Cat Information

Will my cat's health be affected if I let her outside?

It's getting near spring time and I want to let my cat outside on the porch, I will be supervising her so nothing bad can happen. But if I let her outside, will she be prone to health issues some how? Even though she will just be on the porch? and yes she is nuetered =]

Public Comments

1. no I have cats and they love to run outside all the time and they never have a reaction. Unless of coarse your cat has some sort of allergy.
2. She should be just fine. Sometimes she can be exposed to other cats, maybe, but other than that, everything should be great. It's actually probably better if you let her outside to get some fresh air and run around. She will thank you for it....cats love nice weather, even just to sleep in! :)
3. Has she had her injections? If so, then there should be no issues at all. My cats don't like being outside but do go into our yard when we sit out - they are all teenagers now and no harm has come to them. We do have to be careful of the plants we have as some can be very harmful to your pets. If you're just on the porch, I'm sure she'll be fine with you there to take good care of her. Enjoy and good luck.
4. It's best to let an indoor cat stay in, I know that is boring but it is best for them. If your porch is screened in, I suppose that is safe as long as you are there. I used to bring my cat on the deck with me, but I was concerned after the first time what germs he could pick up or get a splinter.
5. You will probably help her health. Inside air is worse than outside.
6. The only problem I have had with letting my indoor cats outdoors is that they will eventually meet up with other cats. So make sure your cat is immunized against dreaded diseases such as feline leukemia..it is a killer. My aunt had several cats indoors and brought in an outdoor cat who was infected. She lost three of her indoor cats to that disease. Make sure your vet has your tested and given the immunization shot for that disease.
7. Careful. Probability of catching fleas increases greatly when you let your cat outside.
8. If you've got a screened in porch, then she's perfectly safe but you'll need to put some type of flea treatment on her (not OTC stuff - get something safe from the vet). If it's not screened in, then take her out with you on a leash and harness, as they are so quick and can take off in a minute if they see a bird or squirrel. If she's left outdoors, she subject to so many bad things - diseases from other cats, dogs, predators, poison, cars, neighbors who hate cats, people looking for bait for their fighting dogs - the list goes on. Cats enjoy the outdoors, but be sure she enjoys it safely.
9. Whenever a cat goes outside, he/she smells the other cats/animals and will want to be outside all the time! If your porch isn't screened in, she could get startled and "dart" away and you might not catch her in time to prevent some kind of accident. For the health and well-being of a cat (as well as keeping her / him from starting to spray in the house, because of the outside odors), it's just best to never let them outside. With enough toys and play-time with you, they'll be "happy cats". I have 12 indoor cats and they NEVER even TRY to go outside. When the weather is warm enough, I open the windows about 4", so they can lay on the sill and get the nice air. Then, when it gets warmer (not yet A/C weather), I'll raise the windows up further and put "bars" on the window screens, so the cats can't push them out. Anyway, that's my opinion. Hope it wasn't too much info for you. Good luck...............
10. yes feline leukemia is an airborne disease so if any felv+ cats have been around your cat could become exposed to this awful disease...other than that if your cat is vaccinated against this and you are supervising then everything should be ok
11. Is the porch screened in? Can she easily get off the porch? Those are going to determine if you cats health is affected - Make sure she's updated on all her shots. Make sure she's wearing a collar and is microchipped in case she gets off the porch and you lose her. You will also want to get her on a product like front line to protect against fleas and other parasites. If your porch is open, theres a good chance other cats have been on it. Many cats are harness trained, and go for walks. This might be another option for you. Good Luck, and it sounds like you are soon going to have a happy cat!
12. There is one more shot that cats need if they go outside - even on a screened in porch. Check with your vet about this one! Otherwise - is the porch screened in? If not, get your cat used to a harness. Cats are very curious - it is unlikely that you will be able to catch her if she darts after a bird or squirrell. Supervise her at all times! It is good that she is fixed! Good luck - she will probally love it on the porch!
13. Well since she is SPAYED (males are neutered, why dont people know the difference?) and if she's up to date on all her shots, there shouldnt be a problem. The only one I see is if she's wearing a collar with tags on a wooden deck. The tags can slip throught the slots and the animal (dog or cat) could get trapped and choke.