by Lauren Bove

Created on: February 09, 2010   Last Updated: March 02, 2010

Protect your cat with this simple strategy.

While it is impossible to keep your loved one from everything that could harm her, you can narrow down the list.  

Keep your cat indoors.  Keep fresh water and food readily available.  Take your feline friend for regular veterinarian exams.  Spay/Neuter and vaccinate your cat.  

You are not being unkind or keeping them from a good time by keeping them in.  You are cutting down on the numerous the danger zones.  Indoor cats live, on average, approximately twelve to twenty years.  For outdoor cats the life expectancy is less than five years.  This proved true in my own life over again until  I finally relented and have maintained my cats as indoor only. As much as I enjoyed seeing Max chase butterflies, it's just not worth the risk, sadness and vet bills caused by roaming free.  

- Health and safety are greatly improved when the naturally curious kitty is not subject to the many outdoor danger zones.  Traffic, busy highways and suburban roads are treacherous and impossible to avoid as an outside cat.  It is entirely helpful to keep your cat inside if just for this one reason alone.

- Outdoor cats are often exposed to poisons, while their indoor friends are less so.  Gardeners pesticides, auto and garage products, old rotten food, vegetation and many other available substances can make your cat sick or even kill them.  Some poisons are masked by a sweet taste and even the cleverest cat is unable to tell that it isn't food and not safe to eat or drink.  

- The risks of encountering a non friendly or sick cat is great.  Infectious disease such as Feline Immunodeficiency and Leukemia among many others are transmitted from cat to cat.  Cat fights can lead to injury, cysts, abscesses and other cat-fight related ailments.  These can be costly in health as well as wealth. Other wild animals or dogs, snakes, coyotes and even rabid raccoons, present a serious risk of injury, illness or death to a cat roaming the world of the outdoors.

- Ticks, fleas, worms and other parasites are a serious matter to consider as well.  Most of these outside bugs are carriers of disease and cause problems all by themselves.  Skin rashes that can become infected and progress, scratching can lead to hematomas that must be cared for by a veterinarian and often disfigure the cat that has the misfortune of experiencing this common complication.

In the end, with proper care from a good veterinarian, regular checkups and vaccinations as well as an indoor lifestyle - you greatly improve the odds of your cat living his or her best, long and happy life.  Provide your cat with attention, toys and good quality food as well as lots of fresh water and you'll have a friend like no other.  You'll also save yourself and family the heartache of a lost, sick, diseased or prematurely short-lived cat.

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