Seeking opinions from people who have cats

[tree_and_leaf]

So we are thinking about getting a cat (we've not thought much further than this, but then we wouldn't be able to do anything about it until mid September, when we get back from the States).

I would like a cat, but I am hesitating, largely because I quite like our local wildlife population (we have a lot of small birds, including a regular visit from a willow warbler, lots of frogs, and a lot of voles/ fieldmice). And, obviously, cats will do what cats do.

Someone suggested keeping the cat inside, and I know that some people do do this, but I am not entirely sure that's kind to the cat. We have a big house (four bedrooms and a study), but of course that's not remotely the same as having freedom to wander about outside, and I worry the cat would get bored/ frustrated.

What do you, oh cat-owning/ loving flisties think? I may end up concluding that I can't cope with the prospect of the cat cutting a swathe through the local wildlife, but I would rather just not have one than keep it inside all the time, if that would be bad for the cat...

Comments

[ankaret]

Ours do get to run round the garden on occasion, which Kosh treats as an excuse to mark everything in sight in case any other cat in the neighbourhood gets ideas and Bean uses to hang around by the back door eating grass until she's startled by the sun going behind a cloud or something similar and runs back inside.