The choice to have an outdoor cat is a personal one, and is also the center of much debate among animal lovers and owners. Although some may think that allowing a cat to roam freely is irresponsible and risky, the truth is when done safely and cautiously, allowing for a cat to go outside regularly can be beneficial resulting in a more active and instinctual lifestyle. However, caring for an outdoor cats health means taking some extra precautions and being aware of the many outdoor risks which they may encounter.
If you are concerned for an outdoor cats health here are four hazards you may want to watch for;
Rabies: One of the most dangerous outdoor hazards for cats and kittens is rabies. Fortunately, this threat can be easily reduced by making sure that all outdoor pets are given the required rabies vaccinations. Though rabies is not as common as it once was, when left outdoors cats can become more susceptible. This is mainly due to their proximity to rabies-prone wildlife such as bats or foxes.
Car fluids: Some hazards which threaten a cats health may go unnoticed by many pet owners. One of the most serious are spilled car fluids such as oil or antifreeze. These every-day car essentials are poisonous to animals and can cause them to become incredibly ill. Outdoor cats are especially drawn to this hazard as they are naturally curious and tend to explore unfamiliar fluids tongue-first.
Hazardous waste: Outdoor cats are natural-born hunters, but they can also turn to scavenging when the mood strikes them. Though trashcans and garbage bags may not seem like a serious hazard, the food scraps inside of them may be. For example, small bones, plastic wrappers or even some medications could be found in neighbourhood trash all of which could threaten a cats health.
Cars and traffic: And finally the most important hazard to consider when caring for an outdoor cats health; cars. Every year thousands of household pets are injured or killed by cars and local traffic. If a cat is allowed to roam freely at night, owners should invest in reflective collars. However, ideally owners should consider limiting their cats outdoor playtime to the afternoon when local traffic is lessened.