By TERESA CHAGRINThe recent case of rabies in a bat who was caught by a cat near Espanola is a reminder about the dangers that allowing cats outdoors poses to wildlife, humans, and the cats themselves (“Child cuddles rabid bat” link).
Cats who roam outdoors are exposed to a variety of dangerous contagious diseases that are also transmissible to humans, including rabies, plague, tularemia, and toxoplasmosis. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that there are approximately 300 cases involving human contact with rabid cats each year. That number is expected to rise with the increase of misguided trap-neuter-re-abandon programs. Cats’ food stations attract wildlife, which aids the spread of rabies and other diseases from one animal to another and from cats to humans.
In addition to diseases, outdoor cats face threats from speeding cars, extreme temperatures, parasites, attacks by predators (including cruel humans), and more. The average lifespan of an outside cat is just 2-5 years, compared to 12-15 years for a cat who lives indoors.
Cats are not safe outdoors and this incident is just one more example why. To ensure the safety of cats and people, and to humanely and effectively address the homeless cat crisis, we must require that all cats be spayed and neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, and kept indoors.
