What Risks Face Cats Who Go Outdoors
Just because your cat has always gone outside safely does not mean it always will return. Know the risks you accept when putting a cat out.
There is a large difference of opinion on whether cats should be indoor only pets, outdoor only pets, or have access to both environments. It has been generally agreed that indoor only cats live longer lives, estimates of the average lifespan of cats who go outdoors is placed around 2-years-of-age. A trip to a local human society or animal shelter will confirm this, as the majority of pets there are under two years of age. Also a good many die as kittens and are never accounted for.
People often argue that their cat is over ten years old, and has been going out all its life. They are the lucky ones, and there is no way of knowing what tomorrow will bring. Equally so, nobody is going to brag about the day their 3 month old kitten got run over.
Cats can go out, there are ways of keeping them safe, but an owner must be aware of the risks of letting cats run totally loose.
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The most common danger to cats who go out is being hit by a car. Most encounters with cars are deadly, the cat is killed instantly. Occasionally though it is injured and will suffer either until it dies by the side of the road, or is found by its owner. Just because a cat has never been hit by a car does not mean it never will be. While most drivers try to avoid hitting an animal a few will intentionally veer into an animal, trying to hit it. The risk of being hit by a car is one reason why people should try to contain their cats to their yard, or only let it out when they are home.
Laws
Many areas now have laws stating that cats must be kept on their owners property. Any cat found off the owners property may be picked up and impounded into the cities pound or where ever they keep lost pets. The owner will have to pay a fine to get the cat back.
Picked up and Abandoned
A cat who has become a pest in the neighborhood may find itself in big trouble with an angry neighbor. This neighbor might set a trap for the cat, even luring it with canned fish. Once caught the neighbor should take the cat to the animal shelter or pound, however it is not uncommon for people in these situations to dump the cat in another part of town or out into the country. Usually this act is considered illegal as abandonment, but proving who did it is nearly impossible unless witnesses come forward. Abandoned cats are seldom recovered, often they become pests in the area they were dumped.
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Published in: Pets
Comments: 21 | Post a CommentPost a Comment
ken bultman | Aug 10, 2009 | Reply
I allowed two of my favorite cats to become inny-outties for years. On friday the 13th, 2004, just before Hurricane Charlie destroyed my house, two pit bulls killed both my cats–shook them to death. I’m happy to report those dogs went to
hell before my house did (you won’t like that) but that’s how I handle stray dogs if they kill at my place first. The same fate happened to the wolf hybrids who killed my goats.
Theresa Johnson | Aug 10, 2009 | Reply
very informative article…. in a lot of ways though a dog faces a lot of these same risks… I had a dog that was killed by one of my exroommates dog.. their dog bit mine around the throat….
Ramalingam | Aug 10, 2009 | Reply
Very exhaustive article and you seem to be a specialist on pets, with special reference to cats.Thank you very much.
martie | Aug 10, 2009 | Reply
we have a stray cat around our place that we have vaccinated and neutered as well as tried to keep it in the yard to no avail. Though it is not technically our cat I still worry about it when it escapes and feel great relief when it returns.
WILLI | Aug 10, 2009 | Reply
MY DOGS HAVE A TENDENCY TO EAT CATS, SO WE HAVE NONE. THE NEIGHBORS LIVE SO FAR AWAY THAT NEITHER OF US HAVE ANY TROUBLE WITH ANIMAL INTERACTIONS… VERY NICE AND INFORMATIVE ARTICLE. THANKS FOR SHARING
Lostash | Aug 10, 2009 | Reply
I never knew that cats in the US may have to be restricted to ones own property? How odd! They would never enforce such a ruling here, cats are a law to themselves!
deep blue | Aug 10, 2009 | Reply
I really admire your inner love for animals, be it horse, dogs and cats. You defended them well in writing and the informative tips are just as helpful.
DriftingInsomnia | Aug 10, 2009 | Reply
hmm, very informative: nice informational tips/ advices coming from a real pro on animals.
Holly J. Harrington | Aug 10, 2009 | Reply
I understand after all of these years having dogs (have two) I now take care of two kittens but years ago we let two of our cats out and they were either poised or hit by a car.
This is so informative. Thank you for the information Im rusty with cats after all of these years. Excellent commentary.
Melody SJAL | Aug 10, 2009 | Reply
Love the way you presented these things…very interesting and insightful.
Ruby Hawk | Aug 10, 2009 | Reply
I’m sure cats are safer inside but they don’t look happy if they are not allowed to be outside. I like to see them stalking through the grass and slithering through the bushes. An inside cat might live longer but I don’t know if it’s happier. Something for cat owners to think about.
S.Rubeck | Aug 10, 2009 | Reply
Very informative article. And very well written. As a cat and dog owner myself, I have to admit that my dogs are indoor only, my cats on the other hand want nothing to do with that. They were supposed to be indoor only, but wow, those girls can dart out a door faster than you can blink. My one cat is now 15 years old and I am happy to say, she has never ran afoul of any dogs/animal control officers/ or otherwise mean people. They may have ran afoul of her though.
giftarist | Aug 10, 2009 | Reply
Great and informative article..I like your advocacy,
Thanks for sharing
boisson | Aug 10, 2009 | Reply
Very informative (: You rarely get articles like this in ‘official’ cat-ownership guides.
Brenda Nelson | Aug 10, 2009 | Reply
I know many people think cats are happier outside…
that is why I mention building a safe cat section..
in animal shelters a cat might live in a cage 2ft x 2ft. I am sure a cat would be happier to have a whole house than a cage..
then again I would be happier if I could go where ever I want, but I know I cannot..
Daisy Peasblossom | Aug 11, 2009 | Reply
Good points all. I have an outside run for my animals–roofed over with poultry netting so the cats cannot climb out. We have recently acquired a porch cat; I’ve not let her in for a lot of reasons–diseases, possibility that she may belong to someone, etc. I think she has been abandoned, but I am not sure.
nobert soloria bermosa | Aug 11, 2009 | Reply
cats are happier outside but it’s so sad to see everyday scores of cats killed in the highways
PR Mace | Aug 12, 2009 | Reply
I don’t have cats but I don’t think they should be allowed to roam free. I don’t allow my dogs to do that.
ecrivan wordwizard | Aug 13, 2009 | Reply
I don’t think that many people deserve pets at all! The idea of impounding stray cats is a good means to keep people from letting them out into traffic.
mystery61 | Aug 19, 2009 | Reply
Excellent article! I have three cats and they are indoor cats. They have never been outside.
Jaclyn | Apr 26, 2012 | Reply
Thanks so much for your article. I found it so approachable and informative. Our family adopted it\’s first cat about a year ago, intending to have him be an indoor only pet. Then, he started to dart out when we would leave, etc., etc. and he\’s been indoor/outdoor for about six months. Even though he\’s inside far more than he is out, and mostly stays in our yard, he\’s been missing for going on four days. We\’ve searched the neighborhood and called the shelters and local vets. We thought he would be safe because we have very little traffic and live in a part of the country with no cyotes. We\’re so distraught. Even though he loved his time outside, I don\’t think we\’ll let our next kitty-friend outdoors alone.