Your cat: indoors or outdoors?

When it comes to cats, many of us follow an automatic reaction: if we live near a busy street or if our cat is declawed, she stays indoors. Otherwise, we let her go outside to play. However, there are many factors to consider in order to make an informed decision. 

Cats who spend a lot of time outside on their own are more susceptible to diseases, parasites, poisons, exposure to extreme weather, being accidentally trapped, encounters with skunks, fights with cats and other animals, human abuse, being lost or stolen and, last but not least, injury or death by passing vehicles. Think about this: an outdoor cat's average life expectancy is less than five years, while an indoor cat can easily live up to 15 or 18 years!

True, your cat probably enjoys being out and roaming around freely, but you must carefully weight the risks. Here are different options:

If you decide to let your cat go outside, please make sure she wears a collar with an ID tag and, if possible, an identification microchip.  This way, if she gets lost, she's less likely to spend time at the pound and, worse, be put down after a few days. Please make sure that your neighbors also like your cat - she most likely doesn't stay in your yard and may enjoy a visit in your neighbors' flower garden, which they may not appreciate.

If you decide to keep your cat indoors, make sure she'll be comfortable and busy - this will make the transition much easier if she was used to being outside. With a little planning, some patience and a lot of TLC, cats can get accustomed to staying at home. The change can be brought gradually - ideally starting at the end of fall since your cat will probably spend more time indoors anyway. First, bring her food and litter inside, and provide her with a scratching post, a warm, cozy bed, a few toys to satisfy her predatory instincts, and rooms where the furniture will allow her to climb and play. Keep her in for longer and longer periods of time. Also, make sure all members of your family play with your cat and especially that they learn how to close a door quickly! Spending at least 20 minutes twice a day playing and petting your cat should keep her purring. For practical ideas about having fun with your cat, you can visit this web site: http://www.petvideo.com/index.cgi?category=28. 

Consider training your cat to be walked with a leash and harness, which will provide her and yourself with exercise. You can also carry her around on your chest, in a personal carrier. 

To enjoy the best of both worlds, build a fenced-in area in your yard. That way, your cat will be able to enjoy the great outdoors safely. The enclosure should have enough space for your cat to move, climb and rest in a shady area. It should also be strong and high enough that she won't be able to escape and that other animals won't be able to get inside. Consider covering it with a resistant material like nylon mesh or chicken wire. Practical references on purchasing or building a cat enclosure can be found at http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/cat_care/fence_me_in.html. 

For more information about your cat's welfare, contact us at the SPCA LL at (819) 326-4059.