Table of Contents
Why do people in the UK let their cats out?
Ideally all cats would be allowed access to outdoors to express their natural behaviour and in the UK, the majority of people let their cats go outside. However, in built-up areas, there can be a large number of cats, each with a dwindling territory size and many people are choosing to keep their cats inside.
Why are cats allowed to roam free UK?
The only protection UK cats have is under antiquated property laws. The lack of any status gives cats the unique status of the “right to roam“. They do not have to be securely confined and can roam without any fear of legal repercussions for their actions as they cannot trespass.
Are cats safe outside at night UK?
Cats Protection recommends that you keep your cats in at night. Cats are natural hunters, making them more active at night time, and some studies show that more road traffic injuries happen at night. Therefore, we recommend keeping your cat indoors at night to protect them from the hazards of the roads.
Are cats an invasive species in the UK?
Domestic cats are an invasive, non-native species and occur on all continents around the World. Cats in the UK are mostly owned, although some small populations of feral individuals do persist in some areas. While our owned cats are generally well-fed at home, they can still be active hunters.
Can you legally own a cat UK?
According to the Theft Act of 1968, cats are considered property in the UK, which means that a lost or stray cat belongs to its owner, and you need to do everything possible to return it to its rightful and original owner.
Do indoor cats live longer UK?
Over 90\% of domestic cats in the UK are free to roam outdoors every day and these ‘outdoor cats’ generally live shorter lives than cats that are kept indoors all the time. This is because they are exposed to dangers such as road traffic accidents or attacks by other animals.
Why should I keep my cat indoors?
When humans domesticated cats, we took on the responsibility for their health and welfare. Part of that responsibility is to keep cats safe and in good health. For those holdouts for letting cats roam free, consider these top reasons to keep cats indoors.
Should cats be allowed to run outside?
Many cat lovers are now savvy that indoor cats are safer cats, while others still think that cats deserve the freedom to run in the great outdoors. When humans domesticated cats, we took on the responsibility for their health and welfare.
Why are country cats dangerous to humans?
Country cats are not as car-savvy as their city brethren, and all it takes is one misjudgment of distance or speed. Outdoor cats are below wildlife predators in the food chain, and they are sitting ducks for owls, raptors, coyotes, and native big cats.
What percentage of cats turn in to shelters?
Statistics show that of “owned” cats turned in to shelters, only 3\% are eventually relocated with their owners. Collars can break, and even microchips do not guarantee a cat will not be adopted and kept as an indoor cat by someone else.