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Keeping Cats
Indoors
Isn't Just For The Birds! |
Each year, millions of cats are run over by
cars, mauled by dogs, poisoned and lost. Hundreds of millions of
birds and small mammals are killed annually by free-roaming cats.
The suffering of both cats and birds is all the more tragic because
it is so unnecessary. |
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Today’s
cat owners face an important decision: “Should I keep my cat
indoors?” For your cat’s sake, and that of the birds and other
wildlife in your neighborhood, the answer to that question must be
“yes!”
Keeping Cats Indoors
is for the Cats...
The average life expectancy of an outdoor cat
is just two to five years, while an indoor cat may survive for 17 or
more years. Cats who roam are constantly in danger...
Cars - Millions of cats are run over by cars
each year. Seeking warmth, outdoor cats crawl into car engines and
are killed or maimed when the car is restarted. Motorists risk
accidents in attempting to avoid hitting free-roaming cats.
Animal
Attacks - Torn ears, scratched eyes, abscesses, internal injuries,
diseases, and sometimes death result from encounters with dogs,
other cats, and wild animals like raccoons, coyotes and foxes.
Human Cruelty - Each year, animal shelters and
veterinarians treat cats who have been shot, stabbed, or set on
fire. Unsupervised cats may also be captured and sold to research
laboratories or used as “bait” to train fighting dogs.
Overpopulation - Unaltered free-roaming cats
are the single most important cause of cat overpopulation. As a
result, millions of cats for whom there are no homes must be
euthanized each year.
Disease - Cats allowed outdoors risk exposure
to fatal diseases, including rabies, feline leukemia, distemper, and
feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Vaccines are not 100 percent
effective; there is no vaccine at this time for FIV |
