Curiosity really can kill

Experts agree that life indoors is much safer for cats.

People wouldn't think of allowing their dogs to wander freely around the neighborhood, but too many let their cats stroll the streets. And I doubt that there's an animal welfare group in America today that would argue with Stephen Zawistowski, executive vice president and science adviser at the ASPCA headquarters in New York City: "For their own benefit and for the benefit of the communities where they live, owned cats should not be allowed to roam freely." Life is simply safer indoors.

It used to be that many pet owners let their cats outside without a second thought. Now some realize that the outdoors aren't so safe. Although coyotes, stray dogs, birds of prey, even alligators are real potential threats to outdoor cats, Zawistowski says, they have a greater risk of injury from fights with other felines. Cars also pose a danger. "People have this notion that cats are cunning enough to avoid being hit by cars, but that's just not true," he says. Other hazards include licking deadly antifreeze, eating toxic plants and getting ensnared in traps meant for other animals.

Despite the dangers, some cat owners insist their pets are safe and happy outdoors. Sometimes cats remain on the porch, and traffic can't be found for miles, but that's rare. Rural New Hampshire resident Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, an anthropologist and author of "The Tribe of Tiger," says indoor/outdoor cats may not enjoy as long of a life, but such cats that insist on life outdoors will be happier.

To enrich the indoor environment for your cat, hide food to "hunt," rotate toys to alleviate boredom, and create window perches to enjoy. There also are ways to let your cat hang out outside safely (see box above). If you're not sure whether you should let Kitty outside, remember that if your cat has never wandered the neighborhood, then she won't know what she's missing. And our own romantic notion of a cat's life outdoors usually isn't very realistic.