Dear Dr. Walt: Our cat disappeared for two days. We found her because she was wearing a tag and a neighbor called us. We are obviously nervous about letting her out again. Can we trust that she will return home in the future or should we try keeping her indoors?
Dear Dr. Walt: I have an outdoor cat that is having a problem adjusting to my neighbour's cat. They are always getting into fights and my cat seems to be on the receiving end of the abuse – he's always coming home with cuts, bite wounds, and some of these injuries progress to abscesses. Is there anything I can do to prevent these conflicts?
Both these questions have the same answer – it is best for your cat to be kept indoors. While opinions vary on this statement, the medical facts do not. Overall, cats kept indoors have less health problems because they are not exposed to situations that can cause harm (e.g., fights, injury by motor vehicles, etc.) nor spread infectious diseases (contact with other cats, wildlife, etc.). Provided with the appropriate play equipment (and I use the term 'equipment' as it is truly amazing the 'jungle gyms' available for cats) and interaction/play time, the majority of cats acclimatize well to an indoor-only environment. For others, having a confined, outdoor play area may provide them with the best of both worlds. There is no other way to ensure one avoids the potential for harm or getting lost. If you still decide to allow your cat's access to the outdoors, ensure the following:
- Annual vaccinations, on the recommendation/advice of your veterinarian. Discuss whether feline leukemia virus vaccination (an immune suppressing and cancer-causing virus) would be appropriate for your cat.
- Have your cat microchipped to increase your chances of having her returned should she become lost. If you elect to have a collar ID tag, make sure the collar is a tear-away design to ensure that the collar does not harm your cat if it becomes caught on an object.
- Consider discussing the current cat conflict with your neighbour - I am sure they are also experiencing the same concerns with their own cat. If one or both are not neutered, ensure this is done to reduce territorial aggression. Sometimes developing a cooperative, outdoor access schedule that avoids both being outdoors at the same time may help.
- Consider training your cat to walk on a leash - it can be done!
