Reasons to Keep Cats Indoors

By Franny Syufy, About.com Guide

Many cat lovers are now savvy that indoor cats are safer cats, while others still think that cats deserve freedom to run in the great outdoors. When humans domesticated cats, we took on the responsibility for their health and welfare. Part of that responsibility is to keep cats safe and in good health. For those holdouts for letting cats roam free, consider these top reasons to keep cats indoors.

1. To Monitor Your Cat's Urinary Tract/Bowel Health

Several years ago, we almost lost our Bubba, who was an indoor-outdoor cat at the time. Why? Because we had no litter boxes in the house, and therefore, could not monitor his painful attempts to urinate. Today, that would be a red flag warning of a potential UTI or urinary tract blockage. By the same token, observing a cat's painful attempts to poop, or finding blood and/or mucous in the feces in the fact is a red flag for constipation, bowel blockage, or mega-colon.

2. An Indoor Cat Is Relatively Safe from Many Diseases

Cats allowed free access to the outdoors invariably come into contact with other cats. Even casual contact can transmit parasites and more serious diseases:

• FeLV (Feline Leukemia).  FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus) and FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) are both in the retrovirus category, the same type of virus responsible for HIV and some forms of human leukemia. Although somewhat similar, neither FeLV nor FIV are considered to be Zoonotic diseases, i.e. humans cannot contract HIV or Leukemia from cats with FIV or FeLV, (nor can cats contract the feline forms of the latter diseases from a human with HIV or Leukemia). However,, since FeLV+ and FIV+ cats can carry several other contagious diseases, it is recommended that certain people avoid contact with those cats. According to the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine,

  At greatest risk of infection are elderly or immunosuppressed people (e.g., those with AIDS, or receiving immunosuppressive medications such as chemotherapy), infants, and unborn children. It is recommended that pregnant women, people with suppressed immune systems, the very young, and the very old avoid contact with FeLV-infected cats.

  According to another Website, "The feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is the causative agent of the most important fatal infectious disease complex of American domestic cats today."
• FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis).  Acronym for feline infectious peritonitis, an extremely serious, highly contagious, often difficult to diagnose disease associated with the feline coronavirus. Lethal FIP may present in the "wet" form or "dry" form. Cats who have survived the initial infection may go on to become FIP carriers. Researchers do not yet agree on why exposure to the coronavirus will infect one cat with FIP while another in the same household remains free from infection.
• Panleukopenia(Feline Distemper).  Feline Panleuk, as it is often called, is an extremely contagious virus of the parvovirus group, with a high mortality rate, which often targets kittens. Areas with large populations of unvaccinated cats, such as feral colonies or homes of "cat collectors," are particularly susceptible to panleuk outbreaks. The feline panleuk virus (FVP) is extremely hardy and may survive for months, and even years. It is easily transmitted through contact, either cat-to-cat, or by human-to-cat :
  • Shared food and water bowls, litter pans, bedding
  • Mutual grooming
  • Fleas, during the active stage
  • In utero, from an infected queen
  • Human handling can transfer the FVP virus from one cat to another, by contact through hands, clothing, and shoes.
• FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus).  FIV (Feline Immumodeficiency Virus) is a retrovirus in the same family as the human AIDS virus, with a few significant differences. It is estimated that in the United States, 2% of cats are infected with the FIV virus. Saliva to blood (deep biting wounds) is generally accepted as the primary source of spreading the virus. Transmission by casual contact is much rarer, although not completely ruled out. Another, less common means of transmission is from the mother cat (Queen) to her kittens during gestation, during birth, or by nursing. 
• Zoonotic Diseases.  Referring to a disease which is common to both humans and animals, such as rabies or ringworm. 

Mice your cat may eat or bring home can also cause a host of other dangerous diseases. Rarely mentioned, but equally serious, is the possibility of skin cancer from over-exposure to the sun. White and other light-colored cats can develop squamous cell carcinoma, a serious, painful disease.

3. Indoor Cats Do Not Get Hit by Cars

According to one source, more cats are killed by cars annually than are euthanized in U.S. animal shelters. Even the most careful driver cannot avoid hitting a cat that runs across the street in front of a car. Even so-called "safe" country areas are no guarantee for cats. Country cats are not as car-savvy as their city brethren, and all it takes is one misjudgement of distance or speed.

4. Indoor Cats Are Safe From Predators and Dog Packs

Outdoor cats are below predators in the food chain, and they are sitting ducks for owls, raptors, coyotes, and native big cats. Dogs running in packs will consider a cat fair game; even one large dog can easily overpower and kill a cat. Remember that some dogs are also bred to attack; they are not really to blame when their instinct takes over. Even with a full set of fangs and claws, the cat rarely has a chance when caught outside, and declawed cats are even more at risk.

5. Indoor Cats Don't Create Neighbor Problems

Even "well-bred" cats will venture into neighbors' yards when allowed to roam free, and the resultant neighborhood discord has in some cases caused cat owners to move. People who don't like cats will not tolerate cats using their gardens as litter boxes, and will sometimes resort to extreme measures to keep the cats out. At the very least, a neighbor may call the local animal control to pick up the "stray" cat.

6. Indoor Cats Rarely Get Abscesses From Fighting

Cats are very territorial and will defend their territory to the death, if challenged by another cat. At the very least, these territorial battles often result in abscessed wounds, which can be deadly if not treated in time. There's also the chance, of course, of cats contracting FIV from deep bite wounds, as was the occasion with my Shannon. Shannon's illness and subsequent death was the primary reason I changed my stance on the indoor-outdoor debate several years ago.

7. Indoor Cats Are Safe From Human Abuse

Freely-roaming cats are easy targets for gangs of youths with time on their hands, for cat-haters, who seek cats out for target practice, and for neighbors who would think nothing of killing a cat for trespassing on their property. Although animal protection laws are beefing up, prosecution will never bring a loved cat back to life. It's a well known fact that serial killers often practice first with animals.

8. Indoor Cats Can Get Plenty of Exercise

Cats do get exercise, but they can get it safely with interactive toys, climbing towers, scratchings posts, and other indoor toys; all much safer than running from dogs or fighting with other cats. Remember also that there are safe compromises for the outdoor experience.

9. Indoor Cats Are not a Danger to Wildlife

Let's face it; cats are predators, and left to their own devices outdoors, will eventually chase and kill birds, rabbits, and other small wildlife. Most of us would rather not see our cats cast in a killer role, and keeping them indoors will help protect wildlife to some degree.

10. Indoor Cats Don't Get Lost

As outdoor cats widen their outdoor territories, they may become lost long enough to be "rescued" by other cat lovers, legitimate rescue groups, or picked up by animal control as strays. Statistics show that of "owned" cats turned in to shelters, only three percent are eventually relocated with their owners. Collars can break, and even microchips do not guarantee a cat will not be adopted and kept as an indoor cat by someone else. Why take the chance?

11. Indoor Cats Are Not Stolen

Bunchers are people who sell cats to laboratories for animal experimentation or research. Their prime source of cats is on the street. Even a cat sitting on his front lawn is fair game for a buncher. Other people pick up cats for use as "bait" for training fighting dogs. Both categories of cat-knappers are the lowest of the low, but they are out there.

So beware. Remember that an indoor cat is always safer.