'I don't know how to convince them': Family member pushes for cats to come indoors for safety, but pawrents demand outdoor freedom

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Sarah Brown • Writer and Editor
May 23, 2025 4:00 PM EDT

This family has two adventurous cats who spend their days prowling outside, keeping pesky pests at bay, and curling up indoors at night. One family member recently got a furbulous wake-up call about the dangers of outdoor life. Threats to native birds and critters, plus risks from parasites and predators. They're hoping to bring the kitties inside, with plenty of toys to keep their paws busy and tails twitching with fun.

But the parental paws are firmly planted on Team Outdoor, insisting the cats keep roaming free and wild. This has caused a real catastrophe in the family, leaving the cats caught in the middle of a feline feud over where they belong. The family member looking for advice is pawsitively worried about their safety but is having a tough time convincing the others that an indoor life might be the purr-fect solution.

The advice coming in is just as divided as the family's own cat community. Some say keep those whiskered wanderers indoors for their safety and to protect local wildlife, while others argue that cats need their outdoor freedom to truly paws and enjoy life. With opinions split, this family is still hunting for the purrfect way to keep all tails happy and safe.

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  • 01
    I'm not fully sure if this is applicable to this sub, please delete if it's not. My family has two cats. We did initially buy them to keep mice and pests away. We do grow plants so I understood the purpose for a while. We have a pretty decent amount of land, and aren't near too many super busy roads.
    via u/Noodle_Dragon_
  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 10509004800
    via u/Noodle_Dragon_
  • 03
    We let them outside as they want, but make certain they're inside when it's night. They also get flea/worm medicine regularly, but it's been awhile since we've brought them in for a solid check up (which concerns me). I don't want to make this sound like
    via u/Noodle_Dragon_
  • 04
    Cheezburger Image 10509004544
    via u/Noodle_Dragon_
  • 05
    neglect, because it's absolutely not. They both seem healthy to me and I try to check them to make sure they don't have injuries or cuts from outside or possible fights. I don't think there's a lot of other cats around tho.
    via u/Noodle_Dragon_
  • 06
    Over the past few months I've learned it's generally better to keep them inside. They are invasive and loads of native birds/rodents. And then being outside puts them at higher risk of parasites and predators.
    via u/Noodle_Dragon_
  • 07
    I want to work on having them be inside, and invest in a few more toys so we can keep them entertained as most people do. My parents have said it ain't happening and I don't know how to convince them. Any advice on what to do? I just want them to be safe and healthy to the best of my ability.
    via u/Noodle_Dragon_
  • 08
    Cheezburger Image 10509021440
    via By Nils Jacobi / Canva

    Disclaimer: This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 09
    iCatLady Show them the vet bill of one that's been hit by a vehicle or a bite wound abscess that's spread to the bone and had to be amputated.
    via u/iCatLady
  • 10
    purrrrrrisa Tell them they can catch illnesses outside or get injured and then they will cost more in vet bills. I feel like your parents may be more influenced if they know this will cost them more money in the long run and keeping them inside will keep them away from the vet
    via u/purrrrrrisa
  • 11
    PurpleWhale02 Unaware of your age, but I understand the troubles of trying to convince parents to care about the environment and native species. I would hone in on 1. the fact that your cats could very well di eating and hunting whatever they do out there and 2. tell them that the cats kill birds who eat bugs that eat mosquitos. Everyone hates mosquitos right?
    via u/PurpleWhale02
  • 12
    Exciting-Self-3353 Make signs to put up around the neighborhood pretending to be a disgruntled neighbor angry with cats running around the neighborhood unsupervised/leashed.
    via u/Exciting-Self-3353
  • 13
    Threaten an animal control call as said neighbor. Don't actually call animal control or anything, but you could pretend someone's threatening to. Maybe it could work
    via u/Exciting-Self-3353

  • Ah, a crafty catspiracy! Those fake signs might just make the parents paws and rethink letting the kitties roam free. Sometimes a little hissterical trick is the purrfect way to get their attention!

  • 14
    ConsciousCrafts Yell them about the time my mom let my favorite cat outside at 9 pm on a Saturday, and he never came back (because he was most definitely eaten by a coyote.)
    via u/ConsciousCrafts
  • 15
    Depressy-Goat209 These sound like they're supposed to be ranch cats and not pets. Ranch cats are workers so I'm guessing to your parents they're not going to spend more time or money on them to make them pets. I know a lot of people who don't like cats in the house. Especially if they know they've been outside.
    via u/Depressy-Goat209
  • 16
    darkworldo It seems maybe they don't actually want them as pets since they are being used as pest control, they've likely got used to not necessarily taking care of them as pets, more cats don't need to be outside, and all though you never really know what's outside, you should probably get their reasons to why they don't want them in the house.
    via u/darkworldo
  • 17
    DominionSeraph You don't. The simple fact is is that cats are much happier if they can go outside. Yes, there are dangers out there, but they also won't end up fat and depr sed like they will if you lock them inside four walls 24/7/365.
    via u/DominionSeraph
  • 18
    Reminder that cat's don't watch TV, surf the 'net, play video games, or read, so they have almost no entertainment options. indoors. You try sitting and staring at a wall for even 10 minutes straight and see how bored you get. Now imagine having nothing to do but stare at a wall for your entire life.
    via u/DominionSeraph
  • 19
    I've had cats all my life and they've always been indoor/outdoor, and I've never had one that needed to be metered food in any way to maintain a healthy weight, or one with personality issues. A cat is not a baby; they're little predators who should be allowed to come and go as they please.
    via u/DominionSeraph
  • 20
    Antique Wheel9405 I couldnt make my cat a fully indoor cat. He just loves going out and hunting. You can really see how happy he is going in and out whenever he wants. The only time we try and keep him in is when we get him a mobile vet visit
    via u/Antique_Wheel9405
  • 21
    EUGsk8rBoi42p On a property with land, there's absolutely no reason not to let the cats outside.
    via u/EUGsk8rBoi42p

  • Team Outdoor cats get to stretch their paws, sharpen their hunting skills, and enjoy fresh air and sunshine. Living la vida feline outside keeps their curiosity and whiskers happily twitching all day long!

     

  • 22
    Gibbering JoeBiden Ima be honest cats can handle themselves outside for the most part if you provide them food, shelter, water and vaccines. The oldest and healthiest cat I've ever seen was my grandparents cat which lived outside its whole live and lived to almost 20 years old.
    via u/GibberingJoeBiden
  • 23
    Cats are very intelligent animals that really adapt to their environments particularly when they are young, if the cats grew up in a rural environment odds are they will be fine their whole lives. I've been in a similar situation as you worrying about the well being of outdoor cats and the honest truth is they'll most likely be fine but their is a decent chance they di form causes
    via u/GibberingJoeBiden
  • 24
    outside of your control but I've had indoor cats di of similar uncontrollable issues. It isn't your fault if an owl or coyote gets your cat just like it isn't your fault if it dies of cancer. Their is certain cats I've adopted like my current cat that I would never let outside because they aren't equipped to deal with that environment while other cats I've had I would consider it genuinely
    via u/GibberingJoeBiden
  • 25
    ab ive to keep them locked up in a confined space like a bedroom/apartment. Cats are super complicated and intelligent animals that really need to be looked at as individual animals. IMO from your post it seems like your current situation is fine for these cats but just keep and eye on them and keep their best interest in mind because that's all you really can do.
    via u/GibberingJoeBiden

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pet ownership pets debate advice cat owners feline Cats pawrents
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