Cats are one of the world’s most popular pets. There are millions of domestic felines in the world. Most experts advise keeping these pets indoors for various reasons. They agree that it’s better for the environment and also increases the cat’s lifespan and happiness.
Some people still leave their cats outside at night and allow them to roam. However, this can be dangerous for the cat and severely impact their neighborhood. Find out why you should keep your cat indoors now.
1. Outdoor Cats Harm Local Wildlife
Protecting local wildlife is one of the most crucial reasons we should keep cats indoors. Cats are extremely effective predators and will kill birds, small mammals, and reptiles. Since the 1980s, 90% of U.S. cat owners have kept their feline pets indoors. This was because cats severely impact local ecosystems. They’ve contributed to the extinction of 63 species.
Roaming cats are more common in the U.K. than in North America. That’s because people think that house cats don’t get enough exercise. They also don’t see evidence that their pet is preying on small animals. Cats threaten Australia’s rich biodiversity. They kill 546 million animals per year, including rare species.
Another common myth is that cats won’t hunt if they have already eaten. This isn’t true because it’s part of their nature.
2. Cats Can Get into Fights Outdoors
Felines are very territorial animals and like to keep their own space. This can cause cats to fight each other. If you keep your pets indoors, this is less likely to be a problem. Roaming cats may encroach into another feline’s space. They may bite and scratch each other with traumatic results. It’s also risky because stray cats may carry rabies or feline HIV.
Save yourself an expensive trip to the vet by keeping your cats inside. Neutering cats is another great solution to improve cat relationships. That way, if your cat gets outdoors, it will reduce the chance of males fighting each other or females receiving unwanted attention. Microchip cat flaps are also available to stop outdoor felines from coming into your home.
3. Outdoor Cats Contribute to Feline Overpopulation
It’s very irresponsible to allow unneutered cats to roam. This drastically increases the risk of unwanted feline breeding. Tom cats will mate with female strays, and this can cause serious problems in the neighborhood. Remember, cats can have litters of up to four to six kittens. Over time they may overpopulate their locality. This increases the risk of cats fighting for dominance, spreading disease, and defecating in gardens.
It also harms the environment because more felines are hunting the local wildlife. Female domestic cats are also at increased risk of unwanted cat pregnancies. One of the best things that people can do is to spay stray cats. This drastically improves their quality of life and also ethically reduces the cat population. Neuter your cats too and keep them indoors.
4. People Find and “Rescue” Outdoor Cats
Many cat owners don’t realize that pet thieves may see their beloved feline as a potential goldmine. Unsurprisingly, rarer breeds are at a greater risk. Thieves usually want to steal them for breeding because they can sell each kitten at a high price. If they mistakenly snatch a neutered cat, they may wait until the owner posts a reward or simply try to sell it.
Keeping your cat indoors greatly reduces the chance of this happening. It may seem paranoid, but sadly, there are unscrupulous people out there. Indoor cats can get enough exercise and enjoy their lives so don’t feel bad about it. If you own an expensive Siamese or Maine Coon cat, don’t risk their safety!
5. Local Predators See Outdoor Cats as Food
Usually, we think of cats as predators. However, in some localities, they may also be prey. For example, in California and Arizona, coyotes will hunt domesticated cats. Other animals that attack pet cats include street dogs, foxes, cougars, and bobcats. It’s important to be aware of your environment, especially if you’ve moved to a new area.
City dwellers often don’t consider this when they move to the countryside. Remember, there are wild grizzly and black bears in Canada and Alaska. Snakes live in states like Texas and Florida. Other humans may also threaten cats with violence. Protect your pets by keeping your cats inside your home.
6. Outdoor Cats Risk Internal Parasites and Disease
Allowing pet cats to roam increases their chances of contracting parasites and infectious diseases. They may encounter stray cats who don’t have their vaccinations. Feline leukemia and immunodeficiency virus are serious threats to a cat’s health. Avoid these by keeping your pets safe indoors and have contact details for your local vet.
There’s also a greater possibility of them contracting a parasite like ticks, fleas, and mites. This can happen when they meet another cat or by walking through long grass. This can be very stressful for owners so take away the problem. Remember to keep on top of your cat’s tick medication regardless.
7. Your Cat Could Get Lost
Felines have a natural homing instinct that some owners take for granted. Tom cats may roam for miles, especially if they’re searching for females in heat. This increases the chance that they may confuse their way back home. They may have a stressful encounter that forces them to flee quickly. This causes disorientation and disrupts their instincts.
It’s very difficult to find missing cats so this isn’t something that any owner wants to deal with. Some tom cats will also naturally roam for long periods without returning. They may return after several years or even never. Remove the risks by neutering your pet and keeping it safely indoors. This may even make cats more affectionate! Spending all that quality time indoors can strengthen their relationship with their owners.
