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There are many experts and veterinarians that feel very strongly about keeping domestic cats indoors. They state that this keeps the cats safe, and out of harm's way. This is a very valid point. We all know the dangers that lurk on the streets for our beloved pets. Thousands of cats die each year from being hit by cars, motorcyles, cat fights, and even from wandering too far from home, getting themselves lost. Keeping all of this in mind, why wouldn't we keep our cats safe and indoors?
The truth is that cats, especially kittens, have natural instincts to hunt, chase, and play. They need to exercise these habits, or they may become overly aggresive. A woman next door to me owned a kitten that would run towards her with extreme velocity, from clear across the room, and bite her ankles. He also pawed at the window several times a day, whenever he saw a bird fly by. He wasn't content with string to play with, like many cats. He required an extreme amount of attention, always meowing at his owner to throw his favorite ball across the room so he could chase and attack it. The kitten tore up the carpet, the wicker chair, and even gnawed on her shoes. My neighbor asked me if she should see a pet behavior specialist, to help calm her kitten's aggresions. I suggested it might be a good idea, but first she should try letting her cat go outside during the day. Of course she was skeptical to my suggestion, knowing the dangers that cats face on the streets. But since pet behavior specialists can be quite expensive, she decided to give it a try.
The next day, she, quite hesitantly, let her kitten go outside for the very first time. And in the beginning, the kitty was a somewhat bewildered at this new experience. He sniffed the grass, cement, gutter, and everything around him that he could smell, to familiarize himself with it. Within 15 minutes though, he was scurrying around the yard, playing and running, as growing kittens should.
Domestic cats have been trained over the years to adapt to humans' way of living. We've taught them to use the litter box, come inside at nighttime, and respect their owners. But when we take a look at our domestic cats' family members, we can easily see that they are not, by nature, what we have trained them to be. Cats have natural instincts to hunt, run, and play rambunctiously. And although some of us owners have allowed our cats to go outside and play, we repremand them when they make a kill (especially if they bring it into our garage). We scold them and yell at them as if it were a wrongdoing. Cats are animals, and animals have survival instincts. And those instincts, as much as we may dislike them, include being rowdy and even killing birds and mice. Put simply, it's just who they are.
In conclusion, letting our precious cats outside may not be such a bad idea. We all love our cats, and are very aware of all the potential dangers lurking on the streets, but it just might be in their best interests to let them out. It will not only give them a chance to exercise their natural instincts, but it will give them freedom. Just be sure to train them to come back inside at night!
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