Sunday, November 20, 2011

Why Keep Your Cat Indoors?

HART has an indoor only policy with their cats, and sometimes people ask why. Below are 5 reasons why cats should be kept indoors:

1. Humans. People can have a huge impact on an animal's life. A good samaritan may think your cat is a stray or lost, and take the cat home or to a shelter. Cats crossing roads can be hit by cars, and cars swerving to avoid a cat can lead to fatal car accidents. There are also (unfortunately) many people out there who are cruel to animals and could get their hands on your cat for any number of reasons, including to use as bait for training fighting dogs.

2. Animals. Living in Maine especially, there are a lot of animals out there that could potentially kill your cat, including other cats. If you live in a city, don't think you're exempt from these animals being around. Ever see a moose in Portland? I have. Fishers, coyotes, foxes, lynxes, bobcats, birds of prey, and dogs are just some of the animals that would think your cat is a tasty meal.

3. Disease. Even with vaccinations, cats can pick up a variety of diseases including rabies, feline leukemia, FIV, and cytauxzoonosis. They can pick up fleas and ticks and bring them into your home. If they get into a fight they could receive injuries resulting in the need for costly medical care.

4. Domestication. There is a reason why your cat is a "domestic ____ hair." Your cat, despite its wild cat instincts, has been bred to live with and be cared for by people. A cat that has been indoors all its life and is suddenly left outdoors has a poor chance of survival unless found by a good samaritan. Letting a cat outside when it is young to "get used" to being outdoors is not any better - young cats have not fully developed their skills and are even better prey for other animals and diseases. If you have let your cat outside before you have probably noticed that the birds and small mammals it kills get brought to you - not eaten. A domestic cat has the wild cat instinct to go after and kill the small animals, but its domestic instinct is to bring its kill to you for a reward. This is not survival behavior, and can seriously impact the food chain in your area.

5. Life expectancy. An indoor cat can live 12 - 18 years (many times even longer than that!), but an outdoor cat typically only lives 4 - 5 years. Wouldn't you rather have 18 wonderful years with your pet?