by Amy Hartley

Created on: September 23, 2009   Last Updated: September 24, 2009

Cats are natural born hunters, so the prospect of choosing indoors or outdoors for your cat should be up to the animal. Some cats would rather be indoors relaxing all day, others would love the chance to hunt mice, birds or other small prey. If you listen to your pet and watch their body language this decision will be much easier.

Take in some considerations of the area you feline friend would be hunting in if she was an outside animal. If any highways, interstates or state roads are within half a mile of you home outdoor life may not be safe for your cat. If however you live in the country or a small suburb the traffic should be less and less likely to harm your cat. Cats can become victim to car accidents even in the country, but the chances are much less. Teach you cat to stray away from the road. This can be accomplished by walking you cat out to the road and when the cat least expects it loudly clap your hands and begin to shout. Your neighbors may think you are crazy but you cat will thank you.

Also take in to consideration other animals in your area. Coyotes, fox and even raccoons and opossums can attack your cat. Solve this problem by making a safe haven for a cat. Garage doors can be cracked open, pet doors installed, or wooden cat houses can be placed outside of your house to provide refuge. Just remember to make the entrance to your home or a cat house big enough for a cat but to small for predators.

If your cat chooses outdoor living vaccines are important. Rabies is uncommon lately but does occur. Rabies is always fatal when no vaccines have been administered. At your yearly check up to update you cats vaccine tell your vet about you cats chosen life style and be sure to ask about other important vaccines or treatments you feline should have.

The last key consideration when your cat is outdoors is other cats, especially those of the opposite sex. Cats are like rabbits and multiply very quickly. A female cat can have her first litter at six months old and can have a litter every nine weeks until death. Cats usually live about ten years on average. That is a lot of kittens. Spaying a female cat can be done at six months old and is very affordable. Some clinics have special pricing on certain days of the month, or free spaying in some areas. This procedure will not change your cat but will actually help increase her life span and quality of life. Not to mention you won't be the crazy cat person with forty cats running around your yard.

Indoors or outdoors is your cat's choice. You are the owner and respect your cat's instinct. Just make sure proper care is given to an outdoor cat, as well as an indoor cat. And always talk to your vet about you cats needs to stay happy and healthy.

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