What are the dangers of letting my cat outdoors?

A snoozing tabby, stretched out in the sun-dappled backyard, may appear to be an example of the good life, feline-style. Yet cats that spend time outdoors have lives filled with risks, from minor ones such as ticks to serious threats from cars or dogs. You may believe cats living only indoors are deprived of a chance at freedom, and that they miss the call of the wild. But what cats that go outdoors are actually deprived of is the consistent safety and contentment of a comfortable life at home. In fact, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals estimates that cats who are allowed outdoors live about one-quarter as long as cats that live indoors exclusively.
Do all cats long for outdoor life?
A cat’s hunting instincts, like those of his larger relatives in the wild, are inborn. Mother cats teach kittens to chase and catch prey. While cats who go outdoors will naturally stalk birds or rodents in the area, cats don’t need to be outside killing neighborhood blue jays to satisfy their instincts. They can display their stalking instincts by racing around your home, chasing down imaginary prey, or treating a catnip mouse like a prized kill. Many toys permit cats to act out their hunting rituals without endangering either the cats or smaller animals.
Cats’ mating drives are strong, and if an indoor-only cat is not spayed or neutered, the mating urge will prompt it to do anything to escape and find a mate. Cats that are allowed to go outside should always be spayed or neutered to prevent them from mating.
Allowing a cat outdoors
There are aspects of letting a cat live outdoors that seem positive but aren't really so. Cat owners who dislike cleaning a litter box may be thrilled that their cats do their business outdoors. They can save money on cat food since their cats will be hunting birds or rodents. Their cats will also get plenty of exercise roaming the neighborhood and satisfy their sense of curiosity exploring yards and garages, or climbing fences and trees. And if the pets have not been neutered or spayed, indoor furniture and walls won't be affected by spraying.
Dangerous realities
These "benefits" obscure the harmful realities. A cat that goes outdoors risks being struck by a car, because no cat can outrun a motor vehicle. Even on a quiet street, a driver may not see a cat or kitten playing in his path, and cats hit by cars rarely survive. If your cat spends any time outdoors, he is vulnerable to weather extremes and injuries, as well as ticks and fleas, which he’ll bring indoors to your home and kids. He may be poisoned by rodent bait, pesticide-treated lawns or leaked antifreeze.
Cats going outdoors may fight with raccoons or other cats, and can contract diseases that include rabies, roundworms, Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV), feline distemper (FPV) or upper respiratory infections. Dogs pose a threat to cats, and foxes and coyotes are also feline predators. A cat could also get locked in a garage or other building, or abused or even killed by humans who do not like cats.  An outdoor cat may sometimes be mistaken for a stray and end up in an animal shelter or taken in by someone else.
Further, if your outdoor female cat is not spayed, her behavior will be loud and annoying as she cries to attract a male and tries to get pregnant.  Meanwhile, your unneutered male will continue his caterwauling and spraying of urine marks around your garden and the neighbors'. With all these dangers, it is actually kinder to have your cat live indoors full-time.
Teaching an outdoor cat to live indoors
Converting an outdoor cat into an indoor pet begins with a vet exam and spaying or neutering.  A spayed/neutered feline will be less interested in an outside life because the mating instinct will be reduced.
Provide a good-sized litter box in a private, comfortable area. If the cat has ever used a box, memory will kick in, or his natural inclination to cover his waste will give him the right idea. Offer him a scratching post and opportunities to exercise and play with toys that simulate prey. Ease the cat’s transition to his new world with plenty of social interaction.
Some formerly outdoor cats, fearful and stressed in their old lives, want nothing to do with the great outdoors after coming inside. Others may long for the wild. If you’re concerned that the cat will miss the sunshine and fresh air, train him to wear a leash and harness (not a collar) and walk him outdoors. Or build a catio, a screened, secured outside space that allows the cat to experience the outdoors while safely confined. Practice patience, and he’ll eventually forget an existence spent dodging dogs and cars while looking for his next meal.

Why do cats hiss?

