Indoor cats usually live longer, healthier lives. Indeed, vets estimate outdoor cats live two to five years while indoor cats can live 17 years or more. However, pet owners have different reasons for allowing their cats to live an outdoor lifestyle, including letting the cat live an engaged life. If your cat has roaming habits, you'll need to watch out for the following outdoor dangers she might face.
Accidents
The biggest fear of any pet parent is seeing their animal get hit by a car. Cats are fast, agile creatures, and sometimes they're just grazed by the vehicle. Cats notoriously hide their pain, but you might notice she's limping or breathing heavily. More subtle signs include frayed nails and smudges in her fur. Take her to animal care hospital services immediately if you suspect a car accident.
Fights and Attacks
Cats are both predator and prey. So, sometimes they get into fights with other cats or similarly-sized creatures. Other times they can get attacked by larger animals, especially dogs. In either instance, you'll probably notice blood and a bite wound. If you don't notice the wound right away, it can start to fester. If you think your cat got attacked, run you hands over her body to detect bites.
Poisons
Cats are curious creatures, and this curiosity extends to their food and drink. Cats aren't always the most discerning consumers, and they can easily eat meat that's rotten or poisoned. They also like to drink antifreeze. They've even been known to get into pest poison. Subtle signs of poisoning include changes in appetite and salivation. Vomiting, diarrhea, and twitching are more serious signs.
Diseases
When cats spend time outdoors, they're more likely to come into contact with other cats. So, they can pick up diseases from those stranger cats. Below are some of the common diseases outdoor cats can contract:
Each of those diseases carries its own symptoms. Outdoor cats need their vaccinations on a very regular basis. You should also have your cat tested by the vet when you bring her in for her vaccinations.
Parasites
Cats can also pick up parasites during their outdoor excursions. Fleas are the most common feline parasite. Ticks can also bite them, which can lead to the same Lyme disease that infects humans. Likewise, mites can infest their ears, which leads to itching and irritation. Cats can also develop intestinal worms from ingesting bad or raw meat.
Make a trip to the emergency vet hospital if you think your cat has suffered any of the above issues.
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