Let’s be clear: I like animals. I’m just allergic to cats, so my children’s love of felines has had to be supplemented with cat-sitting gigs and visiting with pets; I can’t have them at my house. As amusing as cats can be, the allergic reaction isn’t worth it to me.
Recently, we’ve had a few neighboring cats visit our yard. They are exploring now that we are between dogs. I shooed away the cats and started researching “how to keep cats out of the yard.” The internet deep dive was on par with a political discussion at the Thanksgiving table. People were arguing over a cat’s roaming rights versus domestic animal safety. I don’t know where I land on the scale of animal freedom rights. I don’t want people’s pets peeing on my plants or killing birds. I have also never owned a cat. The interesting part was learning that cats are the only domestic animals allowed to roam unattended. It’s all tied to legislation. As we know, laws come into place because something happens.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs each year, with 756,701 of those bites needing medical attention. Though the number of reported cat bites is significantly less (around 400,000), the data doesn’t include cat scratches. The massive numbers of recorded emergency room visits are why dogs require a license and leash laws are in place.
My daughter and I had a debate on whether cats should be allowed to roam free. We took nonexistent laws out of the equation. We found that most pro-outdoor cat owners argue it goes against the cat’s nature to be kept inside. It is an odd argument because any animal’s nature is to be wild. Cats are not unique in that way. We also vaccinate pets and give them flea treatments to keep the animal healthy, but humans decide on those treatments, which cancels the need to only go with a cat’s “nature.” People supporting indoor cats were vocal about the dangers of free-roaming cats due to car accidents, wild animal encounters, feral cats, and disease. There was hardly any mention of giving cats “monitored outdoor time.” If a cat is an inside cat, it never goes outside. Again, my cat-owning experience is nonexistent. My cat-sitting experience leads me to believe that cats are independent and not interested in going for a walk or playing catch (unless a mouse is involved). We found no resolution.
We’ve been told to spray peppermint to deter the cats, but perhaps it’s time for another family pet. It’s just my excuse to get a dog. We don’t harm or promote harming animals, so please be kind.
FYI, for lower-income residents and anyone caring for feral cats, the Tri-Lakes Humane Society and FarVets are having a spay/neuter clinic on July 12. Please call 518-891-0017 for more information. Pre-registration is required. I hope all your inside, outside, and around-the-town pets are safe.
