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When I was a child, my cats spent most of their lives outside. That’s
where they belonged, I was told. As a young adult
I still believed that cats were happier when allowed
the freedom to come and go as they wished. Frosty
would go out the second floor window, down a tree
to hunt. She died of feline leukemia at about two
years old. Rainbow was attacked by another cat and
almost died. Finally, I followed my vet’s advice
and kept her inside. It took a few weeks before she
stopped trying to get out, but it was worth the effort
– I had my affectionate companion for sixteen
years.
The Humane Society of the United States estimates
that the average lifespan of a free-roaming cat is
about three years. Traffic, diseases, poisons (such
as lawn care chemicals), other animals, and even cruel
people – these increase the likelihood of premature,
painful death. Indoor-only cats can live from 12-18
years. And the bonus, as I found out with Rainbow,
can be a closer relationship with your pet.
The other side of the coin, so to speak, is how your
free-roaming friend impacts the neighborhood. Gardens
and sandboxes become outdoor litter boxes that endanger
your pregnant neighbor or her children. Indoor cats
and dogs become enraged when your cat saunters through
THEIR territory. The yard that has been carefully
planned to attract birds also attracts your cat. And
cats kill millions of birds and other small animals
annually. The most common injury seen in wildlife
clinics, especially during the breeding season, is
caused by cat attacks.
Keeping your cat indoors is a win-win-win situation.
Your cat wins a longer, healthier life; you win the
gratitude of your neighbors for respecting their rights;
and our wildlife wins a safer environment in which
to live and raise their young.
For more information on” A Safe Cat Is A Happy
Cat”, go to
www.HSUS.org/pets and
Use their search engine to find “Safe Cat-Happy
Cat.
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