14 Reasons to Keep Cats Indoors

1. INDOOR CATS DON’T GET HIT BY CARS

As smart as your cat is, when she’s hyper focused on prey, or simply running to get somewhere, they may become the victim of a vehicle mishap.

2. PROTECT HER FROM WHAT SHE CATCHES

Rodents, cockroaches, birds can all have diseases. I’ve dealt with bird mites after my outdoor cat caught a bird (30 years ago). It was 2 trips to the vet and expensive treatments.
Cats can also choke on animal parts.

3. PROTECT WILDLIFE

Cats can kill lizards, bugs, birds, squirrels and more. People say, “well, that’s the cycle of life.” But if you are a true animal lover, you should know that cats sometimes only play with their prey until they stop moving. That means some animals could be left alive to suffer and slowly die. That’s just too awful.

4. ANTIFREEZE IS DEADLY.

Antifreeze tastes sweet. Both cats and dogs love it. I took a neighborhood cat to the vet who was bloated, lethargic and had stopped eating. Before that she was a vibrant, friendly playful young cat. The vet said it was most likely antifreeze, as her organs were swollen and she could no longer process food or eliminate. She was put to sleep that day. People can carelessly leave antifreeze out, or it can leak from a car and they don’t even know.

5. FERAL CATS ARE TERRITORIAL

Cats are territorial. When I was young, I tried to stop my cat from fighting and got bit very hard, and needed medical attention. My cat needed a trip and overnight stay at the vet as well.

6. CATS ARE ALSO PREY

Dog packs, owls, raptors coyotes, mountain lions, snakes, ticks, fleas, hunters, etc.

7. BOTHERING NEIGHBORS

Not everyone is a cat person. Your outdoor cat may venture into a yard where they are unwelcomed, and could be mistreated or have the animal control come get her.

8. UNKEPT CATS

Stray and neighborhood cats likely are not vaccinated, and even your fully vaccinated cat could be exposed to FeLV, FIP, Panleukopenia, FIV, and Zoonotic Diseases.

9. HUMAN ABUSE

Cat haters (gangs, kids, psychos) can target cats for unspeakable things. There are dog fighters who find cats and use them as bait for the dogs. Black cats have been stolen for rituals. If you have a black outdoor cat, at least keep him inside during the weeks before Halloween.
Also, “Bunchers”. Bunchers are sickos who find stray cats and sell to labs for experiments. SMH.

10. FINDERS, KEEPERS

Someone may find your cat as precious as you do, and keep him.

11. WEATHER

Cats, despite their fur coat, can and do freeze to death in the winter. They can also become fatally dehydrated in climates over 100°.

12. CURIOSITY

Cats can get themselves stuck in dangerous spots. They can climb into car engines, getting their tail stuck in a belt, etc. They can climb on tree branches that break. They can wander into chemicals that they will lick to clean off.

13. POOP PATROL

Monitor your cats’ eliminations. If cat’s don’t poop daily, there could be an obstruction, maybe from swallowing string or another cause. That issue could require emergency surgery or otherwise result in death. Observing cat poop daily could save his life.

14. MEDICATIONS

Cats that need medication at specific times can be more easily found indoors. A cat that knows it’s getting meds may hide or stray for days.

15. PLANTS

Ever have a cat get tangled in cactus? Then she comes in and rubs on furniture, your pants, lays in the laundry, etc. That’s a super fun day of using tweezers, tape, needle nose pliers, to get the fine stickers out, not to mention the scratching, etc. This is a nightmare for her, you and everyone in your house.