If you are considering an idea of becoming a cat or a dog owner, you should take some time to consider the living arrangements for your pet. Unfortunately, quite many people adopt pets thinking about raising an outdoor animal. But take a moment and think how many people in your neighborhood you know that keep their dogs or cats outdoors at all times? The fact is, living outside is not safe for your pet. Adopting a pet, you need to make sure you are ready to let it into your home.
It won’t be a lie to say that cats and dogs both love being outside because it’s their natural environment. Cats love to chase birds, climb trees, and hide in shrubs. Dogs adore barking at the neighbors, chasing squirrels, and digging. However, keeping your pet outside at all times you may expose it to many dangers that you might not even think of.
Threat number one to your pets is other animals. You never know when your dog or cat will encounter a stray or stranger cat or dog from down the street. You may know your pet is properly vaccinated, but you do not know that health condition of other animals outside. Moreover, if your dog or cat gets into a fight with another animal you have no idea what it may lead to. Your pet can be seriously injured or harmed. Unless you supervise your pet at all times when they are outside, you may never be sure in their safety.
Other dangers of allowing your pet to live outside are cars and other people. A cat darting across the street late at night is a recipe for disaster. What if your dog gets loose from your yard and encounters a child? How will your dog react? You hope that your dog will be good and stay friendly. However, what happens if the child begins to taunt or tease your dog or poke a stick at him? If your dog bites or scratches someone, chances are, you will be responsible for your pet’s actions. Many pet owners have found themselves in a serious situation when their dog or cat has acted aggressively when outdoors.
It is highly recommended that you keep your pet inside. For cats, you can help them explore their natural instincts inside by giving them plenty of places to run and play inside your home. Buy your cat a good scratching post with a high perch and install a window seat so they can gaze at the birds outdoors. Dogs tend to get more outside time than cats. Owners take their dogs out for walks, and in some cases allow their dogs, unsupervised access to the backyard from time to time. Cats are usually either indoor pets or outdoor pets. Nowadays, it is more common for owners to keep their cats indoors as they begin to realize the dangers of allowing their cat to live outdoors at all times.
When your cat or dog stays indoors, you can also help control fleas, ticks, and the exposure to heartworms. This is not to say that you should not treat an indoor pet for these problems. All dogs, whether they live indoors or outdoors, should be on a monthly heartworm preventative. Both cats and dogs should also be treated with monthly preventative. It is important to remember though, if your cat or dog lives outdoors, you will have many more problems when it comes to fleas and ticks.
As you can see, there are many reasons why you should keep your dog or cat indoors. Indoor pets live longer and healthier lives than those that live outside. This includes all pets, once you make them an indoor animal; you need to protect them from anything that might happen when they get outdoors. They now depend on you and it is your responsibility to provide a home for them.