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Giving your cats freedom to roam outdoors is to most people the natural thing to do, and will allow them to lead active and stimulating lives. The cat is one of the most successfully adapted hunter in the animal kingdom today, and its shape, size and personality have developed accordingly. Most cats will continue to hunt, and sometimes eat their prey, even when there are plenty of food for them at home., and many owners feel that this very natural activity should be respected. However, the following are just some of the potential dangers that an outdoor cat may face on her daily exploration.

Traffic on the roads. The danger of your kitten involved in an accident will obviously be greater the nearer you live to a road, and the busier it is, especially at night when the kitten may be 'blinded' by a car's highlight.

Encounter with another bigger animal: a dog, perhaps, with a wild predator (such as a fox), or even a person.

Infection with a number of serious feline diseases when she meets other cats that may already be infected.

Fights with other (bigger) cats

She may be shut in another building, or garage, or stranded in a tree or on top of a roof, or drops into a drain/gutter

She may be 'catnapped" by someone else who thinks that she may be lost, and does not belong to anybody

You can help reduce the risks when allowing your kitten outdoors by taking the following steps:

Let her out during the day but perhaps keep her indoors at night, which is a more dangerous time for cats to be outdoors because of the presence of other wild animals and traffic on the roads. A reflective collar is a good idea, especially in the dark winter months. Dawn and dusk are the most common times for cat fights to take place, so make sure that your kitten is indoors at these times.

Encourage her to come back inside during the busiest times on the road, such as the rush hour in the mornings and evenings, perhaps by making these her regular meal times.

Ensure that she is protected against all the infectious for which vaccines are available. Your vet should be able to advice you.

De-worm your cat regularly. This is especially important if she is a prolific hunter, as roundworm eggs eaten by earthworms, beetles, rodents or birds may in turn infest the kitten when eaten.

Make sure she is wearing a collar with identification tag, with information of her ownership, or has had a microchip implanted in her.

Have her neutered, as the risk to entire animals are much greater than neutered ones. An unneutered tomcat may wander for a long distance and will very much be likely to fight other cats over territorial rights, causing greater risk of disease; an unspayed queen may become pregnant.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Larry_Pang
http://EzineArticles.com/?Minimize-The-Risk-For-Your-Outdoor-Cat&id=700384

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