 

A hissing cat sounds like a radiator on overload.  He may seem almost comical to you, with that usually serene feline face contorted into an open-mouthed sneer as his ears flatten, back arches and tail fluffs out in a poufy plume. The hissing sound and posture is far from funny to your cat, though, because a cat that hisses is in defensive mode. His sizzling vocalizations warn you to stay clear, to step away from him, or those huffing, snake-like sounds will lead to something more serious. What turns a cat’s purring, contented self into a reptile imitator, bristling with emotion? Here’s our handle on hissing:
Hissing as Warning
Cats hiss to let you know something has made them unhappy. Your reaction may be to approach or reprove the cat, but his hissing action should override your impulse. That hissing sound is telling you that if you don’t back up, Kitty’s upset mood will turn to clawing or fighting. If your cat is hissing, he may be frightened, and is speaking up to defend himself against whatever is causing his fear. Or he may be serving notice that he is the top dog (or cat, rather) and whoever's in his path must respect the boundaries he’s establishing.  Unneutered male cats on the verge of a fight will hiss loudly, communicating displeasure at each other’s presence.
That Snakelike Sound
A hissing cat does sound like a snake. Some experts in feline behavior believe that cats actually developed this habit by imitating snakes. Mimicking another species is a survival tactic among animals. A snake’s deadly, distinctive noise gets hair-raising notice from most species, from humans to horses and everything in between. In borrowing from the snake’s vocal repertoire, cats send signals of their own mixed emotions: They’re scared, but ready to attack potential foes. Instinctive feline hissing illustrates the cat’s version of the sports maxim that the best offense is a good defense. A cat on defense -- whether a mom cat defending her litter from unwelcome attention or a resident cat bravely confronting a new vacuum cleaner -- is a tangle of taut nerves. Determination edges fear to the sidelines in hopes that a stream of hissing will be enough of a weapon to stay safe.
What Prompts the Hissing
Even the mellowest tabby will react to a new arrival on the scene. A new cat, dog or other pet will leave your resident cat feeling threatened. He fears this newcomer will steal all the food, toys and affection or maybe start a fight -- so your cat gets ready to rumble. Hissing tells the new arrival to "back off; don’t get too close just yet."
A cat may also hiss at an unfamiliar human guest in your home; besides being a stranger, perhaps the person carries her own pets’ scents. Your cat doesn’t know them, and hisses to advertise that he’s not eager to meet them, either.
New experiences can stress a cat, prompting a bout of hissing. Spend a short time at an animal shelter while newly arrived cats are being photographed, processed and examined, and you’ll think you’ve landed in a snake-charmer’s living room. Those cats are hissing to communicate fear, confusion, unhappiness and readiness to lash out if they have to.
Coping with the Hissy Fit
Give your hissing cat a chance to calm down. If he’s being introduced to a new feline or canine roommate, supervise the interactions, always keeping them safely apart till your distressed cat adjusts to this new reality. If a strange human has triggered the hissing, let your cat sniff an object, such as a sock or washcloth, that the person has handled to become familiar with her scent. If you can, ignore the hissing instead of yelling or staring down your cat. Just let time and your ready affection turn off the hissing machine.
My late Max cat was a champion hisser. He’d been shuttled between foster homes and adoption events for months, and the barrage of new scents, sights and sounds left him trembling and afraid. He hissed at everything. I let him huff and puff away, giving him distance while his steam ran down. I spoke quietly, reassuring him that he wasn’t going anywhere and no one was going near him. A few days after his arrival, he emitted only a feeble hiss when I approached, just enough to say that he was still the boss.

Do cats really hate water?

Cats' aversion to water is widely accepted as fact -- but in truth, not all cats feel the same about taking a dip. One domestic breed, the strikingly beautiful Turkish Van cat, actually delights in getting wet. His ancestors did, too, plunging into lake waters to better cope with the extreme summer heat in the Lake Van region of Turkey, where the breed originated.
If your cat is any other breed, he probably views swimming and bathing as spectator sports -- and the prospect of being caught in a thunderstorm with raindrops drenching his fur is unthinkable. What do most felines really think of water? Here’s what we’ve found:
Water Aversion
If a cat’s experiences with water are mainly exposure to a sopping rainstorm, a forced bath or being sprayed with water as a disciplinary measure, why wouldn’t she shy away from water? Scientists contend that cats’ dislike of water comes from house cats’ owners shielding them from the elements since the earliest periods of domestication and from their ancestors -- wild cats in Europe, Africa and China’s desert cat -- whose limited experience with water did not require adapting and evolving to deal with it. Lions and leopards avoid river-dwelling predators (like crocodiles) by staying away from water.
On the other hand, some big cats in the wild, especially those in hot, arid areas, regularly swim and bathe to stay cool or catch dinner. The Asian fishing cat is a skilled swimmer, with partially webbed paws, that dives to nab its prey.
That Mesmerizing Drip
Despite not enjoying a full immersion, many house cats are fascinated by water, dipping an exploring paw into the water bowl to scatter a few drops or running into the bathroom at the sound of a shower.           
A dripping faucet is a cat magnet, an interactive toy that draws playful paws eager to catch a drop or two. But even without a drip, a cat may gaze at a faucet, hoping to see a trickle.  Author Susan Conant, known for her mysteries starring dogs, also wrote "Scratch the Surface," in which she described a fictional Chartreux cat’s encounter with a faucet: “How long can a cat safely go without water? The question never occurs to Brigitte, who nonetheless jumps to the kitchen counter, scampers to the sink and trains her amber eyes on the faucet. Just in case.” For cats fascinated by water, flowing pet fountains that recirculate water in a continual whirl are great fun, and a good way to get them to drink more.
Conquering Bathtime
Unlike dogs, cats rarely need a bath because they do so much self-grooming. But if yours gets into something sticky or smelly, or has a skin condition that requires bathing, you’ll want to help Kitty cope with the watery experience. If you begin bathing a cat when he's young, he will grow accustomed to the feeling of water.

