Letting Your Cat Outdoors Can Be Dangerous
Letting Your Cat Outdoors Can Be Dangerous
As a feline practitioner and advice columnist, I receive
many letters from concerned cat owners.
I received a letter a while back from an owner whose cat used to live
indoors and outdoors. He would
essentially come and go as he pleased, through the cat door in their
kitchen. Most of his time was spent
outdoors, in the owner’s backyard.
Everything was fine. A new job
opportunity has resulted in the owner moving to a new home. The street out front has much more traffic, and the backyard is considerably
smaller. The owner is very concerned
that if he lets the cat outdoors, the
cat may get lost, or maybe get injured.
The cat, however, is miserable being cooped up inside all day.
I think the owner’s fears are reasonable. The owner reveals that the street in front of
the house has a fair amount of traffic, and being hit by a car is a realistic
possibility. There are numerous other
dangers with letting cats outdoors. Cats that go outdoor are at increased risk
of getting into territorial fights with other cats, which can lead to
transmission of viral diseases such as the Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and/or the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus(FIV). Cat bite abscesses can also occur
as a result of fighting between outdoor cats.
Severe weather and predatory animals are also a danger to outdoor
cats. Many studies have shown that cats
that live primarily outdoors have a significantly shorter lifespan than those
that live indoors.
A better alternative would be to make the cat’s indoor
environment more stimulating. There are
several ways to do this. Purchasing or
constructing a “kitty condo” and providing access to elevated areas in the home
are good ways to enrich a cat’s life.
Having several types of scratching posts is important. Cats like toys, and a variety of toys should
be available. The toys should stimulate
the various senses. Laser toys are a
good visual stimulus. Catnip toys stimulate the sense of smell. Toys with bells attached stimulate the
auditory senses. The toys should be
rotated, so that the cat doesn’t become bored with them due to
overexposure. Interactive toys are
better than passive toys. In other words, rather than just providing toys that
the cat has to play with by himself, use
toys like a “kitty tease” – a wand with a string that has something attached to
it . These interactive toys are more
interesting to cats. It stimulates their predatory nature, and provides
exercise. It also provides important
“bonding time” for the owner and the cat.
Cats who are insistent on going outdoors can be taken out
for a walk using a harness (a leash is too flimsy and cats can often slip out
of them easily), although many cats find being led on a harness a bit
frustrating. An outdoor enclosure, such as a sturdy cage or a
screened-in porch, is a good compromise; cats can still be outdoors, yet they
are shielded from predators, traffic, and other cats.
The Ohio State University College of Veterinary
Medicine sponsors a website called The Indoor Pet Initiative that provides advice to pet owners
for enriching their pet’s environment.
You can click here for more information: http://indoorpet.osu.edu/