House cats should not be allowed to run completely free outdoors. There are many different reasons why house cats should not be allowed completely free outside, there are also very good reasons why your cats should at least be allowed to play in controlled areas outside. Good reasons for your cats to play in controlled areas outside include entertained (not bored) and exercise. Also see the main HOUSE CATS page

Top Five Reasons Why house cats should not be completely free outdoors

1. Safety

If you live in a city there are many vehicles, people and other security and safety issues. Your cat is not safe if allowed to roam outside freely. If you live rural, there are even more dangers as many predators eat small cats, including many predatory birds and other wild animals. Wherever you live, if your cat roams freely outside and is allowed to go anywhere, the risks of harm or damage is very real.

Other people (and feral cats volunteers) also trap cats and your cat could be stolen. (The American president Trump also claimed that immigrants eat cats and dogs, but this has never been proven, so may probably be a lie. (Yes, the American president lies, so it has become MORE difficult to know what the real truth is about cat eating in America.)

2. Cat Health

Cats roaming freely outside are at greater risks of getting infected with a great variety of diseases, including bird flu and other serious life threatening virus and bacterial infections.

3. Fights

Outside cats are more likely to get injured or die in a fight with another cat or with any other animal (more generally dogs)

4. Human Health

Outside cats could bring sucking lice and other parasites into homes. Humans can become infected with viruses, bacteria, parasites or fungi as well as a host of other zoonotic diseases.

5. Nature

Outside cats are at risk from hypothermia or heatstroke. Storms and sever weather pose significant risks to cats.