Should You Let Your Cat Go Outdoors?

Are you having trouble deciding on whether or not you should keep your cat indoors for the rest of its nine lives or let it go romp outside with the other kitties? Yes, you love your cat and don't want to deny your precious pet the pleasure of rolling in the grass and basking in the sun, but will the big wide world on the other side of your front door be kind to your furry little child once it steps outside? The choice you make could change your cat's life as well as yours, for better or for worse.

It's a known fact that cats are hunters by nature. Many people who know this feel that it's cruel to keep a cat locked up in a house all the time. Others feel guilty about it. When a cat is outdoors, it will have fun hunting down birds and mice, and if it finds a mate, it will procreate. Should this behavior be allowed by the cat owner who lets his or her cat out of the house, though? Will roaming the streets be a healthy way of life for that pet, and is it wise to let that pet roam? People who feel guilty about always keeping their cat indoors will often let their cat leave the house and return whenever it pleases. The love they feel for their cat causes them to make a decision that is based on guilt rather than foresight, and that decision may later trigger a feeling of regret.

If a cat isn't neutered or spayed, it will more than likely mate and produce offspring that may never find a home. It's sad to see so many stray cats already walking the streets, begging for food and looking for a warm place to sleep when the temperature drops. An unwanted pregnancy isn't all one should be concerned about. Cats that spend time outdoors can come home with unwanted hitchhikers known as fleas or ticks. Once these bloodsucking pests are in your house, they can leap off your pet in search of more spacious surroundings -- like your rug. More serious than that, a cat can become infected with feline leukemia by associating with cats that have this fatal virus. Letting your cat out also puts it at risk of getting into a fight with a cat that could have rabies. One bite from an infected feline will give your cat this disease. There's also the possibility your pet may get hit by a car, attacked by a dog or raccoon, abused, poisoned, or taken by someone. When you think about it, the great outdoors isn't so great when it comes to your pet's safety.

Guilt feelings about not allowing your cat to go outdoors on its own should never sway your decision to protect your loving pet. If you love your cat and want the best for it, your decision to keep it indoors will provide it with the comfort, love, and safety it needs. It will also provide you with the peace of mind that comes with knowing where your cat is at all times.

Sources:

Hodgkins, Elizabeth M., D.V.M., Esq. Your Cat - Simple New Secrets to a Longer, Stronger Life 2007

Your Cat-Indoors or Out - The Humane Society of the United States

Keeping Your Cat Safe, "A Safe Cat is a Happy Cat" - Arlington, Texas Animal Services