Do your pets sleep indoors or outside?

8 years ago

Some people have very strong opinions when it comes to pets sleeping inside the house.

It seems the most apprehension comes from cleanliness and hygiene, but I suppose it would depend on how much you accommodate for the pet within the house! Where do you stand and why? Let us know in the comments.

Minnesota Private Residence · More Info

Indoors

Outside

Other? Tell us in comments

Featured Answer

Herbal Bohemia (Amber)

8 years ago

Ninja (Black & White) is the more photogenic of our two furbabies. The fluffy black one is Caesar...both sleep inside as they please with the occasional night out in the cat cave, (we don't have a cat door). Their beds are anything from the laundry basket, to our laps, our bed or the lounge (as pictured next to our 4 month old).
They are part of the family and love that they feel comfortable everywhere. Although it did take a few week after baby boy arrived.

Comments (30)

Sharon H-H
8 years ago
Our dog sleeps inside with us on our king size bed ... Or any other horizontal surface she chooses including lounges, armchairs, her own huge bed (rarely used.. Lol) etc. She's a huge part of our life so we want her w us... Not stuck in a yard. Cleaning the house of her hair etc is a small prize to pay for having her in our lives.
brozerickson
8 years ago
In her crate in the laundry
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Julie, Minnie looks gorgeous. My Claude was dumped at the school I worked at aged 6 months. Just at that desexing age. He brought me endless joy and was loved by all my neighbours, whom he regularly visited. He was a very out there boy. So gregarious too. He was a darling. I do think he may have been abused at some point though as he had a particular aversion to men with loud voices and sudden movements. My previous moggies all adopted me and were absolute angels. One even saved my dad's life by stopping him from lifting a bale of hay at chest height, that contained a snake! Full story click on this link http://www.petsandplants.com.au/blog/sheeba-the-cat-that-saved-a-life Miss Feline is now 3 and was the kitten of a pregnant rescue a friend took on. She is a law unto herself and until recently was attacking me around the legs when I failed to meet her very many needs. She is finally learning that I respond to cuddles and smooches and resorting to claws only brings us into conflict. Only cat I have ever had that has been a challenge to bond with. She is getting there and really sweetening up! We even consulted an animal psychologist to get some strategies to deal with her as at one stage I had to keep my back to the wall to walk along my hallway, lest I be attacked! My legs were covered in cat scratches and she would claw me from behind if I was sitting at my kitchen table. Thankfully throughout that ordeal, she never targeted her canine brother in the way she targeted me! My cat loving whippet has just turned 8. He guards Miss Feline and my chooks like a devoted brother. They are so sweet to each other, it melts my heart! Just sent a testamonial off to cobra cane. They are fantastic! Some really great stock and fabulous service! Reasonably priced too! About to nip out and find a zebra throw to disguise my folding two seater that my animals love. Think it will give the room a bit of a safari vibe! And easy to wash! Print on the slip covers is very African! My guest dogs also often choose to sleep on it, so I guess it is a camping chair designed for human use, that I actually purchased for the gang to enjoy and for the dog and I to share when we go camping! I also have a few favourite wildlife shots taken on my travels. Wildlife photography is an expensive and sometimes all consuming but rewarding hobby. Displaying a collection of them, not only reminds me of some special close encounters, it also saves me bringing them out to show people on a semi regular basis! Hoping to exhibit some of my wildlife photography work at a local gallery before too long!
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Megan Bayliss
8 years ago
Our pets are part of our family. They sleep inside and have their own bedding. There is always hair throughout the house but we are okay with that.
juliechisholm
8 years ago
My 2 dogs sleep inside in an area designated to be the laundry/dressing room. They shed very little, are bathed weekly, brushed every second day and are my best mates. Buster, my pooncy 10 yr old Maltese, also feels the cold. They are allowed to nap on the bed with me only on Sundays after their bath. One of the perks of living alone!!
Therese spacov
8 years ago
Our dogs are part of our lives and live inside and sleep on their own beds. Plus its so cold where we live it wouldnt be fair or kind to them. Having to clean their beds and vacuam regularly is I agree a small price to pay for having our special loving friends with us.
wuff
8 years ago
Our cat sleeps in our bed mostly. She chooses where she sleeps, sometimes on a chair in the room, sometimes on the floor in the bedroom but mostly in our bed, particularly now it is cold. We brush her nearly every day and not too much fur around the place.
Herbal Bohemia (Amber)
8 years ago
Also, regarding the cats sleeping on the bed. I have been known to make the bed around the cats, usually Ninja if he has gone to bed before I can make it.
serenebee
8 years ago
My chook has her own chicken coop in chook yard that has plenty of shade in summer. Lots of room for her to enjoy a dust bath whenever. Plus winter time often finds her in the chook tractor in our yard; giving the chook yard time to regrow~
Sharon
8 years ago
Our cat would be allowed to sleep inside if she didn't wake us up at 0300 to let her out (we rent and don't have a cat door). So having to sleep outside is her own fault. That said, if it's miserably cold or raining I let her sleep in the garage. I would much rather have her sleep on the bed but she just can't stay asleep all night
studio10001
8 years ago
Outside is where the bobcat waits.
christyl_oz
8 years ago
My 3 cats sleep inside, all curled up on my bed. It's very comforting to fall asleep with them curled up behind my knees. I am actually really opposed to cats being outside at night, because they go hunting in the early dawn and fight with each other.... Which causes injuries and spreads feline AIDS.... Not to mention the risks to wildlife. They are also well fed before they go outside in the morning, so they are more likely to sleep in the sun then chase birds.
wuff
8 years ago
Where we live cats need to be licensed like dogs, the city by laws state cats need to be inside between dusk and dawn for reasons stated above. Sometimes Mabel not very happy about it but rules are rules I tell her and she just has to come inside, she is also inside when we are at work.
PRO
archimondo
8 years ago
My mate and I were walking along West Coast Drive from Sorrento to Scarborough and back with our dogs. On the way back it was becoming quite crowded and a women had to dismount from her bike due to the congestion of people and dogs. She let fly with an acerbic comment about keeping your dogs under control aimed at Snowee inparticular. There being a captured audience I responded with "Snowee sleeps on my bed but I doubt if you would ever get a gurnsey." Much laughter as she rode off in a huff.
kezanova
8 years ago
Our staffy Sheba sleeps on her special blanket on the couch. The winters are cold in the Adelaide Hills so we get up every night to put extra logs on the fire so she stays warm. Every dog we've had has been a family member - I just can't imagine making them sleep outside.
Fee MackGee
8 years ago
Our dog used to sleep outside in Sydney, then we moved to Singapore and he had been traumatised by the move and it was too hot for him so he became an indoor dog. We are now in Perth and while I'd like him to be an outdoor dog more, he loves being in with us and gets stressed if he's outside away from us. He's a labradoodle so fur isn't an issue - luckily!
User
8 years ago
Cats in, dogs out.
PRO
Vintage Beach
8 years ago
At the beach (pic) and at home they have their own couch. Afghan Hounds require couches, it's inbred:)
Jacinta O'Brien
8 years ago
Charlie (14 year old rescue mini foxie cross jack russell). Sleeps on my bed with me. Despite having his own heated bed and several blankets. He's a wonderful snuggler though :)

