"CatNipped" wrote in message
...
Here, counter these facts:
Indoor cats...
have a life span of 12 - 20 years
As do outdoor cared-for pets in safe environments
are not exposed to disease
but are exposed to an increased risk of diabetes and obesity, not to mention
anxiety disorders
will not get abscesses from fighting neighborhood strays
yup, agree
will not be threatened by dogs or wildlife
yup agree
will not suffer injury or amputation from leghold traps
yup agree, but then neither will urban cats in New Zealand.
will not suffer from frost bite
yup agree
will not be hit by cars
yup agree
will not get lost
unless they accidentally get out - then it's more likely
will never go hungry
if they have an owner who ensures that
cannot be abused by strangers
it is less likely, but there is no guarantee that people inside the home
will not abuse them
are safe from chemicals and fertilizers
you don't keep disinfectant and deterents in your house?
cannot be stolen
it is less likely, but not impossible
are happy living indoors
some are, some aren't
They're also more likely to find themselves on mood-altering drugs and have
their claws lopped off.
Outdoor cats...
have a life span of only 1 - 5 years
Nope. Compare like with like - pets with pets. No ferals. And even then,
unless you can produce worldwide figures, your figures relate only to the
States. If that is their lifespan, how come my two are both 10, and the vet
who saw one of them a couple of weeks ago spoke of him having "at least
another 6-10 years"? How come I was having a conversation yesterday with a
colleague about her 18yo cat? You've been brainwashed.
will be exposed to leukemia, kitty AIDS, parasites, etc.
yup. Parsites are easily treatable, most other diseases can be vaccinated
against.
will fight - causing expensive vet bills
Antibiotics ain't expensive
are maimed or killed by dogs and predators can get caught in leghold traps
depends on where you are. I know of one cat that has been killed or maimed
by a dog. And that was before laws changed to make it illegal to let dogs
roam. Any roaming dog now runs a very high risk of spending the rest of its
life at the pound. We don't have leghold traps in the suburbs, only in the
wilderness areas where, whether anyone likes it or not, cats *will* be
killed for the sake of the environment anyway.
do suffer from frost bite
not here they don't. And not anywhere where they've got free access to a cat
door. Or a warm barn.
are hit by cars and injured or killed
yup. A risk that can be minimised by choosing your house carefully,
neutering your pets and keeping them indoors at night.
do stray from home and get lost
see above
can die from starvation
if they're ferals, yup. If they're pets, no.
are abused by strangers
very occasionally
are exposed to toxic lawn antifreeze
not here, they're not
are stolen
very rarely - more of a risk with expensive pedigrees than with moggies
breed, if not neutered or spayed, and add to pet overpopulation
but as pets *are* neutered and spayed, this isn't part of the issue, is it?
That's actually a straw man
Disagree? Which of those things above are wrong? OK, I already know,
where
you live you have none of those dangers right? I think Mary has the right
of it - fingers in your ears chanting lalalalalalalalala!
I appear to be the one with my eye open, here.
|