Dangers facing outdoor cats
- Di Kendall
- Jan 16, 2018
- 3 min read
An article I wrote that appeared in All About Cats Magazine: The dangers facing outdoor cats By Di KENDALL
A recent incident in which a local family cat was allegedly mutilated has urged me to educate people with regards to keeping your cat as safe as possible… ADVICE It is important for pet owners to make informed decisions where their pets are concerned. In doing so, you need to understand the risks and benefits experienced by your furry feline when it moves around outdoors. FIRST THINGS FIRST: HEALTH Whilst not wishing to make feral cats the enemy – they most certainly aren’t – pet owners need to understand that because of the vast number of stray and feral cats around, they can never be certain that their feline friends are associating with other inoculated and well-maintained friends. they could, therefore, come home with life-threatening diseases such as: • Feline leukaemia (FeLV); • Feline AIDS (FIV); • FIP (feline infectious peritonitis); • Feline distemper (pan leukopenia); • Upper respiratory infections (or URI). parasites found outdoors can leave your cat with various issues. good cat owners consult their vet at least once a year and treat them to prevent symptoms such as scratching, skin infections, vomiting and diarrhoea, caused by parasites. remember that parasites can also affect your family, and it is no easy task to ensure their permanent removal. Keep an eye out for: • Fleas • Ticks • Ear mites • Intestinal worms • Ringworm (a fungal infection) OUTDOOR CAT RISKS Just as the world outside has risks for humans, there are life-threatening risks for cats too. Animal cruelty: the main reason for my article. Sadly, because cats are seen as purely a menace to some people, they have been shot with BB guns or arrows, while others end up being trapped and abused. toxins and poisons: Also falling under the banner of animal cruelty, outside cats additionally face the danger of coming into contact with toxins – such as antifreeze – which are often ingested because they have a pleasant taste. Cats may also end up accidently exposed to rodent poisons when they hunt and eat rodents that have recently ingested poison bait. We have to keep in mind that cats can just as easily fall prey to home invaders, who poison pets prior to breaking and entering. Cars: A domesticated cat is not as street smart as a feral cat and it may find itself in a situation where being hit by a car is inescapable. Considering the size of a cat in relation to a moving vehicle, you can easily imagine the severity of its injuries. In winter, cats seek warmth, and rescuers will tell you countless stories of cats found in car engines. Loose dogs and wild animals: Domesticated and feral cats are not safe in the paws, claws and talons of dogs and wild animals. An attack by a stray dog can often be fatal – and did you know that cats can easily be scooped up by a bird of prey in search of their next meal? trees: Cats love to climb and therefore trees can be a source of danger. If chased by dogs they can possibly reach an unexpected height and not want to climb down. If not found soon enough by their owners, they may be left there for days until becoming so severely dehydrated and weak that they fall and suffer acute or even fatal injuries. "CURIOSITY KILLED THE CAT" Curious felines can find themselves locked inside garages for days on end because they went inside and found a comfy place to sleep. they can also be mistaken as stray and end up at a shelter. to be realistic, the number of cats in shelters is vast and yours may end up being euthanised due to the lack of worthy, loving homes. If you are going to allow your cat to venture outdoors, I implore you to make your property cat-safe to eliminate threats, thereby ensuring that you have a safe, happy and healthy feline.
Source: #8ightBlog https://infinity8eight.wordpress.com/2014/02/27/all-about-cats-dangers/
Contact me via 8ight page Or 8ightinfinity@gmail.com To book your appointment. This way we avoid the "other" inboxes. Hope you have a beautiful day. 💙 Love, light, purrs and wags Di xoxo Inbox me on 8ight page to book for communications: new pet introductions, behaviour, health, missing pet trackings
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