Please Keep Your Cats Inside!, danger to outdoor cats Options

[Ken Albin]

This may be somewhat graphic and I apologize for that, but I feel that I need to share this with those who have cats outside.

I teach high school Anatomy. Most of my students plan on pursuing a medical career. Part of our curriculum involves an extensive dissection of cats that have been euthanized at various shelters. These cats would wind up in landfills otherwise so at least they are providing a learning platform for future doctors and vets. I would imagine that many of these cats were rounded up from neighborhoods by animal control when people complained. These appear to be your typical cats who people feed outdoors.

This term we found that two of the cats had been shot. One had a pellet lodged in his hind leg. Another cat had a .22 bullet in her back. Both wounds had healed over, though there were signs of systemic infection. That was probably the reason why they were euthanized instead of being treated and then adopted.

If you have outdoor cats please consider bringing them in. There are a lot of cruel people in this world who do not hesitate to inflict pain upon any animal who comes into their yard. I have heard the argument that cats belong outdoors and are only happy there. I can only tell you that we have 9 indoor cats who are extremely happy. Most of ours are semi-feral and were trapped before being domesticated. Yes, it did take a lot of effort, scratches, and time for us to tame several of these guys but I am convinced that with patience and effort almost any cat can be acclimated to a happy life indoors.
Many people simply do not want to put forth the effort to do this. Even our Freddie, who to this day goes wild when we take him for a vet visit, is very happy inside. He sleeps next to me most nights and plays with the others. He will always be very shy and you have to pet him when he allows it but he has acclimated very well to home life.

My intention in writing this post is not to cause any dissention or hard feelings. Based upon what I have seen I know the hardships that cats can experience when they interact with some people outdoors. One of our cats, Daddy Cat, had a .22 bullet removed from his side by our vet when we took him to be initially checked out. Please consider taking the time to work with outdoor cats and bringing them inside. They will live happier and much safer lives.

[gillian]

LoveThem,

I'll just repeat what I said in my post:

"If you think it's best for your kitty to keep it indoors then that's your choice."

I wasn't telling anyone what to do, just giving my own opinion, which regardless of what happened to your cat (and I'm sorry to hear that it did) stands. Such a story will not scare me into locking my cats indoors now or ever. Nothing will. Because I still think it would be most cruel for me to just bring them indoors for the rest of their lives after their having being used to experiencing a life of freedom and independence. They would be so unhappy, especially Darcey as she is practically feral and will only come to myself and my fiancé.

With my animals, I try to imagine what I would like in their situation, and if I would hate to live indoors, so would they. You see what I mean? So I do what I feel is best, just as you do what you feel is best. We don't lock our children up because of dangers, so why our cats? Even some farmers refuse to lock their chickens up (regardless of the threat of foxes and the financial losses that would cause) because they think it is cruel ... and I believe that it is. Which is why I only buy 'free range' eggs!

Everyone I have known in my lifetime who has cats keeps them outdoors (that's about 20-30 cats) and none of them have had so much as a scratch. Any which have passed away did to natural causes.

I'm confident Sasha and Darcey will live long and healthy lives. I would be shocked if anything bad happened to them, but if it did, I wouldn't feel guilty, and my cats would continue to live outdoors. I'm as comfortable with my choice as you are with yours.

But as I said, everyone must do what they think is best for their kitty. I think it's better for them to live outdoors. You obviously don't, so lets agree to disagree.