Place him in an empty tub or sink, speak reassuringly, and run a washcloth wet with room-temperature water over his fur -- just enough to get him damp. If he’s calm enough, start filling the bath or use a tumbler or pitcher of warm water -- never hot -- and slowly pour this over his fur. You can also try a hose attached to the faucet to saturate his coat. Working from head to tail, apply a small amount of diluted feline shampoo and work up the suds, cleaning the cat’s fur and skin. Be sure to rinse more than once to prevent shampoo residue from irritating his skin, or getting into his mouth when he tries to lick himself dry. Dry him with a clean, fluffy towel, praising him for braving bathtime.

Why do cats eat grass?

How often have you seen your cat happily chewing on blades of fresh green grass, and wondered why? You dish up the choicest cat food and offer gourmet treats, yet given the chance, Kitty chows down on the lawn as if she's a snacking racehorse. But there's little need to fret over the appeal of the feline salad bar, even when she throws it all up.
Grazing in the Grass
The juices in grass contain folic acid, a vitamin essential to a cat's well-being. Folic acid, also present in the mother cat's milk, aids the production of oxygen in the cat's bloodstream. A folic acid deficiency may lead to anemia, and a young cat's growth can be stunted if she doesn't get enough of it. Do cats instinctively know they're deficient in folic acid and nibble grass to right the situation? Even experts can only guess. For a cat who never goes outdoors, folic acid supplements are available, to be added to your cat's food. Your vet can advise whether your cat can benefit from these. That Laxative Appeal
Since cats themselves can't say, experts theorize that cats eat grass as a natural laxative. It may add fiber and bulk to their diet, helping them pass worms or fur through their intestinal tract. If broader-leafed varieties offer a laxative effect, thinner-leafed grass induces cats to vomit. But veterinarians stop short of declaring grass necessary. It may assist in clearing things out, but healthy cats are able to process and pass matter out without this help. Some experts believe cats eat grass to settle their stomachs, much as humans pop an antacid tablet. Others say cats simply like the texture and taste of grass, no matter what its properties do for their insides. Heave-Ho
After munching away on grass, a short time later, cats inevitably upchuck those greens. Not because they're gagging on the veggie flavor. It's because cats' systems do not have the correct enzymes to digest plant matter. By regurgitating grass, the cat also expels other indigestible items she may have eaten -- which could include fur balls from grooming, or feathers and bones from any prey she has consumed. Clearing her digestive tract this way is healthy for the cat. It alleviates any feeling of discomfort, even if the process, and its end-products, may repulse her owner. So don't punish your cat for upchucking! Healthy Habit or Dangerous Delicacy?
While eating grass may seem unappealing to you, many cats love it and it's not generally harmful to them. They rarely eat more than occasional small amounts, but if yours eats it daily or in large amounts, that could indicate intestinal distress that should be addressed by your vet. If your cat is an indoor-outdoor pet, supervise her grazing when you take her outside. Keep her away from grass or plants that have been chemically treated and always use pet-friendly lawn treatment or fertilizers. If your cat is outside most of the time, she could ingest toxic, pesticide-tainted grass -- another good reason to keep your cat indoors.
Growing your Own
If your cat seems to enjoy the taste and texture of grass, give her a small grazing area of her own in your home. So-called feline herbs or greens--usually wheat or oat grass -- come pre-packaged at pet supply stores, as seeds or in pre-spouted form. Cats generally prefer this to regular grass and you can be sure it hasn't been treated. Fresh catnip is also easy to grow, and obviously gets cats' approval and attention. Set Kitty's private planter in a favorite spot that's easily accessible. You'll know she's enjoying fresh, safe greens. You'll also know when she's consumed them, thanks to the sound of feline retching that follows.

