Do you let your feline pal go outdoors? If so, you may want to curb your kitty’s wandering privileges. Fluffy may love going outdoors, but she’s really much safer staying inside. Here, a Tampa, FL vet discusses keeping your cat inside.

Dangers of Going Outside

Fluffy may think she’s a fierce, vicious predator, but at the end of the day, she’s actually quite small and fragile, and can easily be hurt. As soon as your furball sets her paws outside the door, she is exposed to several dangers. Cars, alligators, weather, snakes, stray dogs and cats, insects, chemicals, and other hazards can all threaten your pet. Outdoor kitties are also much more likely to contract parasites, or to get lost, injured, or even killed. Cats are both safer and healthier staying indoors!

Creating A Kitty Haven

To keep your pet happy and purring indoors, you’ll need to make your home both comfortable and entertaining for her. Make sure Fluffy has lots of toys to play with and pounce on. A good window seat is also a must. Cats can spend hours just watching birds and squirrels! It’s also important to offer your kitty some pet furniture that encourages healthy activities, such as jumping and climbing. (Tip: cat towers are great for this!) Set out some pet-safe plants for your feline friend to nibble on and hide behind. You can find a full list of safe plants at the ASPCA website. Last but not least, we also recommend playing with your cat daily, to burn off her excess energy. (Bonus: this will be fun for you, too!)

Stopping Breakout Attempts

If you tell Fluffy she’s grounded, she’ll probably just blink and meow to be let out. However, you should never punish your furball for trying to get outside. This will just scare and/or anger her, which may just make her want to escape even more. You’ll need to use a bit of trickery here. Squirt your cat with water when she goes near the door. You can also try making a loud noise. Bang two pots together, sound a bike horn, or play an alarm on your phone. These things won’t hurt your kitty, but they will annoy her, which may make her wary of the door.

Please contact us, your Tampa, FL pet hospital, for all your kitty’s veterinary care needs. We’re here to help!