Coyotes, a real pet threat Options

[terio]

I live across from a canyon that has many coyotes..it's their home and they aren't going to be relocated. Even the street smart cats aren't safe.. some of my neighbors have outdoor cats that have lasted a long time..but all to often I see the "missing cat" signs at the gate to my neighborhood. I also volunteered at the animal shelter and every Sunday we'd have a flood of cat owners looking for their missing cats... I have 2 indooor 3 year old cats...they are happy because they were raised as kittens to be indoors... I'm not saying this to make anyone feel bad... just to know that in coyote areas there is no way to insure they won't get your cat. Of course there are hazards indoors too.. medicines ect... but it is an alternative to be considered. As far as the turkey bones ect... also no one should leave pet food sitting outside for their animals as this can also attract them. Thanyou for sharing about the risk with us kit's dad...

[kimberlyheide]

My 2 very first cats I had were indoor outdoor cats. My male cat was named Red and the female was named Doo Doo. lol Red was a very territorial cat, and his dispostition was very undesirable when he was young. He finally grew into a really neat cat. From his inside/outside experiences he was shot with a pellet gun and in the end he died of FIP when he was 12. I had other cats but they were indoor only cats. I had learned from experience you just could not keep a cat as long being an outdoor cat as well. Doo Doo was his side kick. She was my other cat that went outside. After Red got FIP and died she was kept inside and never let out again. Sure there was a battle with her. And oh she tried to get out every chance that she could. She finally gave up. I had her till she was almost 21. When Red got FIP and I saw him dying of FIP there was no way that I was going to let my other cats get a disease like that. The odds of your cats living a long life without disease or accident is low when you let them outside. They can be taught to stay inside. Usually it is better to teach them when they are young. I have only one cat who likes to bolt for the door and that is Mort, she likes to graze the grass outside, and she gets put back in the house. However mort has been taught to go outside now with a harness, leash and mom or dad. All my other cats do not like the great outdoors because they do not have experience out in the big world. It is not cruel to keep your cat inside. Ask your vet and he/she will tell you the samething. Besides coyotes, disease is a big threat. You don't want your outside cats to bring home FIV, Feline lukemia, or FIP to your other cats. That would be a heart wrenching experience as you lose 1 at a time to one of those diseases. Trust me it is awful to see them die like that.