It's better to keep a cat in a cage or outside

Thursday 30 June 2022

Cats are one of the pets that are often cared for by many people because of their cute and adorable behavior.

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Good and proper care, such as paying attention to nutrition and other needs, makes cats more in good health compared to outdoor cats.

However, leaving cats outdoors can increase their risk of being injured and contracting infectious diseases such as feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).

Outdoor cats can also be injured in fights with other animals, hit by cars, or killed when they accidentally drink poison.

Keeping an indoor cat versus an outdoor cat

The consensus among veterinarians and organizations such as the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is to keep cats in cages, both indoors and outdoors.

An outdoor cage or leash walk for cats that they are comfortable with can keep them stimulated and safe while protecting people, wildlife and the environment. In addition, indoor cats tend to live longer than outdoor cats, usually reaching 10 to 15 years of age. Cats that spend their lives exclusively outdoors live an average of only 2 to 5 years.

Outdoor cat health

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If you decide to keep your cat outdoors, it is important to take precautions to ensure that your cat is safe. If possible, try to include them at night. Most problems, such as being hit by a car or wild animal, it seems that most of the problems occur at night.

One option is to build an outdoor cat house to keep your cat safe and protected day and night. Every cat, both indoors and outdoors, should see a veterinarian at least twice a year for checkups and vaccines for diseases such as rabies and feline distemper, as well as heartworm medication.

You can buy a collar with a tag (but make sure it has a safety clasp that will come off if your cat gets caught in something). Finally, make sure your pet is spayed or neutered.

Indoor cat health

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While staying indoors is generally considered healthier, indoor cats also require special care. Indoor cat food, which often involves a sedentary lifestyle, can lead to obesity and may predispose a cat to diabetes.

That's why it's important to keep indoor cats active by providing them with scratching posts, perches, and toys to keep them running and climbing.

If your cat is planning to leave the house, attach her to a leash. Cats may initially resist being put on a leash, but once they get used to it, it will be easier to control them outside of the house while out for walks.

Those who really want to pamper their pets can use a cat cage in their home, to give their cat the feeling of being outdoors without the danger of being exposed from the outside.

Ultimately, the decision whether to keep the cat indoors or outdoors is up to you. If you want your cat to live outdoors, make sure your pet is safe by following all scheduled vaccinations, parasite prevention, and bringing your outdoor cat indoors at night.

Whenever you adopt a new cat, try to keep it indoors. It's much easier to switch from an indoor cat to an outdoor one than from an outdoor cat to an indoor one. Once cats feel their first taste of freedom, it's hard to convince them to come back inside.

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