Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/indoor-outdoor-cats/
“Cats allowed to free-roam can lead to predation of wildlife, including native wildlife, disruption of wildlife behaviour, spreading disease like toxoplasmosis, which is a threat to our endangered marine mammals and can be transferred to humans as well. (Outdoor) cats are also at an increased risk of injury or harm to themselves,” said University of Canterbury master’s student Sarah Chamberlain who is also a cat owner.
Cat containment is a controversial issue for many people around the world who own cats.
Since New Zealand is one of the countries with the highest cat ownership, Chamberlain wanted to find out the people’s attitudes toward restricting their pet cats’ freedom.
The result of her team’s study showed the need to educate cat owners more about responsible pet ownership.
The High Costs of a Cat’s Unrestrained Freedom
Many people are used to putting a leash on their dogs when taking them for walks. They also train them not to hurt other animals and people.
Many dog owners dote on their pets, but it is easy to observe that they still exert a level of discipline so their dogs can live in harmony with everyone at home and in the neighborhood.
But when it comes to cats, these animals are often given absolute freedom. They are free to go everywhere, and come back home like they have committed nothing wrong even though they have killed birds, rummaged through trash bins, and stolen or destroyed a neighbor’s belongings. For most cat owners, these acts are mere acts of mischief.
Cats are small, innocent animals. Why should they not be forgiven?
But when there are 40 bird species already wiped out by cats, the issue becomes a crucial matter.
Moreover, since cats are hunters by instinct, they also prey on other wildlife like lizards, insects, bats, and even bigger animals like rabbits.
How Much It Means to Be a Responsible Cat Owner for Everyone including Your Cat
Based on Chamberlain’s study, out of the 395 New Zealanders whom her team surveyed online, only 6% practice cat containment which they believe benefits their cats as well as the world.
On the other hand, 30% believe the opposite and do not care about the consequences of letting their cats loose.
“Our results demonstrated that if we want to encourage more cat owners in NZ to keep their cats at home there are a variety of barriers that should be addressed,” said Chamberlain. “It’s not as simple as increasing people’s awareness of the issue of free-roaming cats, cat owners need to have the capability to engage, the opportunity to be able to keep their cat at home and the motivation to do so.”
For those who want better protection for their cats, wildlife, themselves, and their community, here are practical tips from Predator Free NZ:
- Microchipping and desexing of cats. Microchips help to easily identify a cat as owned, while desexing prevents unwanted pregnancies.
- Build a cat enclosure or provide your pet with a ‘catio’ which will allow your cat to still explore your backyard.
- In case you are not yet prepared to keep your cat indoors all the time, strive to keep your cat at home one hour before dusk and an hour after dawn for the protection of some animals it is fond of hunting like lizards.
- Put bells to your cat’s collar which have been proven to be effective hunting deterrent. Also, choosing bright-colored and ‘scrunchie’ collars for cats are a big help.
- Keep the number of your pet cats to a minimum. It is also best to select an indoor cat for a pet.
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Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog
