Should
Domestic Cats Be Allowed To Roam Free Outside?
By Nancy Crowley,
DVM
The weather has been good and the flowers
are all out. I spot ldgie, my cat in the purple and white phlox. She's
been out for a while enjoying the early days of summer. Hannah's inside
hanging out on the futon. Hannah's quite content just sitting on the futon
or maybe chasing some sunshine around the house.
The decision to have an indoor or in
indoor/outdoor cat is not always a simple one. Personally, I have four
cats. Two go out, two stay in. I have based the decision on several
different factors. These are the same factors that I talk to clients about
when they are trying to make the decision themselves.
The most important is the location in which
you live. There are some places that I have lived that I would never let
my cats go outside. The area should have low traffic, no significant stray
population and partial shelter such as trees, bushes and other low ground
cover. Usually, the home needs to have access to the outdoors as well, so
living on the third floor of a large apartment complex usually doesn't
work out.
Next important factor is the cat itself. I
do not recommend that any cat go out until it is at least six months old
and has been spayed or neutered. Young kittens have too many other things
to learn before they go out. Some cats are very content with staying
inside and enjoy window watching. Other cats are darting out the door at
every opportunity they see. Some cats that are taken in as strays from the
outdoors are quite content to stay in and rest. Others like the action of
the outside world.
I don't think that there is a hard and fast
rule that makes an outdoor cat always an outdoor cat and an indoor cat
always an indoor cat. If you have a cat that seems perfectly content
staying in, I encourage you to keep it in. If however, you have a cat that
wants to go out, then I recommend that you accompany it outside for a
while initially. When out gardening, let the cat hang out with you. The
cat can learn the boundaries of the yard a bit. Try to always keep your
cat in at night as that is when a lot of outside dangers are highest.
Some clients may choose to let the cat
outside on a leash or harness. This can work out very well for both cat
and owner. It takes a little bit of adjustment for most cats to get used
to the harness. Try to have them wear it inside the house initially, then
take them out with it. Some cats are very content walking about with a
lead. If a cat goes out alone, try to have an identification collar on it
at all times. Some cats are part devil and have a way of getting the
collar off by the time they get to the next block but there are very
inexpensive collars available so one can have a little supply available.
The collars should always be fitted with a safety stretch release so that
if in trouble, the cat could detach the collar, especially if the cat is a
tree climber.
Last but not least is the personality of
the cat itself. Some cats get very bored being indoor cats and can be
destructive in the home or even aggressive to other cats and/or people.
These cats may benefit from going outdoors as it can keep them busy, they
can play with little bugs, etc. Some cats have more "street
smarts" than others and seem to really know the dangers that can
exist outside. I am not sure who actually teaches them these things or if
it is just common cat knowledge to some of them. There are some incredible
stories of cats that travel miles to get back to a previous home if
they've moved. My cats sit in the yard, acting as if they own it. How do
they know not to do that in the neighbor's yard?
As mentioned before, there are definite
dangers that a cat may face outdoors. Make sure that your cat is properly
vaccinated against rabies. Try to train your cat to come when it's called.
One way to do this is to not feed your cat before it goes out. Come
dinnertime, call it's name and that usually is a good training method. Try
to set some limits as to when they go out; i.e., weekends. I know that
Marley and Idgie may face danger someday outdoors without me close by, but
when I see them sunning themselves on the grass, or watching "bug
TV" by the outside porch lights at dusk, I don't have to ask them if
they're happy and willing to take that risk.
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