Cat Locked Up is It Good Not to Let Cats Out?: The first thing a person faces when deciding to adopt a cat is the question: is it bad for them not to leave the house? Can cats live locked up? And it is that from the first day, the desire of the cats to go out and explore the outside world is noticeable, resulting in a great dilemma for the owners. Now, new research could have the answer, helping feline lovers give them a dignified life that advocates for their health and safety.
This study was conducted by researchers at the University of Maryland, USA, using data from the DC Cat Count. This Washington DC survey placed 60 motion-activated wildlife cameras spread across 1,500 locations. Based on this technique, the cons of allowing cats to go out whenever they want were analyzed, finding that there are more dangers than benefits, not only for them but for the fauna in general.
The Importance of Thinking Twice Before Letting Pet Cats Out
Many people believe that the predatory nature of felines is sacred and, therefore, something that should not be altered, but this study, analyzed mainly by Daniel Herrera, a student at UMD’s Department of Environmental Science and Technology (ENST), could make people think twice. Street life for cats is full of deadly dangers, so opting for other options might be for the best.
“In addition to the risk of being exposed to diseases that they can later carry to humans in their families (such as rabies and toxoplasmosis), outdoor cats threaten native wildlife,”
Herrera added.
This is another important point since it has been shown that felines can be a factor for certain birds to become extinct and other species to endanger their populations.
The risks of cats coming into contact with rabies were also discussed. “We found that the average DC house cat has a 61% chance of being found in the same space as raccoons, the most prolific rabies vector in the United States,” Herrera said. In addition, previous studies are concerned about the way in which cats reduce biodiversity and degrade the health of ecosystems.
It is worth mentioning that cats are not only in danger of contracting rabies outside the home but can be affected by various factors such as being hit by a car, ingesting poison such as antifreeze or pesticides, attacks by stray dogs, being stolen or being exposed to the bad intentions of other unknown people.
This is why this study recommends not letting cats out because from the moment one is adopted, responsible owners must be able to create a pleasant environment for them at home, away from risks. Mortals they face when neglected.
