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POLL: Should cats be allowed outside? Our readers weigh in

Respondents are roughly evenly divided on the question; people who say yes are likely to have more libertarian views on other issues
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Should cats be allowed outside?

Many would say no, pointing to risks to the cat — being stolen, hit by a car, getting into conflict with other animals, getting diseases or parasites, or just not coming home. Indoor cats, they point out, live longer, on average. Also, outdoor cats can kill a surprising number of birds. 

Indoor cats, on the other hand, can get issues with depression, frustration and lethargy. 

The cats themselves can get a vote, of course, either by darting out under people's feet or through relentless pressure.   

In an online poll this week, readers were roughly split:

Perhaps surprisingly, cat ownership has almost no influence:

Older readers are less inclined to let cats outside:

As are women:

There is little difference between dog people and cat people on the question. People who don't want or have a pet, however, were more inclined to keep a (notional) cat indoors.

More often than not, people who say that cats should be let outside are more likely to have libertarian views on other questions, and/or more openness to risk.

Unfortunately, we were unable to cross-reference with a poll asking 'Are you a cat?'


Patrick Cain

About the Author: Patrick Cain

Patrick is an online writer and editor in Toronto, focused mostly on data, FOI, maps and visualizations. He has won some awards, been a beat reporter covering digital privacy and cannabis, and started an FOI case that ended in the Supreme Court
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