A new campaign in Toronto wants Canadians to keep their animals- wild and domestic, out of harm's way.
Did you know that the average life span of an indoor cat is 15 years where as the average life span for an outdoor cat is only 3 years?
Did you also know that studies in the US have shown that outdoor cats kill over a billion wild animals every single year?
The Keep Animals Safe Campaign aims to increase public awareness about the dangers of cats being outside without supervision- dangers to themselves but also to wildlife.Cats that live outside have a dangerous life ahead of them- not just because of extreme temperatures- there are some extreme hazards.
-Predators: Coyotes of course draw a lot of attention when they attack pets but there is so much more urban wildlife that can prey on cats. Some raccoons may back down from a fight but even the biggest, baddest cat can get in trouble with a large adult raccoon acting on the defensive. Most people also forget about birds of prey. However, small mammals such as cats can be hunted, seriously injured, killed and eaten by raptors.
-Vehicles: The most common injury veterinarians see in outdoor cats is car related trauma. It’s also important to note that these are only the cats that make it back home and then to the veterinarian practice.
-Human cruelty: Unfortunately, if you let your cat outside they are at the mercy and care of anyone, some people do not want to love and protect your cat.
-Chemicals and toxins: Sweet smelling toxins like anti freeze are extremely toxic to cats. Pesticides, fertilizers and other household chemicals can also cause serious harm and injury to a cat. You can lock away yours to protect your cats but if they are walking in to someone’s yard- you have no idea what they may be getting in to.
-Cat specific diseases: You never know who your cat is talking to- they could be exposed to feline leukemia, feline immunodeficiency virus, feline distemper and rabies.
-Parasites: Outside they can pick up any number of internal and external parasites- some of these can be passed to humans. An outdoor cat can pass fleas and ringworm to her whole family- feline and human alike.
-Displacement: Your ‘lost’ cat may have been picked up by an Animal Control Officer, a concerned citizen or anyone in between. They could be adopted by someone else or they could just go to a crowded animal shelter. If you’re not there to speak for them, they can’t speak for themselves.
So what is a cat owner to do when they want to keep their cat safe but want to let them venture outdoors? Keep Animals Safe has the answers you’re looking for- cat enclosures, leash training, outdoor supervision are all great answers. Just because your cat isn’t safe outdoors alone- doesn’t mean it has to stay inside!
The Keep Animals Safe Campaign also wants to remind people about the wildlife that is lost when cats are allowed to journey un-supervised. There are millions of outdoor cats in Canada which means the delicate balance of many ecosystems has been disturbed in many communities. Even cats who are well fed can’t turn off their need to hunt. Cats are such good hunters that they kill most of the animals they stalk. Unfortunately, even animals that get away usually still die- internal bleeding, punctured lungs and air sacs and infection are all fatal complications to an animal that has survived a cat attack. Most animals who were attacked by cats die within 72 hours due to serious infections they get from the bacteria that is in the cats’ mouth and under his nails.
Cats belong indoors and Keep Animals Safe wants to let you know why. Check out the website www.keepanimalssafe.ca and do your research- if your cat is happiest outside then make sure it safe, too!
Pura Vida