INDOOR/OUTDOOR
I used to allow my cats to roam, but I no longer think it is best for them. There are too many dangers in the world today for it to be safe. Here are some things that can happen to your cat if you let him/her outside:
He/she might become a victim of animal abuse. There are many people in the world who get their kicks torturing animals. One way to help prevent this abuse is to not provide a victim.
Your cat could be hit by a car. I've lost several cats this way. It sure took me long enough to learn that a busy street is no place for a cat. Please don't make the same mistake that I did. Losing a pet is devastating. It's even more difficult to deal with having contributed to your pet's death.
Allowing your cat to roam exposes him/her to communicable diseases such as FeLV (Feline Leukaemia Virus), FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis), FIE (Feline Infectious Enteritis), and Rabies. There are no cures for any of them and they are fatal. Vaccinations help, but keeping you cats away from animals that might have or be carrying any of these diseases is extra insurance. I know it makes me feel better.
Outdoor cats don't have the lifespan of indoor cats either. For example, an unaltered male lives an average of 2 years. Considering the fact that cats can live into their teens and beyond, that's not a very attractive statistic.
Please protect your pet by being responsible and not letting him/her roam.
If you must allow kitty to experience the outdoors, there are good cat enclosures available for this purpose. You also have the option to modify your back yard to keep your cats in and other animals out.
If you still don't believe me, give the following site a visit. You might find it enlightening. It is graphic, so please be forewarned.
Here's a moving poem by a dear friend of mine. I think this sums it up very well. Please read it. She has a way with words and really conveys the emotion of dealing with someone else's carelessness. We Buried Your Cat Today
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