Should a 5-year old roam the streets alone? What about his pet?

Josh is a 5-year old boy who loves to play alone in his Sacramento front yard and to visit the friendly dog across the street.

Since he’s having fun he can cross the street, follow the dog around and maybe chew some gum he found on the sidewalk down the road - all by himself.

What do you mean; you wouldn’t let him do that? Why not?

It isn’t safe, that’s why. He could get lost, get hurt, pick up nasty germs or run into people or animals that he is too trusting to avoid. People make rules to keep their children safe, even though the kids can get frustrated about those limits at first.

Although pets are obviously not the same as children, some of the same ideas apply when it comes to keeping them safe and healthy.

Your cat may try to get outside when you open the door, or maybe you just want them to have fun outdoors because they are animals. But cats can learn to be happy inside with just a little effort, and it is the best thing a loving pet owner can do for them.

Here are just two good reasons why to keep them inside:

• Indoor cats generally live a lot longer. The Humane Society of the United States reports that cats living outdoors even part of the time have an average life span of less than 3 years. (Of course there are exceptions to the rule; this is just an average.) Indoor-only cats live an average of 12-15 years.

• Indoor cats can cost a lot less money. Cats who are outdoors are exposed to diseases that require vet care; treating abscesses, illnesses and injuries caused by other animals, cars or people can be very expensive too. Cats who live indoors are much less likely to need veterinary care, or even flea medicine.

There are simple steps to take to get your cat adjusted to living indoors, and ways to keep them interested and entertained once they are inside. Keep an eye out for Part 2 of this article to learn more about them.

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