Is it safe or unsafe to let a cat be outdoors overnight?

Question:(in terms of germs, not just accidents...other people taking etc...) Our cat ran out of the house yesterday-no sign of her but she has done this before and comes back inside, I always make sure to give her bath and all...but what about wierd cat diseases and things !

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: (in terms of germs, not just accidents...other people taking etc...) Our cat ran out of the house yesterday-no sign of her but she has done this before and comes back inside, I always make sure to give her bath and all...but what about wierd cat diseases and things !

First of all, this question was more for the PETS forum.
Second, cats should not be left outdoors at any time as far as
most vets say. The average life expectancy for an outdoor cat is about 3 years, compared to twelve for an inside cat (a good example here is that my cat--who will be 15 in May--has never been outdoors in his life).
Some of the most common dangers for outside cats include:(1) Outside cats are more prone to infectious diseases because of encounters with wildlife and other outside pets. Also, outside cats are more likely to consume poisons (believe me because I know from experience--you do not want to watch a pet die from being poisoned). If your cat must be outside, make sure she is fully vaccinated and spayed, or neutered.
(2) An outside cat darting across the street is a perfect target for a moving vehicle and cats that are hit by cars rarely survive. Also, cats will crawl up through the bottom of a car (if it is open underneath) to sleep on the motor to keep warm. If the car owner is unaware the cat is there, and starts the car, it can kill a cat.
(3) If you have ever noticed a cat spraying, it is marking its territory. If your cat gets into a territorial fight with another cat and gets bitten, she could develop an infection that could send her to the veterinary emergency clinic.
(4) Not all people love cats (hence, the poison warning.). And many cities have laws against stray animals, including cats. Your cat may be picked up by Animal Control and you'll pay a hefty fee to get her back. Make sure you keep identification on your cat at all times.
Protect your cat if he/she goes outdoors by:
(1) Provide your cat with a harness or a collar that includes an identification tag.
(2) Make sure they are fully vaccinated and are spayed or neutered (unless you want a litter of kittens, too).
(3) Attach a bell to their collar to prevent them from killing songbirds or small mammals and to alert people that they are around (the bell makes noise as they walk).
(4) Don't let cats out without a leash if you have busy roads or dangerous dogs in the neighborhood. Consider teaching your cat to walk on a leash. Many cats can satisfy their desire to be outside with a daily walk.

Train Your Cat to Walk on a Leash:
1. First, get your cat used to wearing a harness indoors. A harness is far superior to a collar because it is more difficult for a cat to free herself from one.
2.When she is used to wearing the harness, tie a rope or a cord to it and let her drag the rope so the she gets used to the feel of a pull on the harness.
3.Once you have done that, you can attach a lead to the harness and attach yourself to the other end.
4.Make sure the first few times you lead your cat outside that it's a quiet time of day, so that she doesn't get frightened.
5.To coax your cat to walk along with you, offer her special treats.
6. Remember that grass and woods are much more interesting to your cat than a concrete sidewalk.
You can still let your cat outdoors and keep it safe. According to Drs. Foster and Smith you can use:
STROLLERS treat your cat to fresh air, outdoor sights and sounds without undue stress on joints. You can also bring your cat on your longer walks, without worrying about kitty getting tired. These are like baby strollers, but are closed in on the sides so your cat can't escape, but have an open mesh cabin so they can look out at the scenery.
KITTYWALK SYSTEMS give your cat the freedom to be outdoors, but not escape. Industrial strength fishnet and metal wickets keep your pet safely contained and protected. Interlocking systems can be used alone or snapped together for additional exploration space.
HARNESSES allow your cat to experience the outdoors without choking or wriggling out of a standard collar. Leads give your cat a little freedom, but also keep her close.

Hopes this helps explain why outdoors and cats don't mix.

unless your cat has been in an obvious fight then you should not have to worry about kitty diseases. Cats are clean by nature--hence liking themselves continously--you should not have to give kitty a bath every time she comes in unless she has something like tree sap or motor oil on her fur

PS this should be in the Cats section

bad idea. cats fight cuts get infected, fleas from eating mice or other things, if u live in the country, owls will grab her, unless u have a huge yd with safe places for her to hide, keep her indoors

I think your question has come through to the wrong forum, this is the genealogy forum, you might get a better response in this forum posted below.
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/dir/;_ylt=Ah...
hope this helps.

**IF** your cat has all vaccinations and is spayed or neutered, it's a matter of choice. Feline leukemia **is** communicable.

Cats prefer it, but safe is a relative question. Some cats fight to the death, they can get hit by cars, eat rat poison, cross paths with cat-hating dogs . . . so it's a hit and miss.

However, a cat going missing for a day is not all that unusual, especially if it is not spayed/neutered. More than three days, cause for concern, they seldom travel far from the food dish.

At night is definitely when I would not let my cat out. The risk of being hit by a car is far greater. A spayed and neutered cat is less likely to pick up diseases as it decreases their social life and cuts down on fights.

In southern California, cats make up a larger percentage of coyotes' diets than rabbits or ground squirrels. If your cat picks up a tick, you could get Lyme disease. Your cat could get rabies from a possum or fox.

We keep ours cats indoors, full time, with a kitty door in the door between the kitchen and garage, and litter boxes in the garage. Ours live an average of 15 years.

Probley won't get diseases but it safer to keep the cat in