Is it unsafe to let my cat go outside?

Answer 1

yes, there are alot of hazards like dogs, cars, diseases, and alot more so just keep him or her inside.

Answer 2

Outdoor Hazards
Some of the most common dangers for outside cats include:

Outside cats are more prone to infectious diseases because of encounters with wildlife and other outside pets. Also, outside cats are more likely to consume poisons. If your cat must be outside, make sure she is fully vaccinated and spayed, or neutered.

An outside cat darting across the street is a perfect target for a moving vehicle and cats that are hit by cars rarely survive.

If your cat gets into a territorial fight with another cat and gets bitten, she could develop an infection that could send her to the veterinary emergency clinic. In many areas, wild animals are also potential predators. Always check your cat for painful lumps and bumps.

Not all people love cats. And many cities have laws against stray animals, including cats. Your cat may be picked up by Animal Control and you'll pay a hefty fee to get her back. Make sure you keep identification on your cat at all times.

Answer 3

It depends on several things:
(1) is your "outside" a fenced-in yard where dogs cannot get in from the outside?
(2) are there wild life such as racoons and squirrels etc. that your cat might attempt to mess with and catch rabies or something else from?
(3) is the cat likely to jump the fence or otherwise escape from the protected area of your yard and run the risk of being hit by a car, chased by a dog or go under someone else's house?

Even if your yard is safe from dogs, racoons, squirrels, etc., I would still recommend that if you let your cat out, do so only when you can supervise him/her to see to it that he/she does not get into trouble. This is what I do with my cats. And now, I have built an outdoor gated enclosure for them to keep them safe while they are enjoying the outdoors. Even then, I keep an eye out for them. They are only there a few hours on dry sunny days and indoors at night. This is becuase we live in an area where there are heaps of racoons and squirrels and BIG dogs next door... I can't take the chance that one of my cats will get hurt... vet bills are enormous, as you know.

Many cat owners elect to keep their cats completely indoors. This does not hurt the cat at all IF they are used to this kind of lifestyle. I tried to turn my cats into indoor-cats, but this is not going down tooo well with them... the older one especially. If I could have made it work, I'd have kept them indoors period. Ah, well...

Answer 4

If your cat is declawed, it is unsafe. If your cat still has claws, it's not necessarily unsafe because it can protect itself. However, it is unwise. Cats who are allowed to go outside have to be vaccinated more often (at least according to my cats-only vet), and they are more suseptible to dangers, like fights, disease, and parasites. I've also found that once you start letting your cats go outside, they want to be there all the time and don't seem to want to be with you in the house so much anymore.

Answer 5

Most veterinarians will agree that it is much more healthy for a cat to be kept indoors. The life expectancy of a cat is longer if kept inside. The reasons are obvious; no fights with other cats which lead to wounds and infections and no worries about fleas or diseases contracted from other cats. If you want to put kitty out, I'd suggest investing in a harness, leash and mooring to keep it in the yard away from other cats. If kept indoors you don't need to be concerned about attacks from other cats, skunks, raccoons, dogs, vehicles or anything else that may affect their well being

Answer 6

Yes, it can be. Your cat could get hit by a car, get into a fight with another cat that has a nasty disease, get attacked by predators, pick up fleas or ticks, etc. I never let my cats outdoors and they are very, very happy. If you absolutely must let your cat out, buy a comfortable harness, a long rope and tie him out, under your supervision. You could even buy a large animal cage and take that outside and put the cat in that to enjoy the fresh air.

Answer 7

If you live by a busy road especially! It's always danergous to let your cats go outside unless you have a privacy fence that stands 6 feet or taller and you're sure they won't try to jump it and then only in the fenced area. Any other time, they could get diseases or ran over. Better inside and fat than outside and flat!

Answer 8

"Safe" is a relative term. It is safer for you to stay inside your house and sometimes not even safe to be THERE. People have listed all the possible dangers for you.

I have six cats and have cat fence-in for my back garden so my cats can be out in the sunshine and fresh air, though it is a "sterile" environment as the birds avoid it like the plague and there aren't any fun little critters to chase and kill.

So it is a compromise. I am selfish in that I could not bear the anxiety if one of them were not to return home for dinner.

Answer 9

it depends on where you live. if you have high traffic not a good idea. cats are pretty smart and have ways to take care of themselves. personally I think it is cruel not to let them go outside. they love the outdoors especially at night when they like to hunt and prowl. my cat stays out a lot and she is fat and happy, always comes back home, and she never strays far. tom cats have a tendency to stray away from home and even move to another home they like better. if you have trees that your cat can climb to get away from dogs all the better.....cats hate going outside if it is wet or snowy and I like to make sure mine is in when it gets too cold....but they have enough sense usually to know when it's time to come in.

Answer 10

Keep your cat inside. To many things could happen. To the Cat out side.

Answer 11

its not really unsafe, nor is it safe to let ur cat go outside.

by keeping ur cat inside he/she will live a better, happier, healthier, longer life.

by letting ur cat go outside u introduce ur cat to freas, ticks, dogs and wild animals.

plus if u dont spay/neuter ur cat then there might b the posibility of babies.

i prefer not to let my cats outside. i think they r safe from prediators and cars and the wild. plus im pretty sure they r happier inside.