this post was submitted on 11 Jan 2025
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How is it terrible for the cat? Their natural habitat is outside!
No, it isn't. Domestic cats do not belong outside. The exposure to numerous hazards literally cuts their average life expectancy by half.
Their natural habitat is outside in the near-east and egypt, not anywhere else. That's not to mention, most people live in urbanized areas with a lot of hazards that aren't natural.
Mostly cars, but it's also how they end up getting lost or grabbed by people thinking they are lost, and also wildlife like coyotes or owls and raccoons often can kill them because they don't have a natural sense of fear for predators anymore. As well as transfer of disease from mingling with other outdoors cats. Or getting pregnant by meeting up with other outdoor cats while not being fixed themselves.
"fixing" is such a weird way to describe breaking something
It’s fixing a problem.
Cats do not have cars in their natural habitat.
time to get rid of cars then
also, you let your children play outside? how terrible!!! they might be hit by a car! be a responsible parent and lock your child up so they are not exposed to any danger ever
If the child is not old enough to understand what a car is and that it's dangerous and moves fast and what roads are and to keep off them then yes, don't let the kid outside unless supervised.
Cats don't and can't understand any of that.
Cats are smarter than you think. Sure, they won't be looking both ways before crossing the street. But they will know which streets are too dangerous to cross and they can usually hear incoming vehicles using those pointy things on top of their heads called 'ears'.
Now if you live close to a very busy street I can understand you want to keep your cat inside. However, I live in a more rural area where people drive more cautiously and it's really fine to let cats roam freely.
No it isn't. Cats are domesticated. They have no natural habitat because they aren't wild animals.
The house cat's natural habitat is a door jamb.
A cat's natural habitat is not North America. They are very destructive to our local ecology.
I get that they can harm the environment (especially when there is an overpopulation); that's not what I'm asking. The question was how is it bad for the cat?
After they domesticated themselves I am pretty sure their natural habitat is whatever we decide it should be. We already are deciding if they can breed at all so....
All the cats in my neighborhood that were outdoor cats have been killed within a week. Coyote has had some good eats this week.