Free roaming cats inevitably pick up fleas and ticks and then bring these pests into the home. Fleas can cause anemia, skin irritations, and allergies in cats and transmit diseases to human through their bites. Unsterilized cats allowed to roam contribute to the high number of cats who end up in shelters every day.

Most veterinarians treat the injuries and diseases resulting from allowing cats outdoors unsupervised. In fact, tow out of three veterinarians recommend keeping cats indoors, most often citing dangers from vehicles and disease and other animals. And fewer than 5 percent of stray cats taken in by animal shelters are reunited with their owners.

The good news is that cats don't need to wander to lead fulfilling lives. The bad news is that many cat care givers believe the opposite. Free-roaming cats get a dangerous trade off: freedom to roam in exchange for the vastly increased likelihood of a premature, painful death. The humane society estimates that the average lifespan of a free-roaming cat is less than three years, compared to 12-15 year as for the average indoor-only cat. Even cats in safe suburban neighborhoods can meet untimely fates and never return home. Safely confined cats avoid these hazards: Traffic collisions with cars and other vehicle are common killers. It is a myth that cats are streetwise about cars . Cats are intelligent and alert but, like most other animals, stand little chance against fast moving vehicles. Cats will also climb into the engine compartments of vehicles for warmth and get caught in the moving parts of the engine when the car is started and are seriously injured or killed.

Rabies and other diseases that can be transmitted to humans are a serious public health concern. However, no vaccine exist for many diseases, notably feline immunodeficiency virus. According to the AAFP, as many a 15 percent of sick cats are infected with feline leukemia or FIV and many cats have both. These viruses are fatal and are transmitted through contact with other cats. Poisons exist on chemically treated lawns, in bait left out to kill rats or mice, and i auto antifreeze- which has an appealing taste that leaks from cars.

Other cats, dogs and wild predators such as coyotes, raccoons and foxes are potential enemies of cats and often engage in fights that leave cats injured or dead. Outdoor cats can suffer torn ears, cut eyes, abscesses and other injuries that can require veterinary care.

Free roaming and feral cats significantly contribute to the depletion of song birds and other wild and small animals, especially rabbit, and upland game birds. An estimate puts the number of of small animals and birds killed by free roaming cats in the millions. Studies have shown that most of the animals killed are small mammals and birds, approximately 25% are strong birds whose populations are already on the decline. Well fed house cats kill wildlife because of their instinct to hunt prey, not because the need the food. Cats are not a part of natural ecosystems, and their predation causes unnecessary depletion of wild animal and song bird populations. They also cause conflicts among neighbors, pitting bird lovers against cat owners who allow their cats to run free.

Cat allowed to roam freely outside not only face potential harm but also have an unintended impact on our communities. Local governments spend hundreds of millions of dollars every year controlling stray animals, from neighborhood cats defecating in sandboxes to feral cats living is urban areas. Cats are now a major focus of local animal care and control agencies, which in the past concentrated most of their efforts on dog control and rescue. In fact, animal control agencies were established long ago primarily to control the spread of rabies on dogs in the street, today, cats who roam, particularly after dark, are likely to come into contact with nocturnal creatures, including raccoons and skunks, the primary vector species of rabies in the wild As a result, cats are now the most common domestic vectors of rabies, with 278 cases of reported in 1999 in the US. Because of this, increasing numbers of cities and countries have been backing measure to inoculate cats against rabies.

Keeping cats safely confined is not new to many long term cat lovers. But it is news to many people who grew up with indoor-outdoor or outdoor-only cats. In fact, ancient Egyptians housed generations of indoor only cats in the granaries to prevent their precious grain stores from rodent predation and actually worshipped the cat for this value. Some cat owners believe that it is unnatural or even cruel to keep cats cooped up inside all the time. Unfortunately, this belief is self-perpetuating , especially if the pet caregiver makes no effort to provide the cat with a stimulating indoor environment.

While most cats enjoy being outside where they can hunt prey and explore their surroundings, it's a myth that going outside is a prerequisite for feline happiness. Playing with an indoor cat easily satisfies the animal's stalking instinct and keeps the cat stimulated and health through exercise. In fact, the indoor cat who gets lots of attention and playtime is happier that the indoor-outdoor cat who is generally ignored by human companions. Cat owners can easily create feline-friendly homes that meet all of their cats' needs. Many innovative and fun toys can help make the indoor life a great but safe adventure.

Cats do not have to be deprived of the great outdoors to be safe. They can be trained to accept harness and leash, and cat enclosures can allow them to experience all the pleasures of the great outdoors without all of the risks.