Outdoors or Indoors?

Fran (in the back) and Lordie

If you own a cat, you have probably already had to face the dilemma of whether to let your cat outdoors for any length of time. Or to keep them an indoor only cat.

When our two cats, Fran and Lordie, were adult cats, we did let them out, since I worked from home. And we trained them to come in the house whenever I blew a horn. For a while, it was the perfect routine. They did get fleas, so we had to treat them for that, but otherwise, things ran smoothly. That is until the adventurous Fran decided to go too far and get lost. We didn't see him for 22 days.


Fran and Lordie in on of their favorite spots. They like to perch here and stare at me while I am on the computer:)

We were devastated! Fran was a stray my daughter Ashley brought home from the pet hospital she worked for. He had a cute, scraped up nose from trying to escape from his cage. They finally had to let him wonder around the hospital and he soon became a favorite there.



Fran finally had a home....ours:)



We put fliers up and went around the neighborhood looking everywhere. We put an ad in the newspaper. I didn't realize just how many black cats there were until I started looking for Fran. Every time someone called we would jump in out car to find him. Yes, it was a black cat, but it wasn't Fran.

22 days went by until suddenly my daughter sees a black cat in out back yard. I say, "it's not going to be him." We had looked everywhere! The next thing we know this cat is at out patio door looking in. And we both scream, "FRAN!" He had finally found his home again!


Fran gazing out the window.


Fran was my buddy because he would sit and watch me paint every day. I would throw Q-tips at him to play with (I used them to wipe off mistakes). He sleeps at the head of the bed right by me every night. So when my husband wondered whether we should ever let them out again, I said a definite "NO!"




Fran while I paint!


But now I am back to wondering if I am being selfish. But I never want to go through that again! Every spring it's the same guilty feeling I have that they have to stay indoors. We even asked our vet, who said if you want them to live longer, keep them inside.


Fran looking at his friend, a squirrel.

So now we have been contemplating buying some sort of fence. Or cat house. Or something. So I am posting this blog to get some opinions from all of you out there. What has worked for you?