I'm weak and find it too hard to say no to that face.
Luke Buckle
8 years ago
When we had a dog he sometimes preferred outside in warmer months but was indoors for the rest and sat on the couch all day. Lazy sod. Bizarrely, Duffer would also hyperventilate if we took him for a walk.

Who could understand that animal? (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel)
voegelsnest
8 years ago
I live near Mt Dandenong in Victoria and cats must remain within my property at all times. I had an enclosure built around a part of my garden which has access to the house. The cats - and the dog - can come and go as they please inside and outside without being able to roam beyond. (Enclosed fence has a floppy roll at the top which cats can't hang onto and therefore can't escape). Has worked well but cats now getting old and senile and accidents happening inside. There are litter trays but difficult to prevent dog from snuffling in them! Any hints or advice would be great, thanks.
satrowe
8 years ago
I used to think I was an experienced and responsible cat owner and that my cat was safe and close to home -
she returned home 2 days later with an internal injury with a major operation and $12,0000 later she's recovering well with the Pet Insurance I'm out $3000 , hard lesson to learn
Keep indoors with a great cat enclosure, which I kept putting off !
wuff
8 years ago
Poor cat, so good she is on mend, our cat indoor, only out when we are home in the day
annb1997
5 years ago
Cats strictly indoors, and the big beasts all sleep indoors, but outside in their big fenced dog run during the day and in nice weather.
julie herbert
5 years ago
This is Minnie, we adopted her 2 yrs ago, she is now 14 and she is adorable, she sleeps inside but she goes for walks on her lead daily, we love her dearly.
annb1997
5 years ago
Oh Julie she is gorgeous. Is she a lilac point Siamese? As I type this, my daughter's Burmilla, Maisy, is snuggling on my lap and purring.
julie herbert
5 years ago
Hi annb,
She is a Russian blue, her coat in the sun is the palest blue/grey, she has the sweetest nature and she loves to play , she loves to sit on you, just like your Maisy (love that name) she has bought such joy to our home.
Jo
5 years ago
Cats indoors with the back verandah built in for them (snake mesh). I believe cats should be contained for their safety and that of wildlife. I am on acreage with nearest road/neighbour 1 km away - so for my cats it is really about the safety of wildlife.
2 small indoor dogs - mini dachshund and chihuahua. Indoors for their safety and they are a part of the family.
1 outdoor dog protecting livestock.

I have always had dogs inside. I used to have larger dogs and they would be wherever I was, and outdoors when I wasn't home. I have had a lot of dogs... chosen and rescues/highway pickups. I have always heard the argument that it is not hygienic having them indoors.... and now I have had kids I can confidently say kids are far worse than dogs. My house used to always be clean and clutter free. Now I am constantly cleaning and tidying and telling kids to pick up stuff - and I might get 5 minutes a day where it looks like what it always looked like when I just had dogs!
annb1997
5 years ago
Ahhh love Russian Blue. Maisy's little sister, Sophie, is Burmese. Their fur colour is exactly the same colour, only Maisy's is much longer.
julie herbert
5 years ago
Such cute names annb,
having a pet is such a privilege, they bring so much joy and love into our lives , so glad we adopted Minnie, she is so beautiful and loving, I am sure she loves living with us as we do her.