THE AMERICAN CAT PROJECT OREGON CHAPTER
Indoor Cat? - Outdoor Cat?
What Outdoor Cats Get to Look Forward to:
Injury or
death by vehicles
Poisoned intentionally or accidentally
Injury or death by fighting with other cats
Infectious diseases contracted from other cats: FIP,FIV,FeLV,URIs
Parasites: fleas, ticks, ringworm
Injury or death by sadists
Injury or death by dogs or predators
Killing of wildlife by outdoor cats
Getting lost, picked up by A/C
Theft for sale as laboratory animals or "bait" for illicit gaming
Problems with neighbors: cats littering their yards
Free-roaming outdoor cats typically live less than five years, while indoor cats often live to be 17 or older. Indoor cats can be happy and are definitely healthier. Outdoor cats are exposed to
many hazards, including cars, poisoning, animal
attacks (coyotes eat cats), human abuse,
traps, contagious diseases of which many are
fatal
(feline leukemia, feline distemper, infectious peritonitis,
Immunodeficiency Virus, upper respiratory infections, rabies, plague,
cat scratch disease, toxoplasmosis), and parasites. Vet bills associated
with tapeworm, ringworm, roundworm, or hookworm and flea infestations,
and abscesses can be substantial. Outdoor cats may also transport ticks
into the home, increasing the likelihood that family members will
contract tick-borne illnesses like Lyme Disease.
It sounds like a no-brainer to us.
Immunodeficiency Virus, upper respiratory infections, rabies, plague,
cat scratch disease, toxoplasmosis), and parasites. Vet bills associated
with tapeworm, ringworm, roundworm, or hookworm and flea infestations,
and abscesses can be substantial. Outdoor cats may also transport ticks
into the home, increasing the likelihood that family members will
contract tick-borne illnesses like Lyme Disease. It sounds like a no-brainer to us.
