Why is it better for my cat not to be outdoors?

Hi cat lovers! This week we are writing about a controversial subject: cats and outdoors.

We know it is a bit controversial, but we will explain why the shelter strongly recommends that your cat stay indoors instead of being outdoors. Lets go!

Accidents

Outdoor cats can suffer a car run-over, get hurt in fights with other cats, be attacked by dogs or even get poisoned.

Although your cat is a superhuman cat and very independent, the truth is that he is exposed to several risks outdoor. How may times have you seen posters claiming for a lost cat?

Your cat can get lost or freak out and hide. Even can eat toxic plants (many garden- used plants are toxic, and so with many indoor plants). Also, can get involved in fights with other cats or get attacked by a dog… even by some humans (we will never understand it, but happens). Also, bite wounds tend to get infected and also can be the entrance path for several illnesses.

As well as you won’t let your little kid go outdoors without supervision, don’t let your cat outdoors without supervision.

Illnesses transmisison

Outdoor cats can get several illnesses such as rabies, feline immunodeficiency, feline leukaemia, feline infectious peritonitis...

There are many illnesses in cats that are transmitted by faeces or bite. Some of them have a specific vaccine but not every. Also, there is not a 100% efficacy vaccine against any illness, even they are a great prevention tool that help keeping our cats healthy for many years.

For avoid our cats getting these illnesses (some of these can be very serious) it is important to vaccinate and prevent our cats from having contact with non- vaccinated cats, that is also a reason why our cat better not go outdoors.

Parasitic infections

Your cat can come back home with fleas, ticks, mites and many other parasites like lung worms, Dirofilaria immitis (hearth worms), digestive worms and taenias. Many of them can be passed to humans.

Not to say about illnesses transmitted by fleas and ticks, which is enough for one or two blog posts (maybe we will write that in a future). Also, many tick- transmitted and flea- transmitted illnesses can also affect humans. You can find below a n image with the main cat parasites (there are much more) and what parts/organs of our cats do affect.

Image from Boehringer ingelhiem

And so, de-parasiting our cats doesn’t only protect our cat’s health, but ours. But for avoiding parasites, the best option is to prevent our cats from going outdoors also eating other animals that could carry the parasites.

Unwanted litters

According to PETA, unwanted litters are the first cause of cat abandon. To avoid your cat escaping, neuter. In last week tips, we wrote about the advantages oof neutering, check last week tips to read more about it.

In order to prevent your cat from escaping, neuter. In previous post we wrote about the importance to sterilize. To summarize, if your female cat escape and she is not neutered, it is highly likely she comes back pregnant. If your male cat is not neutered, he probably will become the father of half the cats in your area.

Damage to wildlife populations

Cats are excellent hunters.... a little too much. They can cause several problems to populations of other animals like birds, reptiles, amphibians and micromammals. We love cats, but we also love all the other animals and want them to be in our cities and countries.

Do you imagine going to a park and not listening to birds? We don’t. All animals have right to live, those we like the best also those we like the less.

Cats need to go outdoors?

NO! False. Cats need a stimulating environment. You can make your home one with cat toys, scratching posts, interactive feeders... some can be a DIY.

This is known as environmental enrichment. There is a huge variety of options, also prices for all the budgets. From the DIY with the carton of the toilet paper to the highest sophistication level, there are many options both to make and home or buy. If you are interested in the subject, let us know and we will write a post about it.

Outdoor cats are happier than indoor ones?

False. Cats need love, time with their humans and a cat- comfortable home.

As in the previous one, it’s a myth. Our cats need time with their humans and attention. Even it it’s a common thought that cats need less attention than cats and that “if you don’t have time for a dog, try a cat”, truth is that cats really need interaction with their humans and lots of cuddles. Also they need a stimulating environment for not getting bored as long as they are very intelligent and curious animals. This can be achieved by “catifying” our house with scratching posts, toys, interactive feeders, multilevel shelfs…

In conclusion, cats need love and stimuli so their lives are not reduced to eat, sleep and eat again or an old toy they’re bored of.

In conclussion

For your own health, for your cat's health, and for the ecosystem’s health, keep your cat indoor.

We’re not going to get repetitive, but if your cat is so lucky to have a loving home (which many don’t), prevent him/her from going outside: he/she will live longer and stay healthier; also will be safer for his/her humans. And birds, reptiles, mammals and other animals in the surrounding will live less stressed.