Keeping
Your Cat Indoors
by
Leda Beth Gray
Why
is it important to keep cats indoors? First, it is good for wildlife.
Many of us are becoming aware of the huge toll taken on wildlife
populations by domestic and feral cats. Studies done over the last
50 years have demonstrated the particularly heavy impact cats have
had on bird populations throughout the world. Estimates for the
numbers of birds killed by cats in the U.S. per year range into
the hundreds of millions.
Half
the cat-caught birds brought into Wildlife Rescue in Palo Alto in
1994 were fledglings, emphasizing the particular vulnerability of
birds during the nesting season. Combined with habitat loss, predation
by cats could be a burden that many bird populations won't be able
to withstand.
Not only are the prey species affected by cat predation, but also
other predator species such as hawks, owls, and coyotes that depend
on the prey species for their natural food supply. The population
densities of cats, especially in rural areas, can be many times
higher than occurs in predator species in nature, making it difficult
for native predators to compete.
The
good news is that keeping cats indoors is also good for the health
and life expectancy of the cats, and less expensive for the cat
owners. The Humane Society of the United States was quoted in 1992
estimating the average life expectancy of free roaming pets to be
between 3 and 5 years, while indoor cats can commonly reach ages
of 17 years or more. A number of local community groups, including
Santa Clara Valley Audubon, Santa Clara Valley Humane Society and
Wildlife Rescue are currently trying to educate the public on the
benefits of keeping domestic cats indoors. Following are some important
benefits of keeping cats indoors:
.....Indoor cats do not get hit by cars. According
to the Santa Clara Valley Humane Society, 57% of all the animals
found dead on the streets of San Jose in 1996 were cats.
.....Keeping
cats inside keeps them out of fights. Indoor cats don't get
injured in fights with other neighborhood cats or wildlife. Our
big, white, fluffy male, Sta-Puft ended up at the vet's office with
abscessed wounds twice after fights with who-knows-what. Believe
me, it wasn't cheap. This contributed to our decision to make Sta-Puft
an indoor cat.
.....Exposure
to diseases and parasites are minimized or eliminated. Diseases
such as feline leukemia, rabies, upper respiratory disease and feline
immunodeficiency virus can be serious and life-threatening. Common
parasites picked up outdoors by cats include fleas, ticks and worms.
.....Lower
veterinary bills. Besides not having to seek emergency attention
for cats who have been in fights, keeping cats indoors saves money
on treating diseases and parasites which are contracted from other
cats and wildlife. We were pleased to find out from our vet that
in addition, our cats need fewer yearly shots now that they are
indoor cats.
.....Easier
and less expensive to keep fleas under control. Newly available
medicines, which help keep fleas under control, have to be administered
on a continual basis if the cat goes outside. It may be possible
to subdue fleas if the cat stays inside. At present our cats do
not seem to have any fleas, and we are not using any form of flea
control. The ordeal of a flea bath is essentially a thing of the
past.
.....Indoor
cats are safe from neighbors who do not welcome feline visitors
to their yards. In most places it is legal for property owners to
trap domestic animals that wander on to their properties. Wandering
cats may end up at the pound, or worse, suffer injury from angry
neighbors trying to drive them off.
.....Indoor
cats are safe from predation by wild animals. In rural areas
especially, cats can become prey themselves to predators such as
coyotes and Great Horned Owls.
It is clear that there are many reasons to keep cats indoors above
and beyond those relating to wildlife, producing a "win-win"
situation. Obviously it is easiest to raise a cat indoors from the
time it is a kitten, but it is also possible to convert an outdoor
cat to an indoor cat. For tips on how to do this, see adjoining
story.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
