Why You Should Never Let Your Cat Outside
Cats have been domesticated for thousands of years, and their popularity as pets only seems to be increasing. People love cats for their independent nature, their cute faces, and their ability to provide companionship without demanding too much attention.
But one of the most important things to consider before getting a cat is whether or not you’re willing to keep it indoors. While there are benefits to letting your cat roam free outdoors, there are also many dangers that you need to be aware of, which we’ll discuss below.
12 reasons why you shouldn’t let your cat go outside
1. They can get lost
One of the biggest dangers of letting your cat outside is that it can easily get lost. Cats are curious creatures, and they may not be able to resist exploring their surroundings if given the opportunity.
They often find themselves in unfamiliar territory, and may not be able to find their way back home. They can also get stuck in hard-to-reach places – like on top of buildings or in trees – and may need your help to get down.
2. They can be hit by cars
Another serious danger of letting your cat outdoors is that it could be hit by a car. Cars are a constant threat to cats, especially if they’re allowed to roam in busy areas like roads and highways.
Even the most careful drivers may not see a small cat crossing the road, and the resulting impact can be fatal.
3. They can get injured
Cats can also get injured in other ways outside. From falling off high buildings to getting hit by stones thrown by horrible children, there are countless ways for an innocent cat to get hurt.
4. Other animals may attack them
And of course, there’s the danger of other animals attacking your cat. Birds of prey, dogs, and even other cats can pose a threat to an unsuspecting feline.
Cats get into squabbles with other cats all the time, especially when territory is involved. These fights can often escalate into something much more serious, leading to bloody wounds and even death.
If you live in an area with a lot of wild foxes, you also need to be careful, as they don’t tend to get along well with cats.
5. They can contract diseases or parasites
Another danger of letting your cat outdoors is that it can contract diseases or parasites from other animals. These include everything from common illnesses like colds and flu, to more serious diseases like feline AIDS.
Cats can also pick up fleas, ticks, and other parasites from the outdoors, which will not only make them uncomfortable but will make your life a living nightmare, too! Fleas are notoriously difficult to get rid of, and ticks can carry dangerous diseases like Lyme disease.
6. They can eat poisonous plants
Cats are also at risk of eating poisonous plants when they’re outdoors. While most cats will avoid these plants, some may be curious enough to take a nibble, with potentially deadly consequences.
Common plants that are dangerous for cats to eat include lilies, azaleas, and rhododendrons.
7. They can become feral
If you allow your cat to roam outside, there’s a risk that it could become feral. This means that it will start to behave like a wild animal, and may no longer be suitable to live as a house pet.
8. They can get stolen
Unfortunately, there’s also the risk that your cat could get stolen if it’s allowed to roam outside. Cats are valuable creatures, and there are people out there who will take them if given the opportunity.
This is especially true of pedigreed cats, which can be sold for a lot of money. But even regular domestic cats can be stolen, sold to laboratories, used as bait for dog fighting, or even end up in a pot at your local fast food restaurant.
9. They can bother your neighbors
Let’s face it, cats do what they like, when they like, your feelings be damned! And although you might find this adorable, not everyone does. Some people just don’t like cats and consider them a nuisance.
An outdoor cat can quickly become an annoyance to your neighbors if it’s allowed to roam around their property, getting into their garbage cans, destroying their flowers, and using their gardens as a toilet. If your cat gets talkative at night, it can also keep your neighbors awake with its caterwauling.
10. They can destroy your yard/garden
It’s not just your neighbors’ backyards you need to worry about, either. If you let your cat outdoors, it will likely use your own yard or garden as its personal toilet, too.
This can be extremely unpleasant, and it’s also a health hazard, as cat feces contain harmful parasites. It can also damage your plants, and if your cat likes to dig, it can quickly ruin all your hard work.
11. Smaller animals won’t be safe
Although it can be argued that it’s in a cat’s nature to hunt and prey on smaller animals, it still doesn’t make it nice. If you allow your cat outdoors, there’s a good chance that it will kill birds, mice, and other small creatures. And worse still, it might just decide to bring them home and leave them on your doorstep as a “gift”!
12. Too domesticated to survive outdoors
The streets are cruel and dangerous for a domesticated animal. If your cat has been indoors its whole life and you decide to let it go outside, it’s likely that it won’t have the skills or instincts to survive.
Cats that have been raised indoors often don’t know how to defend themselves against outside predators, so your cat will become an easy target.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many good reasons why you shouldn’t let your cat outside. It’s far safer and healthier for them to stay indoors, where they can live a long and happy life.
That said, it’s also not healthy to keep any living, breathing thing cooped up indoors all the time. So if you do have an indoor cat, you might consider getting a cat leash and taking it for walks around your neighborhood. This cat harness from Amazon will do the trick:
