Of course, there are no doubt those who would argue the case of the outdoor cat. Some feel that indoor cats don't get the exercise they need and end up lazy and fat. In the end, only you can decide whether the cats in your life should be kept indoors or let outside. If, however, you do decide to let your cat be an outdoor cat, be sure to consider the following:
- Outdoor cats should be neutered and spayed. Un-neutered tomcats fight frequently, and are at great risk from infected wounds. Neutered male cat tend not to stray as far and are less inclined to fight. And, of course, unspayed female cats are at risk of unwanted pregnancies.
- Make sure that your cat gets vaccinated against all infectious diseases. This will lessen the risk of bites and other wounds that outdoor cats are prone to get. Also, outside cats will go hunting and should be wormed regularly.
- Make sure that your cat has an identification tag with your name and phone number so that, should your cat be injured or lost, anyone finding her can let you know. Also, outside cats should be fitted with a collar that has a safety catch or an elasticized collar so that, if your cat gets caught, she'll be able to escape.
Owners of outdoor kitties can have a tiny microchip injected under the cat's skin. This microchip carries a unique identification number. Most cat rescue centers automatically scan for this microchip and match it to the address on file.
Read more about the indoor cat versus the outdoor cat.
Previous page about the indoor cat versus the outdoor cat.
|
