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Indoor vs. indoor/outdoor cats
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Poopcat eyes the outdoors
Has it become faux paw to let your cats outdoors? Take a virtual step into many pet forums and the debate will likely be looming. In fact, mentioning an outdoor cat in the real world, say the workplace, and you’re chances of don’t-bring-that-up-at-work tensions are high. It seems an indoor/outdoor cat is now something society looks down upon. Should it?
Some pros for an indoor cat including having no possibility of getting hit by a car, getting poisoned, contracting diseases, getting bit by a dog or another cat, getting lost or annoying the neighbors.
Houstonians may have another pro for an indoor lifestyle — weather varying from freezing to 100 degrees to unexpected thunderstorms. How would we possibly let our cats out with all of these uncertainties? It’s easy — ask the cat!
Cats are intelligent creatures, and will not do something if they have a sense of danger … most of the time. Sure, be protective, but if a cat is crying at the door, he may be telling you “I will risk the dangers for a taste of sunlight.”
Judge for yourself based on your cat’s personality. For example, four-year-old Poopcat, a grey tabby, loves to go outside. However, if there is the slightest noise (a car driving by) he will sprint back inside. There is no reason to worry a cat with his personality will stray beyond the borders of our yard into dangers or onto a neighbor's car.
Now, 18-year-old Jodi is different. Today she will meow to go outside, roll around on the hot concrete for 10 minutes and come back inside. When she was younger, however, she'd stay out for hours. But, she's never been the type to wander far from home.
That’s not to say all cats will be as tame and close-to-home as ours. But here are some tips that will allow your cats outdoor freedom without the worry:
- The Invisible Fence – allows cats and dogs to go outdoors up to a certain point.
- GPS tracking collar – Mr. Lee’s CatTrack, Loc8tor Plus, and Global Pet Finder all allow you to monitor your cats’ whereabouts and can send you text messages when your pet has crossed certain boundaries you’ve set.
- For cat owners in the Houston battling with unpredictable weather, the solution is easy: a kitty door! Multiple cat doors can be found here.
Don’t feel pressured by society, whether on the Web or in the real world. You know your cat better than they do, and you know the technology out there to protect them.
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