Nala is 10.5 years old. For all of her life she has been an indoor/outdoor kitty. she loves to be with us and loves to be outside. This summer she was diagnosed with diabetes and she is now on shots twice a day. She is back to her old self. we tried to keep her inside 100% of this time, but she often scratches on the glass to go out. Several years ago we installed a kitty door that she loves to use to come and go as she pleases. Is it wrong to continue to let her come and go as she pleases? We feel she is happier living the way she wants. We feed her inside, she always get her shots and has a litter box inside. We live in a neighborhood with little traffic and other cats that are her friends.
indoor/outdoor living
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Jen & Squeak
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You are going to get a huge range in responses to your question 
Ranging from the idea that it is hugely irresponsible to let any cat outside to roam, especially a diabetic...to those who allow their cats to do it and see no issue.
Frankly, you need to know the risks and then it is your own decision to make. Having a cat range outdoors presents general health risks that I'm sure you are already aware of, including parasites, getting hit by a car, fighting with other animals, etc. For a diabetic, the risk would come if the cat doesn't come back in time for shots and testing, etc., plus the fact that diabetics can have suppressed immune systems and be more susceptible to other health issues. Finally, some people insist on feeding other people's cats, and if this is an issue for you it may compromise treatments. I remember one member in my city who could not convince her neighbour to stop feeding her cat dry food
Jen
Ranging from the idea that it is hugely irresponsible to let any cat outside to roam, especially a diabetic...to those who allow their cats to do it and see no issue.Frankly, you need to know the risks and then it is your own decision to make. Having a cat range outdoors presents general health risks that I'm sure you are already aware of, including parasites, getting hit by a car, fighting with other animals, etc. For a diabetic, the risk would come if the cat doesn't come back in time for shots and testing, etc., plus the fact that diabetics can have suppressed immune systems and be more susceptible to other health issues. Finally, some people insist on feeding other people's cats, and if this is an issue for you it may compromise treatments. I remember one member in my city who could not convince her neighbour to stop feeding her cat dry food
Jen
Hope + (((Baby)))GA
Very Active Member
There is also the possibility of a hypo happening with no way of knowing it and treating it. If there are any pools/ponds around and she starts to hypo and falls in, she is gone. Exercise can lower the bg level.
Jen & Squeak
Very Active Member
forgot that one! Eek! Thanks Hope
tuckers mom
Very Active Member
I go outside with Tucker. What are your thoughts on leash training?
OLM Catnip Cottage
Very Active Member
I also wonder if you could construct a safe outdoor kitty enclosure for her. Several people have such things. One of our foster homes has a completely enclosed outdoor enclosure her cats enter and egress through the laundry room for access.
Just-As-Appy
Active Member
I guess in the end its a quality of life decision. You know your kitty best and can assess the risks of being able to go outdoors versus the unhappiness of being indoors only. I have chosen to continue allowing my barn cat to live outdoors, and shut in at night.
tuckers mom
Very Active Member
I completely understand the QoL aspect, but if it were my cat, being on insulin changes things.
Tucker has been FD for 5 years this month. Most of this time, probably 95% of this time, he's great, no worries, but every once in a while he drops a low number and gets close to hypo (knock wood that he only does that when I'm home!!). If he were outdoors by himself where I couldn't watch him, he could have a seizure as others mentioned. If he hid himself when he got sick, I'd have no way to find him.
This is why we do go outside, but we do it together. If he's not with me, he's with my husband.
Tucker has been FD for 5 years this month. Most of this time, probably 95% of this time, he's great, no worries, but every once in a while he drops a low number and gets close to hypo (knock wood that he only does that when I'm home!!). If he were outdoors by himself where I couldn't watch him, he could have a seizure as others mentioned. If he hid himself when he got sick, I'd have no way to find him.
This is why we do go outside, but we do it together. If he's not with me, he's with my husband.
A
Anonymous
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you are not alone. my tomtom is an innie/outtie. i always make sure he is in at sunset tho.
he has been this way for at least 13 or 14 years. he was a neighbors cat before he adopted me and i could'nt see changing his lifestyle. i got him at 6 years old, already the neighborhood tom.
it may not be popular but it is up to you.
i feel very safe with tom as he is sharp, street smart and basically at this point never leaves the yard. if something were to happen to him i'm sure i would just die...but this is his life too and i won't take if from him.
you are the mom...
he has been this way for at least 13 or 14 years. he was a neighbors cat before he adopted me and i could'nt see changing his lifestyle. i got him at 6 years old, already the neighborhood tom.
it may not be popular but it is up to you.
i feel very safe with tom as he is sharp, street smart and basically at this point never leaves the yard. if something were to happen to him i'm sure i would just die...but this is his life too and i won't take if from him.
you are the mom...
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