A domestic cat outside?

The type of dangers a cat may encounter whilst outside you home may be:

Predators:
Woodsy, green areas are attractive to bobcats, mountain lions, coyotes, and other predators indigenous to an area. Owls or raptors such as hawks may find a smaller cat a tasty morsel.
Large Dogs:
Unfortunately, dog owners in an area such as you describe, will often let their dogs run loose, and free-ranging dogs often form packs, against which a cornered cat does not stand a chance.
Other Cats: Your cat could accidentally stray into the territory "owned" by another cat, and find himself involved in a life-and-death battle.
Even if he emerged victorious, if the other cat is feral or stray, he could pass on serious diseases to your cat through bite wounds, such as FIV or FeLV . (FeLV can also be passed on through casual contact.)

Yet, as much as you love your cat, there is never any justification to keep a healthy cat locked up inside a house. Just be aware of the dangers and try and encourage you cat to stay within your garden- however, most cats are mischiviou little rascels and cannot be controlled in this manner.!


Technorati Tags:
outside cats, domestic cats