Should You Let Your Cat Go Outdoors?

Are you having trouble deciding on whether or not you should keep your cat indoors for the rest of its nine lives or let it go romp outside with the other kitties? Yes, you love your cat and don't want to deny your precious pet the pleasure of rolling in the grass and basking in the sun, but will the big wide world on the other side of your front door be kind to your furry little child once it steps outside? The choice you make could change your cat's life as well as yours, for better or for worse.

It's a known fact that cats are hunters by nature. Many people who know this feel that it's cruel to keep a cat locked up in a house all the time. Others feel guilty about it. When a cat is outdoors, it will have fun hunting down birds and mice, and if it finds a mate, it will procreate. Should this behavior be allowed by the cat owner who lets his or her cat out of the house, though? Will roaming the streets be a healthy way of life for that pet, and is it wise to let that pet roam? People who feel guilty about always keeping their cat indoors will often let their cat leave the house and return whenever it pleases. The love they feel for their cat causes them to make a decision that is based on guilt rather than foresight, and that decision may later trigger a feeling of regret.