Titusville firefighters gingerly extricated a cat named Suba Mae from the engine compartment of a Mercedes-Benz on Sept. 27, 2019 Titusville Fire Department
Cats are predators, which means theyre naturally adventurous. But did you know your cats outdoor adventures can be harmful to the ecosystem and could even shorten her life? While we all want our pets to live their best lives, there are a lot of reasons to keep your cat indoors.
Cats are prolific hunters. While thats sometimes a good thing they do a great job as rodent exterminatorsa cats hunting habits can disrupt natural ecosystems by depleting native wildlife populations.
According to the American Bird Conservancy, Predation by domestic cats is the number-one direct, human-caused threat to birds in the United States and Canada. Cats kill a staggering 2.4 billion birds every year, and even a well-fed pet cat will hunt.
Birds arent the only species suffering from over-hunting by domestic cats. In the Florida panhandle, the Perdido Key mouse has been classified as endangered, largely due to human development and predation by cats.
Keeping your cat indoors goes a long way toward protecting the native wildlife around your home.
More: Florida's least wanted: 10 invasive animal species that are wrecking native ecosystems
Because cats hunt and eat rodents and other animals, they risk ingesting toxic substances. Poisons used to control rat and mouse populations can be passed on to a cat if she catches and eats an animal that has been in contact with rodenticides. This can lead to a costly vet bill or worse.
Cats can also be poisoned just by coming into contact with toxic substances. International Cat Care warns that a cat that has simply walked through a garden that was recently treated with weed killer could be at risk of poisoning if the chemical is on her fur when she grooms herself.
More: County commissioners seek changes in rules affecting pet store sales of dogs, cats
Its very important to have your cat vaccinated, even if she lives indoors. Vaccination protects cats from the deadliest communicable diseases like feline immunodeficiency virus, feline leukemia and rabies, but other contagious ailments arent so easily controlled.
Much like the common cold in humans, upper respiratory infections spread easily between cats. According to the ASPCA, cats can develop secondary bacterial infections, like eye or ear infections or pneumonia, after contracting a viral upper respiratory infection.
Outdoor cats risk picking up parasites, too. Roundworm, hookworm and tapeworm larvae are lurking in practically every outdoor setting. A cat can be exposed by being around soil where an infected animal has defecated, or by munching on prey thats carrying live worms or larvae. A parasitic infection can cause a variety of health issues, including weight loss, diarrhea and vomiting. And yes, these worms can live in human bodies, too.
Other parasites like fleas and ticks, or fungal infections like ringworm are frequent problems for outdoor cats and their owners. Prevent an itchy, ugly or potentially dangerous situation in your home by keeping Kitty in the house.
More: Stray cats boosting rabies risk in Brevard. 16 rabid cats reported statewide in 2018
4. Stop the violence!
Cats are territorial hunters, and while they can sometimes make friends with other cats, they prefer to be the only hunters on their turf. And theyre all too happy to fight for it.
Catfights can lead to a whole host of problems for the contenders. Bites can spread disease and cause bacterial infections, leading to painful abscesses under the skin. Claws can mangle eyes and ears, resulting in permanent disability or disfigurement. Whats worse, cats in the heat of battle often lose situational awareness and can dart into traffic.
Indoor cats make happy neighbors, too. No one wants to wake up in the middle of the night to the screeching, hissing and growling of a kitty confrontation outside the bedroom window.
Cats are adept predators, but they can also become prey. Roaming dogs, coyotes and even large birds of prey have been known to attack and kill domestic cats.
Coyotes are slowly migrating into Florida, where they have been attacking pet dogs and cats in some communities. In 2017, as coyotes started appearing around Satellite Beach, pet owners were warned to keep their cats indoors. One coyote went so far as to snatch a beloved pet cat from his owners screened porch.
More: Coyotes spotted in Indian Harbour Beach, police say. If you see one, don't feed it
Coyotes tend to be shy and elusive, but are known to attack pets when on the hunt for food. Discourage coyotes with these tips. Ginny Beagan, TCPALM
Even a clever cat can run into trouble outside. Cats are known to climb trees and sunbathe on roofs, but with their fondness for heights comes the risk of a bad fall. While cats do have an innate ability to rotate midair and usually land on their feet, this doesnt prevent all injuries.
Even more dangerous than a fall is the risk of being hit by a car. A UK study concluded young male cats are most prone to injury or death from road traffic accidents. Being hit by a car is often fatal for cats.
The easiest way to prevent every pet owners worst nightmare is to keep your cat safely inside and off the streets.
Not everyone loves cats. Some people think outdoor cats are nuisance animals and will harm them. Other people see a small, unsupervised animal as an easy target for cruelty and violence.
A Florida law that took effect in 2018 increased penalties for animal cruelty, but its not enough to assume everyone will follow the law. You cant predict what kinds of people your cat might encounter while roaming the neighborhood, but you can control who enters your home.
A cats drive to hunt means she will likely roam all over the neighborhood. Sometimes, the cat doesnt come back. This might be because some well-meaning human a few streets over thought your cat was a stray and brought her inside. Or your cat might find her way into the back of a delivery truck, stuck in someones garage or simply lose her bearings.
Whatever the reason, data published by Lost Pet Research and Recovery showed only 1.5 to 4.5 percent of cats that end up in shelters are returned to their owners. While indoor-only cats are more likely to get lost if they get out, the majority of missing cats are those that have access to the outdoors.
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Happy National Cat Day! Here are seven reasons to keep your cat indoors - Florida Today
