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|
All of the Reasons to Keep Your Cat Indoors
"Do
you
know
where
your
cat
is?"
You
do
if
your
cat
is
kept
indoors
all
the
time!
So
you
think
it
is
OK
for
your
cat
to
go
outside?
Your
neighbor
may
not
agree.
Here's
why:
 |
Outdoor
cats
use
neighborhood
sandboxes,
flower
beds
and
gardens
as
litterboxes.
Feces
are
the
route
most
zoonotice
(animal
to
human)
diseases
are
spread. |
|
Outdoor
cats
urinate
on
porches,
steps,
and
houses
leaving
a
distinct
and
offensive
odor. |
|
Outdoor
cats
are
excellent
hunters.
They
ruin
bird-watching
in
areas
where
bird
feeders
and
birdbaths
are
set
out. |
|
Outdoor
cats
tear
up
garbage. |
|
Outdoor
cats
rip
holes
in
screened
windows
and
doors. |
|
Un-neutered
outdoor
cats
add
to
the
ever-growing
cat
over-population
problem. |
|
Outdoor
cats
pose
a
hazard
to
motorists
who
try
to
avoid
hitting
them
on
roads. |
|
Outdoor
cats
cause
the
same
problems
as
dogs
that,
are
allowed
to
roam
free.
Would
you
want,
your
neighbor's
dog
wandering
around
unleashed? |
What
can
you
do
to
make
your
indoor
cat
happy?
Experts
suggest
providing
indoor
cats
with
outdoor
amenities:
|
Plants
that
are
safe
to
chew
on,
such
as
grass,
catnip,
and
herbs |
|
Interesting
toys
that
keep
your
cat
occupied
and
provide
exercise |
|
Screened
windows
that
allow
your
cat
a
breath
of
fresh
air
while
keeping
him
safely
indoors |
|
Scratching
posts
and
climbing
trees
allow
them
to
scratch
and
climb
without
damaging
furniture
and
curtains |
|
Another
cat
could
provide
your
cat
with
company
and
entertainment
when
left
alone |
These
things
can
help
keep
your
favorite
feline
satisfied
and
may
also
extend
its
lifespan.
Remember,
cats
spend
18-19
hours
per
day
sleeping,
something
they
would
have
no
problem
getting
done
in
a
small
house
or
apartment.
You
maybe
asking
yourself,
"Should
I
allow
my
cat
indoors?"
Many
people
have
romantic
ideas
about
the
lives
outdoor
cats
lead:
|
"Outdoor
cats
get
to
live
by
their
wits." |
|
"May
cat
is
very
independent
by
nature." |
|
"That’s
what
nature
intended
for
them.
Cats
should
be
wild
and
free,
not
cooped
up
in
a
house
all
day
long." |
These
statements
are
true
for
lions
and
tigers,
were
evolution
has
placed
them
at
the
top
of
the
food
chain;
however,
the
same
cannot
be
said
of
the
domestic
cat.
Domestic
cats
has
co-evolved
with
humans
and
they
depend
on
us
for
care
and
protection.
Consider
the
following
hazards
to
outdoor
cats:
|
Outdoor
cats
often
get
hit
and
killed
by
cars.
Death
by
motor
vehicle
accounts
for
roughly
65%
of
all
outdoor
cat
deaths. |
|
Outdoor
cats
are
exposed
to
serious
diseases
such
as: |
|
|
Rabies:
a
fatal
disease
which
is
transmittable
to
humans. |
|
|
Feline
Leukemia
Virus:
has
a
vaccine
but
may
not
me
100%;
this
disease
is
always
fatal. |
|
|
Feline
Immunodeficiency
Virus
(FIV):
no
vaccine;
this
disease
is
always
fatal. |
|
|
Feline
Infectious
Peritonitis
(FIP):
has
a
vaccine
but
is
not
proven
to
be
effective;
this
disease
is
always
fatal. |
|
|
Toxoplasmosis:
transmittable
to
humans,
especially
dangerous
for
pregnant
women. |
|
Outdoor
cats
can
be
poisoned,
either
accidentally,
or
intentionally
by
malicious
people. |
|
Outdoor
cats
get
injured
by
fighting
with
other
cats,
dogs
of
wildlife.
They
require
more
medical
care
than
indoor
cats
for
bite
wounds,
abscesses,
and
torn
ears. |
|
Outdoor
cats
can
get
seriously
injured
or
killed
in
the
fan
belt
of
cars
as
they
try
to
find
warmth
in
cold
weather. |
|
Outdoor
cats
are
at
the
mercy
of
the
people
they
meet.
They
can
be
caught
and
used
in
laboratory
experiments
or
as
bait
to
train
dogs
for
fighting. |
|
Outdoor
cats
are
simply
not
as
protected
as
indoor
cats.
The
only
way
to
keep
your
cat
safe
from
outdoor
dangers
is
to
keep
It
indoors. |
|