Do you ever find your cat staring out the window longingly at the great outdoors? You might be tempted to let them out for just a little while, but it’s never a great idea. Keeping your cat indoors is for their own good.
When you keep your cat indoors, it is the best way that you can offer the protection and safety that they need.
If you have been on the fence about letting them out, here are just a few of the reasons why it’s better for you to keep your cat indoors.
And, if you absolutely can’t keep your cat indoors (for various reasons), then you may consider building a catio or even think about a cattery while you’re away.
Should You Keep Your Cat Indoors?
1. Fewer Diseases
When your cat is out roaming the neighborhood, you have less control over what they come in contact with. Even a brief period of contact with another cat can lead to the transmission of serious diseases. These can include:
These diseases can be extremely difficult to treat, but they could be avoided altogether by keeping your cat indoors. When you keep your cat indoors, it is better for your kitty’s health and saves you a lot of money on veterinary bills as well.
2. Fewer Parasites
Similar to picking up diseases, your cat can easily pick up parasites and worms while they are in the great outdoors. Particularly if you aren’t current with their flea and tick prevention, they might bring home unwanted house guests.
This can require professional extermination and a great deal of time and money to get rid of this new infestation.
They can also contract a nasty bout of intestinal worms. Worms can come from drinking unclean water, eating infected foods, or even catching rodents. Be prepared for symptoms like an upset stomach and diarrhea if your cat picks up any intestinal worms while they are out traveling.
3. Safe from Car Accidents
An outdoor cat is going to be at risk of being hit by a car. They don’t know how to look both ways before crossing the street. In many cases, cats run out into the road in such a hurry that they don’t even consider oncoming traffic. As a result, cats are hit by cars at an alarming rate.
A car collision with a cat is almost always going to be extremely serious. You can avoid the injury and potential death of your cat in a car accident by keeping them safely tucked away indoors.
4. Safe from Wildlife and Stray Animals
Your cat isn’t the only animal that is out roaming the streets and the woods around your neighborhood.
When a cat encounters wildlife or other stray animals, they could easily be viewed as prey. They may be attacked by large birds, stray dogs, or other large animals that surround your home.
A declawed cat is in even more danger in these situations when left outside unattended.
5. No Cat Fights
All cats are territorial creatures who don’t like challenges to their space. Your cat may unknowingly wander into another feline’s territory at great risk to their own safety. Another cat could be prepared to fight to defend their territory, leading to harm to your cat. These wounds could become infected or could spread a disease to your beloved cat.
Cat fights are one of the largest reasons why your cat should remain indoors and away from these territorial battles. Un-neutered neighborhood cats and feral cats will often attack wandering kitties if they pass through their territory.
Please spay/neuter your cats to prevent unwanted pregnancies and to keep our felines safe.
6. No Lost Cats
As long as your cat is inside, you always know exactly where they are. They might be hiding in your pots and pans drawer or roaming around the room on their cat shelves. However, you lose the security of knowing your cat’s whereabouts when you let them outdoors.
Lost cats are relatively common when you don’t keep your cat indoors, and your pet may end up in the local animal shelter awaiting your return.
7. Safe from Other People
Not everyone loves cats as much as you do! Some people place antifreeze around their home to keep stray cats at bay. Others might use pesticides and lawn fertilizers that are harmful to felines who encounter it.
When your cat is outdoors, it can easily become a victim of animal abuse of any kind. You can keep your cat safe from these people by keeping them indoors with you.
8. Keeps Wildlife Safe
Have you considered how the environment might actually be impacted by your cat? Cats are natural predators and are always on the hunt for something new. They might want to chase mice, small rodents, and even birds.
You can help to keep more wildlife safe by keeping your cat indoors and giving them regular meals.
9. Control Their Diet
When your cat ventures outdoors, you no longer have control over what they eat and how much they eat. This can be problematic for cats with sensitive stomachs or those who need to lose a few pounds. Not only does it put them at risk for intestinal worms and parasites, it could also lead to major digestive tract upsets and weight gain.
You can avoid these sensitive stomach issues when you keep your cat indoors.
Imagine what types of food your cat might get into while they are roaming the neighborhood. They might be given scraps of people food, bowls of milk, or they could find their own rodent snacks.
You might have to deal with constipation, diarrhea, or the upset stomach of a cat who ate more than what they should have.
They could even be poisoned if they eat the wrong foods.
10. Longer Lifespan
The most important benefit of keeping your cat indoors is giving them a longer lifespan. When they aren’t at risk of all of these other issues, your cat has a better chance of living the life they were made to live. You can save money on the veterinary bills and ensure that your cat leads a healthy, happy life.
Final Thoughts: 10 Reasons to Keep Your Cat Indoors
The risk of allowing your cat outside is just too great compared to the benefits of keeping them inside. They could contract any number of illnesses, experience terrible injury, or lose their way home altogether. Keeping your cat indoors is your best means of protecting your cat and helping them to live longer!