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A SAFER ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUR CAT
Cats are America's most popular pets but they are also the pets most likely to die prematurely from diseases, poisons, attacks by other animals, abuse by humans or speeding vehicles. The reason is simple: guardian-owners often don't realize that allowing their cat to roam outdoors can be a one-way ticket to trouble.
Millions of cats suffer and die because their guardian-owners give them free run. The vast majority of these guardian-owners aren't cruel or thoughtless; on the contrary, many love their animals as much as the rest of us. They just believe that cats are happiest outdoors. In fact, many cat caregivers acquired their felines by “taking in" or caring for someone's cat who was allowed to stray.
When cats are left outside unsupervised, their freedom to roam comes at a cost because they have a vastly increased chance of being injured, becoming ill or dying. The estimated average life span of a free-roaming cat is less than five years—compared to 15–18 years for the average indoor-only cat. Even the cat who only occasionally ventures outdoors unsupervised can fall victim to automobiles, predators, disease and other hazards. Eighty-five percent of veterinarians polled recommend keeping cats indoors, most often citing dangers from vehicles and disease.
Even cats in "safe" suburban neighborhoods can meet untimely fates and never return home. Fewer than 5% of "found" cats taken in by animal shelters are reunited with their families. That's why many shelters now require potential adopters to commit to keeping their cats safely confined and strongly recommend that cats wear collars and ID tags and even be implanted with an identifying microchip. Some communities are adopting ordinances aimed at encouraging guardian-owners to confine their cats—just as they do their dogs.
The Humane Society of The United States Safe Cats Campaign was created to help cat guardians keep their cats safe and happy by making the safer indoors interesting and comfortable. Visit The Humane Society for detailed information.
In the interest of making your home safe for your cat, the following is a list of some household dangers you should beware of:
- Clothes dryer: Cats are heat-seekers, going where the warmth is, whether it's a patch of sun, your lap or a pile of clothing in a dryer. It's so easy not to notice a napping cat when you throw in a couple more items, close the door and turn on the appliance. Always check the dryer before turning it on, and always keep the dryer door shut when you're not loading.
- Refrigerators/Freezers: Cats and other curious animals that smell food will likely explore the inside of a refrigerator if given the opportunity. Always check your refrigerator/freezer before closing doors. Avoid leaving dishes in the sink that contain food particles and stagnant water as cats will try to lap up dirty water and food remnants.
- Medications: Never, ever give even the most seemingly mild medication to your cat—or any pet—without checking with your veterinarian first. The biggest danger to pets of all over the counter medications is Tylenol, generically known as Acetaminophen, potentially lethal if swallowed by pets. Always consult a veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment.
- Insecticides: Cats are very sensitive to flea-control and other household insecticides. Never use a flea-control product on a cat unless it specifically says on the label that it's safe for cats. Products meant solely for use on dogs can kill cats. Again, consult your veterinarian.
- String: Some cats like to play with string, yarn, thread, ribbon and other similar items. In supervised play, string and string toys are fine. The problem is that when cats are left unsupervised with string or yarn, they'll sometimes eat the material, which can cause internal obstructions, which if not surgically remedied, can cause death. Be sure to keep string, yarn and ribbons out of your cat's reach unless you are on the other end. Put away your knitting and sewing projects when you're not using them. Be sure to properly discard the strings from roasts to ensure your cat won't be given the opportunity to ingest the meat-juice-saturated string.
- Houseplants: Cats love to chew on houseplants which mean it's essential to keep only those plants that won't poison your pet. You can find a list of dangerous plants in many cat-care books and websites. Be sure to identify all plants, foliage and trees, indoor and outdoor, which your pet may come in contact with.
The outside world, of course, contains many more dangers, from cars to cat-haters to coyotes. The only protection against these is to keep your cat inside. Inside your own home, a little knowledge, a few simple precautions and lots of love are enough to keep even the most investigative cat entertained and out of trouble.
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