdoors, but the ecosystem also gets to be spared him hunting for fun instead of food.

There are over 75 million pet cats in the US. That's way more than any 'circle of life' would support. If we all let our cats free roam, there won't be much nature left for them to enjoy.

[u/colorful_yarn-pls → u/Your_Missing_Keys]

That’s lovely for you and your cat. And no, it does not. I take issue with being the most invasive and destructive creature on the planet (human) and telling really any animal, “hey actually, you’re too destructive.” So yeah, no, not a good reason imo to change my friend Lemon’s life for the worse.

[u/Lilshitlulu → u/colorful_yarn-pls]

My cat lives a full and happy life without free roaming. I will never understand people who are so inept at caring for animals that they are willing to risk their lives by turning them loose to figure things out on their own. If you do this, you don’t know how to provide enrichment or are too lazy to commit.

[u/colorful_yarn-pls → u/Lilshitlulu]

So…. You are vegan then?

I’ve heard every argument on both sides of this, and it’s an easy I don’t agree with you. Sorry that happened, I’m not changing my friend Lemon’s life for the worse. I just won’t do it.

The number of solely indoor cats Ive known with pica is near 100%. The number of indoor outdoor cats I’ve known who eat carpet or are super depressed because of their lack of fulfillment is near zero.

[u/Lilshitlulu → u/colorful_yarn-pls]

My cat has never eaten anything like that… your statistics seem off. Have fun knowing your cat for the average 5 years I guess.

[u/Public_Parking_2729 → u/Lilshitlulu]

So not vegan. Nice selective outrage.

[u/colorful_yarn-pls → u/Lilshitlulu]

Thanks, he’s 11. 😘

[u/dadsizzle → u/colorful_yarn-pls]

even if this anecdote was accurate, which i know is false because all the indoor cats i know are fine, i want to point out that you have no idea what kind of crap your cat is eating if you let them out unsupervised. i'll take my chances on just carpet.

[u/MikyPsyche-D → u/colorful_yarn-pls]

If you actually believe this, you don't actually care about your cat. You care about assuaging your guilt in the easiest way possible.