Proponents of the outdoor lifestyle believe it is better for Kitty to enjoy life to the fullest, even if her life is shortened by the consequences of outdoor living. An outdoor cat lives a more stressful life than an indoor cat, and stress leads to a myriad of physical and psychological disorders. Outdoor cats on the street, or even in the country, are faced every day with territorial disputes, threats from other animals, people, cars, environmental noises which cause panic, and situations which generate pure fear. Indoor cats generally live longer and healthier lives than outdoor cats - a fact that cannot be disputed.
Concerns With the urbanization of American life it has become the practice of the majority of cat people to protect their cats by keeping them safely indoors. And thanks to its wonderful adaptability, the cat can live happily, safely and healthy indoors. All but a small percentage of us-in the United States, at least-live in cities or towns. Domestic cats live where we are. So, realistically, the time is gone when we can debate about where cats should live. The cats are here, now, and we are responsible for them. It is a myth that cats easily return to a wild existence and are able to care for themselves. Domestication has suppressed or even silenced many of the feral skills necessary for survival. In fact, the typical outdoor cat's life span is generally shorter than that of exclusively indoor cats, or cats with access to protected outdoor areas. Quite simply, free-roaming life on the outside poses much greater risks for lethal disease and injury.
Cats love warm places to snooze, and many outdoor cats are attracted to a perch beneath the hood of a car. The poor cat caught by the fan or belt when the engine starts is permanently crippled, if not killed. Even savvy cats get into trouble. It takes only one mistake. A cat can easily be distracted by kittly delights (e.g., butterflies, birds) and dash across the street. Kitty can accidentally hitchhike in a strange vehicle and find herself far from home. Curious cats become trapped in outbuildings where their cries cannot be heard, or they fall into swimming pools and drown, or injured or killed at construction sites where a plethora of intriguing scents exists - including those of toxins and poisons. Outdoor Enemies It only takes a second for a kitten to escape from your house or the yard. The outside world is full of kitty dangers, from chemicals to cars to intolerant neighbors. But the number-one killer and crippler of outdoor cats is car accidents. Even usually attentive cats lose their concentration and dash into oncoming traffic when being chased by a dog, pursuing prey, or distracted by other kitty delights. "Free-ranging cats in the United States have an average lifespan in the general population of only 3 to 5 years; indoor cats have an average lifespan of 12 years and frequently live longer than 20 years. Car accidents are the biggest killers of free-ranging cats" The free-roaming cat is a magnet for parasites like fleas, ticks, mosquitoes and other buggy freeloaders, are deposited in your yard and house when Kitty comes home. Found in grass, soil, rodents and other kitty hors d'oeuvres, parasites often transmit or cause dangerous disorders like tapeworms, anemia, fungal, and heartworm disease. Cats can be poisoned simply by grooming themselves after walking across treated lawns. And should Kitty manage to catch that mouse, she may ingest poison the rodent has already eaten. Many parts of the country harbor dangerous predators like coyotes, eagles, alligators and great horned owls, who consider your kitten a tasty snack. Neighborhood dogs may not look kindly upon the free-roaming cat: not every kitty makes it up a tree unscathed. Cats who trespass in other yards and dig in gardens fuel the ire of otherwise tolerant neighbors. Some unenlightened humans actually dislike cats, while others protest kitty paw prints on their clean cars. Bird watchers become particularly irate if a neighbor cat stakes out their feeder. Some people may be tempted to retaliate.
Fights with other outdoor cats lead to dangerous bite and scratch wounds that can easily become infected. Even worse, fatal viral diseases like rabies and feline leukemia, feline AIDS, and FIP are spread by contact with infected animals. Remember, vaccinations cannot provide 100 percent protection, and reducing exposure is an important part of prevention.
http://maxshouse.com/outdoor_risks.htm
I'll stop right there. An indoor cat may not be stressed but it just may be bored to a silent death.
No............. forget about it.
Cats can adapt to mostly anything, they can amuse themselves with mostly anything.
I would NEVER keep a cat indoors.
NEVER!
Rather, the cruelty lies in exposing them to the dangers outside of a safe home." --- Total Bull.
This guy is certifiable.