This list was developed over a lifetime of experiences with many, many cats. Each and every item on this list happens every day. The best policy is to keep your cat inside!
- Neighbors – When cats go outside they may use your neighbor’s yard and garden as their potty area. If your neighbor has cats, they may see your cat outside and get excited or agitated, which may prompt them to start fighting with other cats in the house or spraying inside their house. Be a good neighbor and keep your cat inside!
- Cars – Thousands of cats get hit by cars every year. If they are lucky, they die instantly.
- Car engines – Cats seek warmth. In the winter they tend to climb up inside car engines where they can be subsequently ground up.
- Anti-freeze – Cats like the sweet taste of anti-freeze, and they will lick it if able. Anti-freeze is extremely toxic and your cat will die a painful death within hours of ingesting it. It can take less than a teaspoon to kill a full-size cat or dog!
- Poisoning – There are people who don’t like cats and will set out poison on their property. Others may put poison out to get rid of other wildlife that wanders onto their property and your cat may accidentally ingest it.
- Fighting – Your cat could be seriously injuried or killed by dogs, raccoons, other wildlife or even other cats.
- TNR – Your cat could become part of a TNR (Trap-Neuter-Release) project and impounded or relocated.
- FELV – Feline Leukemia destroys a cat’s immune system. It is transmitted through body fluids. The vaccine for FELV is only 70 to 75% effective. Some cats infected die within two years.
- FIV – Feline Immunosuppressive Virus also destroys a cat’s immune system. It is transmitted through body fluids and cuts a cat’s lifespan in half. There is no vaccination for FIV.
- FIP – Feline Infectious Peritonitis. FIP is always 100% fatal. Tests and vaccines for FIP are not reliable.
- Animal Abuse – Cats are sometimes shot with BB guns; burned with lighters, firecrackers; tortured by people causing loss of limbs, eyes, etc.
- Getting Lost – People think that because they have lived in the same house for a number of years that their cat is too smart to wander off and get lost. NOT TRUE. People also think that because their cat has never left the front yard that it won’t go any farther. NOT TRUE.
- Getting Trapped – Your cat could get lost in somebody else’s garage or utility shed. He could suffer brain damage if trapped in extreme heat or could suffer frostbite if trapped in extreme cold.
- Research Labs – Your cat could get stolen and sold to a research lab. This practice does go on, even in Minnesota!
- Parasitic Infections – Your cat could eat something (rat, mouse, bird) and die of a parasitic infection
- Impounded– Your cat could get taken in by someone thinking it is a stray. They might keep your cat or take it to an impound or animal shelter.
- Unintentional Poisoning – By pesticides, lawn products, etc.
- Fleas, ticks, worms, ringworm – Your cat could transmit these to other pets and people in the household.
- Drowning – Your cat could accidentally fall in a swimming pool and drown.
- Steel-Jaw Traps – People who live in the country think it’s great to let cats out to roam. But many times domestic dogs and cats get caught in steel-jaw traps intended for other animals.
Courtesy of: OAR O’Bryonville Animal Rescue http://www.theanimalrescue.com
Minnesota Spay/Neuter Project 