Why Pet Parents Should Consider Never Letting Cats Outside Again
I've owned cats my entire life. I've always had them spayed or neutered, and I keep them inside... mostly. If you're a cat owner, you know it's near impossible to keep your cat from rushing to the door the second it opens, and I'd be lying if I didn't admit to my own cats sneaking out for a few minutes when I was carrying in groceries.
I also admit to taking them out with me on the patio so they could roll around in the sunshine under my supervision. But for the most part, my cats are indoor cats, and if you want to keep your cat healthy and give it the longest life possible, you should keep your cat indoors too.
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Indoor cats generally live longer than outdoor cats due to reduced risks of accidents, injuries, and exposure to diseases. How much longer? The average lifespan of an indoor cat ranges from 10 to 20 years, whereas cats who go outdoors typically live only 2 to 5 years. If you love your cat and you want to spend a lot of time with it, keep it inside where it's safe.
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Your cat won't get hit by a car if it's an indoor cat. You know why? Cars don't drive in your house. Your cat also won't seek warmth in cold temperatures by crawling into a car engine.
Indoor cats are less likely to pick up creepy crawlies such as fleas, ticks, and intestinal worms, which are commonly found outdoors. No one wants to deal with a flea infestation.
Related: Concrete-Loving Indoor Cat Gets His Own Slab To Roll Around on Inside
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Your cat is way less likely to be picked up by animal control or a good samaritan who thinks they are a stray and brings them into your local shelter if they are an indoor cat. And speaking of your cat being picked up by a stranger, if your cat is inside there won't be any sort of awful person who could pick up your cat and hurt them. It's horrible to think of, but people have been known to hurt or even kill stray cats.
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Your indoor cat can't fight with any feral stray cats, or fall prey to larger predators like coyotes, raccoons, foxes or even dogs. Outdoor cats can get bitten or scratched or even injured and killed by other animals.
On the other side of the coin, outdoor cats kill roughly 1.4-4 billion birds in the United States each year. Indoor cats just watch them from the window and make that weird chirping noise.
Your cat can still go outside, with close supervision. Get your cat a leash and harness, an outdoor playpen, a catio, or a specialty cat stroller for walks around your neighborhood.
We all love our cats and we all want to keep them safe and give them the best life possible. The easiest way to do that is by keeping them indoors. Where they belong.
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