Indoor vs Outdoor Cats
Cats available for adoption through Purebreds Plus Cat Rescue are all indoor cats and are spayed or neutered. Occasionally we will have a cat that is a candidate for an indoor/outdoor life but the adoptor's house needs to be in a safe quiet neighborhood away from busy roads and potential hazards. The best way for you and your cat to have a long healthy relationship is to keep all your cats indoors.
Many of our cats are rescued as strays so we see the toll living outdoors places on a cat's health and well being. Outdoor cats can catch diseases, some even fatal from infected cats. Life expectancy of a well cared for indoor cat is 17 years compared to only 5 years for an outdoor cat. Outdoor cats stand a great chance of being run over by a car or injured and even killed in attacks from other cats, dogs or wild animals. If that is not enough reason, here are more:
Compelling reasons to keep a cat indoors
- Avoids exposure to poisons and traps
- No exposure keeps vetinary bills down
- Will not become possible victim of someone who is cruel or abusive to animals
- Protects small local wildlife from outdoor cat attacks
- Never gets lost or picked up as a stray
- Doesn't contribute to the cat over population - unaltered outdoor cats are the biggest contributor to this problem. Millions of cats are put to sleep each year because homes can not be found for them
- Keeps neighbors happy because no cat littering in their yard
- Enables you to accurately maintain knowledge of your cats health, eating habits and activity
- Prevents death or injury from cars.
- No worries about fights with dogs, other cats, racoons or other outdoor animals
- No surprises visits from other cats, racoons or other outdoor animals entering the house the same way your cat does
- No exposure to diseases, some even fatal, and parasites contracted from infected cats such as rabies, feline leukemia, distemper, and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) fleas, ticks, ringworm
- Increases chances of a long healthy life. Cared-for indoor cats live as long as 17 years.
Reasons people have for allowing cats outdoors
- Get more excercise
- Cats continually try to escape so confinement is difficult
- Believe cats are only happy outdoors
- Keeps the mice and rats populations down
- Won't use the litter box properly, prefers using the sand and dirt outside
The Indoor/Outdoor Debate
The reasons people have for allowing cats outdoors often stem from the belief that cats have a "wild" side. Keeping them from the outdoors would deprive them of their nature. But if you've ever seen a long haired himalayan with twigs and leaves stuck in its fur, you wonder is this cat really meant for the outdoors? Even worse, imagine your beloved maine coon cat who has always been indoor/outdoor one day doesn't come back. Or your cat returns one day with having been attacked and you have a thousand dollar vet bill. Some people still argue that those hazards are part of a "normal" life for a cat. However, many cats prefer living indoors as well. Safe indoor enclosures or even leash training are creative ways to give your cat access to the outdoors without all the hazards and problems. An indoor life balanced with interesting activities and interaction with their human companion or another indoor cat will make for a long and satisfying life for your cat.
Resources:
We have compiled information on the benefits of having an indoor cat and information on how to convert even the most stubborn outdoor cat.
Birds and Cats - The Cats Indoors! Campaign - American Bird Conservancy
Keeping Cats Indoors
Isn't Just For The Birds! - American Bird Conservancy
How to Make your Outdoor Cat a Happy Indoor Cat - American Bird Conservancy
The Human Society of the United States
A Safe Cat Is a Happy Cat: And Your Cat Is Only Safe Indoors
Your Cat—Indoors or Out
Be a Good Neighbor
Fence Me In
Bringing an Outside Cat In
The Indoor-Outdoor Debate - About.com Expert
Can Outdoor Cats be Safe? - Alley Cat Rescue
Indoor/Outdoor Cats - Search Google for the latest information |
