Pause for Paws

Do you know what your cat is doing?
Do you know what is happening to your cat?

My Opinion...

Contrary to popular belief, cats were not meant to be outdoors.  If for no other reason, they have a chemical in their brain that manufacture's a "drowsy" effect.  This chemical is what causes cats to sleep as much as they do.  Can you imagine being outside, without a safe place to be, after taking a couple of sleeping pills?  That's exactly what happens to a cat.

Now think about the sick people who think it's funny to torture, even kill, helpless animals...especially cats.  For whatever reason, cats tend to be a target for these sicko's.

Throw in a few wild animals, like raccoons, that prey on kitties.  Still not convinced?

Cars are a death trap for cats that go outside.  In the winter, cats like to curl up in the engine of cars that are still warm.  This is very dangerous.  When the car owner comes out & starts the car up again, they usually don't check for kitties in their engine first.

Cars also pose a serious threat to cats trying to cross the road to go home.  People who go out of their way to miss animals sometimes accidentally hit one.

There are many toxins outdoors.  Everything from anti-freeze to ice melt to plants can be deadly to your outdoor cat.  There's no way of knowing what your cat will or won't eat.  Plus, when a cat gets something on its paw, it naturally cleans it off.  Such a natural act can bring death to your cat!

What about the wildlife cats destroy?

Cats do their own damage when outside.  They kill birds, squirrels & other wildlife.  This poses a threat for the cat, too.  Many people care deeply about birds, squirrels, etc.  They will kill a cat if they catch it killing another critter.

Some people believe by placing a bell on their cats collar, it will prevent the cat from killing wildlife.  This may be true.  But, it also allows animals that prey on cats to find them easier.  And, it makes it impossible for cats to catch prey like mice.

Cats also destroy people's gardens & flower beds.  A lot of people can get really upset about a destroyed piece of their land.

A Safe Alternative...

I agree that cats need their share of fresh air.  An outdoor enclosure is a wonderful compromise.  The cats & the wildlife are protected.

Outdoor enclosures don't have to be fancy.  They can be something as simple as enclosing your deck with fencing & a roof, adding a few perches to your deck.  Or, they can be quite elaborate.  That's up to you.  Be creative & have fun!

Toys!!

Ahhh...the fun stuff!

Toys are important for indoor cats.  But, you don't have to spend lots of money on them.  The best toys are actually the free toys.  Milk jug rings, soda bottle rings, rolled up paper or aluminum foil, empty boxes, empty paper bags & rolled up cigarette wrappers all make great cat toys.

If you want to buy a toy, some of my furr-babies favorites are:

Laser light (ours is from an office laser pointer), furry mice, glitter balls, sponge balls & cat tunnels.

One thing to keep in mind:  Strings, ribbons, etc. can be fatal to your kitty.  If you want to use these things to play with kitty, make sure you put them where she can't get to them when you're not playing with her.  They should be used during supervised, interactive playtimes only!!