Unpopular opinion: letting your cats outside is actually safer than keeping them in

I had a long talk with my neighbor last week, a retired vet who worked at the old animal hospital on Elm Street for 30 years. She said her biggest regret was how many indoor cats she saw with behavioral issues that solved themselves once owners let them roam. I always thought outdoor cats got hit by cars or caught diseases, but she pointed out that the stress from being stuck inside makes them develop UTIs and aggression way more often. My own cat Oliver, he started scratching my couch nonstop and yowling at 3 AM after I kept him in for 6 months. I let him out one afternoon and he came back 2 hours later, ate his dinner, and slept normal for the first time. Now he goes out for a couple hours every day and the difference is night and day. Has anyone else seen their cat act totally different after giving them outdoor access?

2 comments

2 Comments

lee_ward544d ago

Man that vet's story really hits home, my cat turned around the same way after being stuck inside.

morgan.joseph4d agoMost Upvoted

Cats are tough little creatures, they bounce back from all kinds of stuff... mine fell off the balcony once and was fine an hour later. Not every weird behavior means there's some huge underlying problem, sometimes they just get a little freaked out. A lot of people jump to worst case scenarios too quick these days.