Can having an indoor only cat be hazardous to her health?

Question

my cat is so friendly and niave because of it's indoor life. It got too close to a neighbor dog and it bit her tail. It got infected, so some of the tail will have to be amputated. (Signs didn't show until too late). but O.T.T, she's fine.
My daughter brought her outside, so that's why she ended up out. Should i start supervising outdoor time for the cat or what's the best thing 4 her?

Answer 1

Tell your daughter not to take the cat outside. This was obviously a traumatic experience for your cat and it would be irresponsible to allow circumstances where it could happen again.

If your cat is declawed you can allow it outside in a protected area (fenced back yard) but if it still has its claws it will eventually climb to an area where you cannot retrieve it and possibly end up with more injuries from other animals in the neighborhood.

Is it your cat's health or your daughter's health you are more worried about? An indoor cat is not a threat to anyone in the home unless they suffer allergic reactions to be around felines.

Answer 2

Indoors are by far the best for cats. Protected from dogs (as you already learned), mean children, cars and other cats that will fight with her or give her nasty diseases. Indoor only cats live up to 10 years longer than cats that go outside.
See if you can train your cat to a harness. That way she can go in the yard but you and your daughter can still watch her. Or build a little patio for her. Mostly though, cats are just fine looking out from windows.

Answer 3

It has been my experience that the preference is up to the cat. What I mean is that some cats like to go outside, some don't. As long as your cat is spayed/neutered at the appropriate time, all should be well.

Although there are definite advantages to keeping a cat indoors, there are disadvantages as well. For instance, an inside only cat is more dependent on their pets..err humans. However, it is easier to control an inside cat's weight.

My own cats are inside/outside cats depending on how they feel at that moment. I tend to control when they can go out so as to keep them safe from predators and other humans. This angers my cats since it shows a breakdown in my training and must therefore be rectified. Especially when we had youngsters in need of training as well, except for them it was hunting instead of obedience.

All in all, I must return to my previous statement that, unless there are sound reasons to keep him/her inside or outside, let the cat make the choice. Most will make the same choice as mine: inside when it is uncomfortable outside and during sleep cycles.

I would also like to point out that cats are excellent hunters. If trained properly a cat can kill as many of the pests in the area as they can until the population is under control and can now be culled as necessary.

Back to the original question though, without elder cats to supervise your kitten's outdoor adventures, she should be supervised until either another cat begins her training(somewhat unlikely but it can happen) or she learns enough about being outdoors to avoid things like dogs.

Thanks

Answer 4

Indoor cats, especially those kept indoors a long time, don't have the "smarts" or knowledge to understand outside workings. You should definitely supervise her outdoor time, until she gets more used to things.

Some things to consider would be getting a harness, so that as she gets more bold, you can be with her, in her exploration - but if she starts to get scared and dart off, you won't lose her. Also make sure she definitely and positively knows which house is hers, which door she's supposed to go to to come back in. When I first started letting my cat outdoors, he turned up missing one day.... come to find out, he got my neighbor's porch mixed up with mine, and crawled under it in fright because of the strangers coming up to it.

Outdoor cats are supposed to be more healthy then solely indoor cats - they're more active, better socially, and have stronger immune systems. However, take cautions as you start to bring her out more often!

Answer 5

Cats are very adaptable and can deal with an indoor life fine. Our persians were mostly indoor cats for the first half a decade of their lives and they managed. If you want to let her go outside some more, it's important that she learns how to deal with things so she doesn't do stupid things simply because she doesn't understand they might be dangerous. You might want to start taking her out for short bits of time, walking around with her so she feels safe knowing you're around. First just the garden, then a bit further, and so on - get her used to it gradually.

It's completely up to you though. Our cats were happier overall once we started letting them out some, but they didn't suffer from lack of outside time when they were inside. If your cat is OK with just being inside now, I don't see any problem with that, but if she's eager to go out by all means let her, just make sure she knows what she's doing out there.

Answer 6

I keep mine indoors only with plenty of viewing spots in windows for them to see. Once in a blue moon on nice cool days I will take one by one out for 5 minutes to eat some grass and to feel the air but I don't let them get 5 feet from me.

Get the new Purina indoor cat formula dry food. It has grass and other items in it that cats normally eat outside. My vet recommends it and I have seen more bounce, step and a better coat on both of them since I switched over. The litter box smell has decreased as well due to this food.

Answer 7

Keeping her indoors or she will want to go outside eventually. I don't believe in outdoor cats it's a big bad world out there and I use to have a cat that only went on my porch, and he got beat up a couple of times and got feline leukemia. I am a firm believer in indoor only cats. I have not seen any problems health wise that my cats suffer from being only indoor cats.

Answer 8

I take exception to the response that outdoor cats are healthier. Outdoor cats are a far higher risk for disease, attack by other animals, cars, and the unseemly people who will do unspeakable things to freeroaming animals.
Indoor only cats, kept current on vaccinations are healthier and safer than their outdoor counterparts. Healthier, safer, well loved, and cared for - what's the need for going outside. A window with a view, and you will have a cat who is happy to be a part of the family.
Also, talk to your daughter about the importance of not letting the kitty out.

Answer 9

It is a proven fact the inside cats are healthier and happier. Do not allow her putside.. there is no reason to have her outside if she is an inside cat. It would cause stress and she could get hurt like what has already happened.
There is nothing dangerous or bad about having an indoor cat.

Answer 10

U should keep her inside, but all cats/kittens need SOME outdoor time, and so i recommend tht if u do want to take her outside for a while each day, u can buy a harness and a leash for cats at your local petshop and use that every time she wants to go out.