Pets form an important part of many people’s lives, providing meaningful companionship. However, our pets can sometimes also be a source of unwelcome pathogens and diseases, particularly if they frequently roam outdoors.
From Biology News - Evolution, Cell theory, Gene theory, Microbiology, Biotechnology via This RSS Feed.
Native cats and wild cats are not domestic cats. Domestic cats did not evolve as part of the food chain in these environments, so when they are introduced, they literally contribute to the extinction of species.
https://vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk/cats-and-wildlife/
“Research has estimated that as many as 4 billion birds, 22.3 billion mammals, and 1.1 billion amphibians and reptiles are killed by free-roaming cats per year in the United States,” Guyette said. “Domestic cats have also been implicated in the extinction of at least 63 species of birds, mammals, and reptiles.”
The raw numbers mean nothing though, and the extinctions are all on small islands. Again, for the last time, read the study I posted, which analyses the data about cat predation in a scientific manner. The fact that predators kill prey animals is entirely to be expected.
Domestic cats are basically identical to the African wildcat from which they are descended. Eurasian wildcats are also incredibly similar. Wildcat does not refer to any wild feline species, they are a specific species of cat from which domestic cats are descended (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildcat)
Even taking the ecological damage (which is immense) out of the equation, it is significantly safer for cats to stay indoors. The ecological debate is just one of several reasons not to let them out. From the link I posted:
“Cats that freely roam live a significantly shorter lifespan compared to cats that live inside – only 2-5 years compared to the lifespan of an indoor cat of 10-20 years,” Guyette said. “This is due to a number of factors, whether it is contracting illnesses from other animals; picking up worms, fleas, or ticks; or being injured or killed by cars or wildlife, including coyotes and dogs.”
If you care about the safety and well-being of your cat, and you care about the environment, don’t let cats out, full stop.