Why Can't I Let My Cat Outside?

Why is it Fair for Dogs, but not Cats, to go Outside?
By Dr. Eric Barchas, DVM

"My pal Buster, a dog, goes outside every day. But I would never dream of allowing a cat to go outside.

"When Buster goes outside he is accompanied by a human. For his safety he is kept on a leash whenever he is not playing fetch in a secure area...

"I would never, ever consider opening the front door for Buster to spend the afternoon outside unattended. I doubt he would make it 10 minutes on the streets of San Francisco without suffering serious trauma.

"But unattended outdoor activity is standard operating procedure for many cats...

"Cats and dogs are not equipped with the wherewithal to thrive outdoors in human society. It is our responsibility to look out for them."

(read entire article)

------------------
Aksum Notes: Even when you are in a rural area, there are many dangers to cats roaming outside. There are other cats, dogs, foxes, coyotes (which have been known to kill and eat cats), rabid animals, poisonous plants, cars (it only takes one car and one cat on the road in the way to create a disastrous situation), and even other cats which are often territorial. The average life expectancy of a cat let outdoors unattended drops from 15 years to 2.