Outside Cat Tips

If you want to polarize a group of cat lovers, start the indoor -- outdoor cat debate. Most animal protection groups, animal rights organizations and humane societies recommend you keep your cat indoors. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, commonly known as the ASPCA, the average indoor cat has a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years, while many outdoor cats only survive for an average of two years.

  1. Environment

    • Car accidents are a common cause of injury or death for an outdoor cat.

      A bucolic rural area, or small town, seems like the perfect setting to let your cat roam free, but there are dangers. Your cat can become prey for predator animals such as coyotes. A city cat is at even more risk. If you live near a busy road or highway, reconsider letting your cat outside. The odds are great that your pet will be hit by a car. Install a pet door and your cat can come in to eat and get out of the cold. Outdoor cat enclosures allow your cat to enjoy the outdoors while being safely contained.

    Microchipping and Identification

    • Technology allows you to keep track of a wayward cat.

      We have all seen missing cat posters around our neighborhoods. Cats disappear. They may be lost or dead, and you will never know what happened. Provide your cat with a collar and attach an identification tag with your home telephone number. Protect the neighborhood birds by attaching a bell. A veterinarian can microchip your cat. A microchip is a rice-size transmitter that is implanted under the skin. The microchip contains information to help identify your cat. Animal shelters and veterinarians use scanners to read the registration numbers, which provides contact information for the microchip company. There is a charge for inserting the chip and registering with the company. If you move, remember to update the registry. Cats can also be tattooed with an identification number.

    Spay and Neuter

    • Be a responsible pet owner and spay or neuter your cat.

      Animal shelters across the country are filled with unwanted cats. Many are euthanized, because irresponsible cat owners did not have their cats spayed or neutered. If a cat has kittens outside, they will become feral, and unlikely to bond with humans.There are many low-cost spay and neuter clinics located throughout the United States.

    Disease

    • Vaccinations prevent your cat from contracting a serious or fatal illness.

      Ensure your outdoor cat is up to date on all vaccinations. Feline panleukopenia (also called feline distemper), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) -- commonly referred to as feline AIDS) and Feline Leukemia Virus are life-threatening illnesses. Rabies is also fatal to humans and other animals. If your cat contracts one of these diseases and survives, it may have lasting effects. Kittens born to mother cats with distemper often suffer from birth defects or brain damage. The cost of treating these diseases is unaffordable for many people and the result is euthanasia. Check your cat regularly for scratches or wounds that may get infected, or flea infestations.