Keeping your cat indoors

I'm a cat owner, a cat enthusiast if you will and I'm all about giving your pets the life they deserve, but I'm pretty much anti when it comes to letting your cat roam around outside. I have an indoor cat Booger who's pretty much a spoiled brat; he has the Petsmart pet-flow fountain, the castle dome liter box, endless catnip toys and treats and access to all furniture...even the kitchen table, oops! He spends his days napping in our bed, chasing his stuffed fish around, and watching birds from the window. I like to think he's happy..my finance thinks he's bored. Here's a news flash for all you people who think your cat needs to go outside to achieve happiness: cats don't get bored. If you provide toys, scratching posts, a couple of those elastics that come with milk containers and some ping pong balls around your cat will forget about all the great stuff it's missing outside. Like traffic.

I've composed a list of reasons for cat owners [both current, and prospective] to check out before they contemplate letting their beloved feline beasts run rampant outside.

First and foremost, is your cat up to date on all it's shots? Is it de-clawed? Fixed?

By letting your animal outside without his rabies shots (amongst others) you are succumbing him to disease...there are feral cats no matter how white-bread your neighborhood may seem and 9 out of 10 times they carry some sort of infectious germ you don't want your pet bringing home. If you de-clawed your cat he is literally defenseless against other animals, and will end up getting hurt. Lastly, if your animal is not fixed they will be adding to the already over-population of cats. Cats need to mate, it's their instinct, and if you let them outside that's the first thing they will want to do.

If you've asked yourself those questions and you're thinking, well! My cat has their claws, they are fixed, and up to date on their shots...why can't they go chase chipmunks? Think of other factors:

Traffic!

Cars are the number one threat to cats. Have you ever seen a dead cat on the side of the road? Wondered who's pet it is? I have, makes me cry. Unless you live in a rural area there's probably a road within close proximity to your home..and that road probably doesn't have a “cat crossing” sign on it. People are jerks...jerks that drive fast, and aren't looking for household pets when they are rushing someplace.

Other cats, and animals!

I live in a pretty urban area, and I notice the high number of feral cats grows each spring. With people not fixing their cats, the number is going to keep growing, and while it's nice to want to save them all, they do pose a threat to the typical chunky house cat out for an afternoon stroll. Most cats won't fight to the death, but you might find your pet with a torn ear, or other war wounds if he crosses paths with a territorial stray. Some diseases cats can spread are: FIP,FIV,FeLV,URIs Neighborhood dogs can pose a threat too...most dogs don't enjoy the company of cats, and if your pet strolls into someones yard they might get beat up.

Ringworms, Fleas, Ticks oh my!

There are ways to prevent all these things yes, and in the ideal world a responsible cat owner would do whatever they can do protect their pet from them, but realistically it's not going to happen. A cat with fleas or worms is NOT A HAPPY CAT.

Someone could permanently “borrow” your house pet:

When I was a little girl I used to try and coax peoples pets to come home with me, and a few times it almost worked. The cat I have now, would probably stroll up to anyone for a pet, some free food, and a snuggle, and who knows? Maybe that person is lonely, or assumes my cat [no matter how handsome, and well fed he looks] would make a great pet for them. I'm sure this isn't too common, but you need to think about it.

Also think about:

Your cat getting lost, picked up by the ASCPA, or their collar snagging on something mid jump...and remember, cats that are kept indoors statistically live longer than cats who roam freely!

If you are still convinced you need to bring your cat outside, there are other options though..

You can purchase a leash for your cat, so they can hangout with you when you are outside. If you're going to go this route you have to be patient, because cats normally don't enjoy being harnessed [this doesn't mean they can't get used to it]

I've also provided some links to other "outside" toys you can use for your cat to have a pleasant outdoors experience