Indoor Vs. Outdoor Cats Articles | Cats

By: Matthew Hick

While most experts agree that it’s better to keep all cats indoors at all times, many cat owners insist that their cats aren’t happy unless they are allowed to roam free in the great outdoors. While a cat may enjoy lying on a sunny patio, or chasing after small mice and moles, the risks of allowing your cat free reign outside are great: vehicles, unfriendly dogs, predators such as coyotes and even small raccoons, other cats defending their territory, angry neighbors, diseases such as feline leukemia or immunodeficiency viruses, parasites like fleas and ticks, poisons, harsh weather and even getting lost.

The average life expectancy of free roaming pets is 3 to 5 years, while indoor cats commonly live as long as 17 years -- or even more! Whether or not you take your cat t the vet on a regular basis or not, the simple fact remains: if you keep it indoors it will be healthier, livelonger and cost you less in the long run.

Still, many pet owners believe it’s ok to let their cat out from time to time. Maybe they think they’re safe because they have a fence (cats are great climbers); that their cat never leaves the yard (are you sure?); that their cat loves being outside (who wouldn’t, but does that make it safe); or that their household litter box smells badly (change it more often), but nothing changes the fact that outdoor cats are at higher risk for injury and disease than their indoor counterparts.

Still contemplating allowing your cat outside? Consider these alternatives:

Sunning.
If your cat enjoys lying in the sun on your porch or patio, consider letting her soak up the rays in one of your windowsills instead. Open the shades and curtains and let the sun in instead of your cat out.

Exercise/Playtime.
It is true that cats love to romp and play with other cats, but allowing them to hang out with strays can make them more prone to contracting certain viruses such as feline leukemia (which can be fatale), parasites and even fleas.

Physiological Needs.
If you cat yowls and acts like he “needs” to go outside, he may be feeling a natural need to mate. Sterilized cats no longer have this physical need to breed, and won’t be so anxious to go outside to find mate.

Boredom.
Consider this fact: most cats sleep as many as 17 hours every day. This leaves them about 7 hours or so to entertain themselves, or be entertained by you and your family. Make sure you have a good supply of toys on hand for your cat to entertain himself with and take a few minutes every day for some playful interaction and he won’t feel the need to roam outdoors.