What does mean when cat licks you?

Dogs may lick our faces -- remember Lucy from "Peanuts" exclaiming, "Aaack, dog germs!" after a kiss from exuberant beagle Snoopy? -- but cats are more refined in their public displays of affection. When your cat licks you, usually after a mock-bite or firm grab with his paws, she's doing what her mother did during the early weeks of her life: providing a good cleaning that also speaks of caring and belonging. You've seen cats licking each other, helping in the grooming ritual, especially around the hard-to-reach ears and top of the head. But why is Kitty inspired to lick your arm or toes -- or even your hair? Here's what we've discovered.

Territorial Rights
Being licked is the first tactile experience your cat remembers -- that washcloth feeling of her mama cat's tongue thoroughly rubbing her coat, ears and every part of her little body. A mother cat initially washes her babies to remove the afterbirth fluids and to stimulate the kittens' breathing. She'll also clean them whenever they return to the nest, firmly re-establishing her scent on them. For cats both male and female, licking is a social exchange as well as a rite of cleanliness. Cats groom each other to remove debris and share scents, just as cats scratch in a favorite place where the scent glands of their paw pads will mark the territory as their own. When your cat licks you, she's cleaning you up and claiming you -- just as she would for a feline friend or litter mate.
What Licking Feels Like to a Cat
Some experts believe that orphaned kittens or those weaned too early from their mothers and litter mates develop oral behaviors such as suckling and licking, and exhibit these babyish habits into adulthood. But as with so much about cats, that's a generalization. The favorite hobby of Kelsey, a 6-year-old tabby who shares a household with her mother cat, is washing people -- and Kelsey's mother still scrubs her every day. Licking is a comforting, soothing sensation to cats, and feels like the gentle stroking of your hands petting them. If a cat licks you, she's returning that favor: She figures, who wouldn't enjoy being petted and assured of affection?
Excessive Licking
If an older cat who's never shown such affection suddenly begins licking you or suckling at your clothing, pay close attention to this change in behavior. Cats that start vigorously licking themselves may be seeking relief from a skin irritation, fleas, an insect bite or an infection. Help soothe Kitty by examining her skin and fur for problems, and ask your vet to recommend the right treatment.
If your cat's licking is not linked to illness and you simply cannot tolerate the ticklish feeling of her tongue, do not punish her for this normal behavior. Try gently discouraging your cat by moving away from her when she starts licking. Spritz your arms or hand with lemon juice, an immediate feline turn-off. Offer her a stuffed terrycloth toy to lavish her affection on instead, or just turn the tables and pet her lavishly, assuring her that you love her even if you don't like the licking.

The Healing Power of Purr Therapy

I have nothing against medical doctors. They’ve certainly played a role in my care since birth, and have even helped me a time or two. But there are times when I opt for a more unconventional mode of healing, one I’ve taken to calling “Purr Therapy” for lack of a better term. Sometimes, Purr Therapy is all I need to cure whatever ails me. Whether I suffer from a physical, mental or emotional malady, Purr Therapy can miraculously take me through the illness and into perfect health.

What is this strange healing power I call Purr Therapy? Well, it’s not some mumbo-jumbo snake-oil tactic, I assure you. Purr Therapy is simply believing in and allowing the natural healing power that my cats have. Though some might dismiss this notion as fallacy, the miraculous healing of pets have been well documented by doctors, veterinarians and animal lovers alike. And truly, just about everyone who has a close bond with their pet has experienced this natural healing ability firsthand. Purr Therapy – and its companion Wag Therapy – can be holistic complements to your wellbeing regime.

Purr Therapy allows my body’s own natural healing ability to shine, thereby creating health and wellness in every cell. Purr Therapy centers me, lifts my spirits and makes me feel glad to be alive. Who can feel sad or sick with a cat lying on their chest so close to their heart, purring like mad? Certainly not I. Who could allow pain to diminish their happiness when there is a pet nearby, so willing to give and receive love? Oh…not I, that is for sure. Purr Therapy has the miraculous ability to make everything seem all right, even when it isn’t. In fact, I think Purr Therapy can be a thousand – no, a million! – times more effective than any anti-depressant medication.

