One of the big questions new cat owners ask is, “Should I let my cat outside?” You love your pet and you want them to be happy, but before you open the door and let your cat head out into the wilds, you should learn more about the potential downfalls to having an outdoor cat. Let’s look at the cons of each to give you a better idea of what you should do for your pet.
Downsides of Outdoor Cats
When you have an outdoor cat, you never really know what’s happening with your feline friend. While you might like to imagine that they are out there having a great day playing with friends and taking naps in a sunny field, the world is a very dangerous place. Whether it is humans, vehicles, animals, or any other number of dangers, there is a chance that your cat could become injured or worse.
Most people who have had outdoor cats have had the frightening experience of having their pet disappear for a couple of days. Sometimes when they return, they have injuries, which will require treatment by a vet. You never know what your cat might eat or run into when they are out on their own.
Even when the cats are having a good time out there, the same might not be true of other wildlife in the area. Cats are fantastic hunters, and they will often kill birds, frogs, snakes, bats, and other small creatures. They are also prideful animals, and will often bring their kills back to your doorstep so you can find them and see what a great job they did. For those who are truly unfortunate, they might bring their trophies right back into the house!
Another problem with outdoor cats is reproduction and the fact that there are just so many cats out there in the world already. When they meet in the wild and are not spayed or neutered, they reproduce. If the mother cat is always outdoors or a stray, this means her kittens will be born outside, and may end up becoming strays themselves. If your female cat comes home and is pregnant, it means you need to figure out what you are going to do with all those kittens.
Downsides of Indoor Cats
One of the problems that some people have found with their indoor cats is laziness. The cats are very content, and that leads to a lifestyle of eating and sleeping, with the main exercise for the cat being trying to find new places to sleep. This can lead to the animal becoming overweight and unhealthy.
This is really the only con of having an indoor cat, and thankfully, it is something you can fix quite easily. You just need to make sure the cat gets some extra exercise. Be sure to buy some toys you can use with the cat to help them get additional exercise. It will also ensure they do not become bored and destructive in the house.
What’s the Best Option?
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AMVA), it’s a good idea to keep your cats indoors. The answer to the question of outdoor vs. indoor cats should be quite clear. The cons of an indoor cat are very few and they can be mitigated with some exercise. If you want to have a happy and safe cat, you will keep him or her inside of the home.
Downsides of outdoor cats:
- They’re exposed to a lot of diseases
- They kill things, often slowly and painfully, and may give you dead things
- They are pretty much guaranteed to bring in fleas
- If they aren’t speyed/neutered, you’ve just guaranteed that there will be more stray cats
- You are pretty much guaranteed to have to take them to the vet several times for various injuries
- Things are going to try to kill them, including nature and potentially other humans
- They’re going to die younger, and potentially of something violent or drawn-out and painful
- 1 word: roads
Downsides of indoor cats:
- Maybe they’re bored
- They might claw things
- They might get fat
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