Cats who have access to the outdoors face increased health risks as opposed to their indoor counterparts. On average, the life expectancy of an outdoor cat is 11 years, versus 17 years for that of an indoor cat. Outdoor risks include traumas (accidents with cars, bite wounds from other cats or wildlife), infections (viral, bacterial, parasitic), poisonings or going missing. These risks can be minimized by:
- only allowing cats outdoors during daylight hours, as most cat fights occur at night
- allowing them only access to a fenced yard or supervision while outdoors
- encourage your cat to come when called by offering a food treat
- make sure your cat is spayed or neutered to decrease the likelihood of wandering, mating and fighting with other cats
- maintain regular vaccinations – These are of the utmost importance as they help to provide protection against viral upper respiratory infections which are extremely contagious in cats. They also protect against such fatal diseases as distemper, leukemia and rabies
- regular examination of fecal samples for parasite eggs, and regular deworming of cats who hunt, can prevent internal parasitic infections
- external parasites such as fleas can be prevented by seasonal treatment with effective and easy to apply products
- never keep poisons of any kind on your property where outdoor cats may be exposed to them – mouse/rat poison, slug bait, herbicides, pesticides, car antifreeze. Some of these compounds actually have an attractive taste to cats, and just a small amount may lead to organ failure or death
- permanently identify your cat with a microchip (especially outdoor cats). Collars and tags may also be worn by outdoor cats to provide an additional identification source
Some advantages of outdoor activity for cats include decreased incidence of obesity, and decreased behavioral problems as they experience less perceived stress from confinement, or the stress of multi-cat households. In general, however, for most cats, we recommend keeping your pets indoors whenever possible as they are much more likely to have a longer and healthier life.
