Many people don't even think about the consequences of the decision to let their cat outdoors. Even though cats seem very self-reliant, there are potential dangers that await them just outside your door. There are other animals (dogs, raccoons, other cats), poisons (lawn chemicals, antifreeze), parasites (fleas, ticks, worms), diseases (feline leukemia, FIP, FIV), and cars (being hit in the street or from crawling under the hood for warmth) that all pose a danger to your pet.

Not to mention the vet bills you will have to pay for any of the above encounters. The average life span of an outdoor cat is usually only a couple of years, while an indoor cat can live well into their late teens.

IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT

  • Everyday, cats kill between 4 and 5 million birds in the US alone.
  • Collar bells don't work. Birds and other wildlife do not associate bells with being stalked.
  • Ground-nesting birds are very susceptible to predation by cats.
  • >Despite being well fed, cats will hunt small wild animals. Most young birds leave the nest before they are able to fly well, spending a day or two on the ground as they learn.
    These fledglings are frequently caught by cats.
  • Most of the birds caught by cats, but not killed outright, die of their injuries or infection.
  • Cats that kill small rodents can eliminate a critical food source for owls and hawks.

IMPACT ON CATS

  • Cars kill millions of cats each year.
  • Outdoor cats are exposed to serious, and often fatal, infectious diseases such as feline leukemia and rabies.
  • Parasites such as fleas, ticks and intestinal worms pose a health threat to your cat.
    Some of these can be transmitted to humans.
  • Outdoors, cats can be chased by dogs or other cats, and killed, injured or lost.
  • Cats are often shot at, poisoned, trapped or tortured by individuals who are annoyed by cats using their gardens as a litter box or hunting grounds.
  • Coyotes, great-horned owls and other wild animals are known to regularly kill and eat house cats.
  • Cats that spend time outdoors require more medical treatment and their life span is much shorter than cats who live indoors.
    • WHEN OUTDOORS...

    For information on the cats indoors program press here

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