When I combine Purr Therapy with a long petting session, the healing power is magnified tremendously. Stroking the soft fur of a beloved pet is therapeutic for body and soul. It’s been proven to lower blood pressure and reduce stress, and can help us feel more connected to life and love. But cats and dogs are not just vacant recipients of our attention. These angels with fur are sentient beings who have an uncanny ability to know when we suffer and even, where it hurts. Further, they use their natural healing powers to try to make the pain go away. If they are unsuccessful at times, I think it’s only because our rational mind gets in the way. We disallow their healing because we think they can’t. And when we think they can’t, it’s like placing your hand over a spinning top – it stops cold.

I’m learning to allow Purr Therapy to work its magic on my body and my mind, because I truly believe it’s possible. No, I certainly won’t forsake my doctor or conventional medicine, because I know they have a place in my care. But I’ve come to see how important Purr Therapy (and Wag Therapy) can be for creating a healthy body, mind and soul. My cats are not “just pets” to me. They are loving, sentient beings whose very presence can turn a crappy day into one that seems sunny even when clouds cover the sky. I would not want to live in a world without the healing power of Purr Therapy. Thankfully, I don’t have to.

Pets make the World a better place !

If you’ve ever shared a special bond with a pet, that question probably seems a bit silly. Of course the world is a better place because of pets, you’d say. As a lifelong animal lover, I wholeheartedly agree. However, I also know there are people who have no use for pets. Just as I can’t fathom why anyone would ever want to live without a pet, the non-pet people don’t really understand how humans can form strong bonds with animals, or why they would want to. I suppose the universe is big enough for all kinds, but just between us, I am eternally thankful that I’m a pet person. My world is absolutely a better place because of my pets, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

I am the polar opposite of the cat-hating boyfriend featured on Must Love Cats, who demanded that the bedroom be a “cat free zone.” I have very few cat free zones in my home. For sanitary reasons, I do try to make the kitchen counters and table cat free zones, but Rocky challenges that notion daily. I don’t have cat free zones because my home is their home too, and they should be allowed to live in it.

I certainly could have been – but sadly wasn’t – the person who came up with the funny saying, “If you don’t want pet hair on your clothes, stay off my furniture!” True, this policy of letting my pets sleep wherever they feel like it does present some moments of embarrassment. I’ll never forgot the day a visitor turned to leave and I discovered he was wearing what amounted to “half a cat” on the seat of his pants. It was mortifying in the moment, but I laugh about it now. I came to realize that if he was a pet person, he’d understand, and if he wasn’t…c’est la vie. I don’t much care.

“I could not imagine my life without pets” was a recurring comment in response to my article ":My best friends all wear fur:" Nor could I imagine life without my cats. Well, actually I can imagine it, and it’s certainly not the life I would want for myself. I find that no matter what might be wrong with my life “in the moment,” a head-bump from my heart cat Annabelle can make it right again in an instant. I think I love her exuberant kitty head-bumps more than anything else on earth, and I simply can’t imagine life without them.
When we lay together on my bed, me with brush in hand and she with rumbling purr, I tell her, “This is the best part of my day.” And I mean it. As I brush Belle, she drools in a way that only a truly contented cat can. We settle into the rhythm of the brush-brush-headbump ritual we’ve both come to love and need. People who believe that felines only tolerate people for the food they provide, have obviously never had a cat like Belle. They’ve never experienced the sheer delight of a kitty headbump, or the amazing, transformative power of the purr. I have, and I can say without any doubt, there’s nothing quite like loving and being loved by a cat like Belle. 

Sometimes I wonder if I might love Belle too much. She is only 8 and in very good health – thanks in part to her wonderful Felidae cat food! – yet now and then I have fleeting thoughts of how much I will miss this beautiful soul when she’s gone, and it scares me. It doesn’t seem fair that our animal companions have such short lives compared to ours. I don’t want to outlive Belle; I want her to be with me forever, but I know I can’t change what is. I can only enjoy the special kitty headbump moments we share each day. I can only love her with all my heart for as long as I am able. And each day that Belle is here, I say a prayer of thanks for this special soul that makes my world a better place.