I don't see the indoors as natural/cruel etc, but I do think you have swung the argument equally far the other way. Taking each of your points in turn, there are alternative ways of viewing things and meeting these needs. I am here talking from a UK perspective, I am sure I would hold different views if I lived in places in the world where the climate was not temperate and a range of very poisonous predators such as spiders were easily able to access outdoor accommodation.
Just because your pigs/rabbits haven't been attacked/eaten by foxes/predators, doesn't mean it is impossible, it just means that you got lucky.
No, it means that they are kept in a suitably secure predator-proof environment. Nowhere is 100% infallible, indoor rabbits equally occasionally get attacked by foxes/dogs/cats etc, being indoors does not make that impossible either, and by believing that outdoor ones are at risk but indoor ones are not, I believe it actually makes indoor ones unsafe, as one is lulled into a false sense of security by their safety.
For the old argument that they should have as natural an environment as possible - these are domesticated animals and are quite different from their wild counterparts. To me that is simply a ridiculous argument.
Similarly, this is simply a ridiculous argument. Rabbits are still rabbits. Domestication hasn't actually significantly changed their wild behaviour...take a read of a few Dr Anne McBride papers on the subject and you will see that while they may be housed and fed differently, bunnies are still bunnies...
Vitamin D? Enrichment? Birds? Breeze? They can get the benefit from these and be indoors.
Yes they can (maybe with the exception of naturally produced vit D), but they can equally get the benefit from those and be outdoors, so it's a non-argument either way.
Those that say they are happier outside - how do you truly measure happiness? How do you know whether they are truly better off inside or out? No one really knows the answer to this (because the animals can't talk) but we can make an educated guess. And inside there are far less variables for us to control, and therefore far greater chances of our beloved pets living long, happy lives.
While I don't particularly have strong views either way about indoor v outdoor, I'm sorry but your argument is nonsense. What are these 'far less variables to control'? Where is your evidence that indoor pets live longer, happier lives? Have you truly measured that either? These are assumptions based on your own point of view. Show me proper, scientific studies which shows that indoor rabbits are less stressed, live longer, have fewer illnesses etc.
And finally, your summary arguments:
- Inside they are a part of the family where they belong (where all family members live).
That is simply anthropomophising them. Rabbits don't think like humans. They don't think about being 'part of the family'. They are rabbits, not other humans. That is purely your own perception and not based on any fact. Surely the point is that family members choose to be inside because of their own nature, personalities, needs etc. Rabbits needs are different and can be met in alternative ways. If some buns love it - great. But I think it's dangerous to believe that prey animals like rabbits want to be part of the family in that way.
They recieve more attention inside. No one is outdoors all of the time, granted no one is indoors all of the time - most are indoors more than they are outdoors. Particulary in winter when it is freezing cold, wet and horrible, and likewise in summer when it is stinking hot and just as unpleasurable.
True, but it is based on the assumption that your rabbits want to receive more attention. I don't believe that mine, or a lot of others, do. They are in pairs with another creature of their own kind and this provides them with company and attention suitable to their needs. Again, I'm not saying that it's wrong to keep them indoors, but it is based on your assumption of their needs and one possible way to meet them. I meet these needs by providing another companion of their own kind.
Most furries are not suited to the often harsh climate outdoors. Guinea pigs for instance struggle with the cold and the heat. I have seen a guinea pig die from heatstroke, whilst it wasn't one of my own it wasn't a nice sight, and the poor girl was in considerable discomfort/pain. Indoors the temperature can be monitored to provide suitable living conditions.
Yup, but you then based your experience on guinea pigs, and we are talking about rabbits here. The UK climate is usually temperate, not harsh. Mine grow perfectly thick coats in winter and indeed choose to sit outside in snow/rain/wind. In summer they moult to very thin coats and choose to sunbathe. I would agree with you if we were talking about countries with extremes of temperatures, but it's not true of the UK most of the time, and for the limited times that we do experience extremes either way, it is possible to manage it.
Predators. They are everywhere whether we like it or not. Whether it be dogs or cats from neighbouring properties, foxes or snakes, spiders or rats. They all pose a risk and they can all cause considerable injury/death. Granted some of these can get inside (spiders for example) the likelihood of a pet being injured indoors from a predator is significantly less.
I don't believe that this is necessarily true in the UK - it's certainly not true for spiders, snakes etc, and in fact in the UK the reverse is probably true of these creatures - spiders and snakes are not native and are used to the indoors and will therefore be more likely to seek out indoor places if they escape. I think it lulls you into a false sense of security to believe that indoors is safe and outdoors is not safe. It's all about the security of the accommodation provided, wherever it is.
Space - Common argument - "I can provide more space for them outdoors then in." Simple solution. Make space. Rearrange furniture, they are a part of the family so surely space can be made? My room has a bed, and a bedside table and a small wardrobe for my clothes. Then I have a guinea pig wardrobe, 3 x 6ft pens, 4 x 65L containers for hay, pellet containers, 2 x large carriers plus an additional 6ftx8ft area left free (except for numerous toys which I constantly trip over :roll::lol
. I made space to fit the furries in. It is not impossible.
Good for you, but again it's not an argument for or against, it is just one way of meeting the needs. There are other ways, such as having large outdoor accommodation.
Easier to monitor. They are in the house with people coming and going all the time. It is easy to pick up an unwell bunny quickly and efficiently. The quicker an illness is picked up, the quicker they can be treated, they likelihood of a positive outcome is increased.
My vet says that I am one of her most observant owners and I pick up illnesses extremely early. Of course it's easier to pick things up if you're around them all the time; it's also easy to overlook things if you become over familiar. I don't feel as if mine have ever had anything picked up too late for this reason.
I have no problem with keeping bunnies indoors, but I do have a problem with being told that mine are clearly horribly neglected because they are. I don't believe anything you have stated above is insurmountable either way for bunnies in the UK
