Indoor Only vs Indoor/Outdoor For Dogs And Cats!

There are a lot of schools of thought when it comes to whether or not an animal should be indoor only or be allowed to be indoor/outdoor or maybe even outdoor only.  Most of our parents probably had outdoor only cats or at least indoor/outdoor and maybe an outdoor only dog.  That was just the way things were then.  I had outdoor only animals growing up because that's what my parents told me was the right thing to do.  They loved the animals but thought they were supposed to be outdoors.  So what is the right thing to do?  Well, while I do have an opinion this can also be a personal decision as well animal dependent.

For instance, you would not want a feral cat in your home as a pet because these cats are pretty street savvy and know their way around and are not friendly to humans.  If you want to help them it is better just to leave out food for them.

If you want a dog and don't want to have him/her in the house then you'll need to consider your

climate and the living arrangements for the dog because in your area there may be laws regarding outdoor dogs and tethering.  In my area it is illegal to have a dog tethered (chained or tied up) for any reason.

Most dogs are very people oriented so having them be outdoor only dogs will only break their spirit which is not why you get a pet. Dogs love to please their humans and they cannot do that if they live outside. 

Some people who own what people call "pitt bulls" will chain them up outside because they feel they look vicious and people will stay away from the house if they see them outside.  Also, a lot of dog fighters will do the same thing.  These people are doing the animal a huge disservice and definitely giving those particular dogs a bad reputation.  Of course there are people who take very good care of their dogs who are outdoor only and the animals are very well socialized and very well taken care of so there are people on both ends of the spectrum.

As far as cats go, having an outdoor only cat goes I really feel it depends on the cat and if you have a

cat that doesn't like humans a lot then it's okay for the cat to be outdoor only but if the cat likes humans and wants to be around them then the cat really should be indoor only because he/she is going to be too nice to survive outdoors.  There are too many toxic plants, cars and mean people who try to poison cats  out there to leave your sweet pet kitty outdoors on its own.

The picture on the left is a great way to have your cat outdoors without worrying he/she will get hurt.  Cat runs are a great idea for times when you want to be outside with your cat but do not want them to run off and want them to be safe.  They are available online and are relatively inexpensive compared to the expense of emergency vet care if your cat gets violently ill or hit by a car.

Contrary to popular belief, most cats are people oriented and love their humans as well so having a cat indoor only will help them as well as you because they will feel loved and you will have your furry companion with you.  They will also live a much longer life as well.

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