Let me start by saying I love cats and I love wildlife. I grew up with cats and have had cats live to a ripe old age. One of my cats was a feral cat that eventually stayed with me as a spayed, vaccinated, and very happy indoor cat. Another cat came to me after being removed from a very abusive situation. Blackberry was vaccinated, neutered, and kept indoors as well. Both he and Kit Kat lived healthy, well cared for, and to a very old age. I kept my cats indoors because I loved them and wanted them to be safe.

Then I began working with native wildlife; songbirds and small mammals. I quickly learned that pets, dogs and cats, and cats in particular can have a very negative effect on wildlife, and collectively on the wildlife population. It seems that no matter the age of the cat, no matter how well-fed the cat is, and bell or no bell on the collar, cats do damage to wildlife, especially during baby and fledging season-the time when young birds are on the ground, a few days away from being able to fly, and most vulnerable to predation. I believe there is research available that documents this.

As a wildlife rehabilitator, I can tell you that only very few cat-attacked animals that come to me for care survive. Distraught homeowners bring me birds and small mammals, usually babies, which the cat brought in. Although there is usually no blood whatsoever and not much visible damage other than missing feathers or fur, the damage is quite severe. The cat's mouth is loaded with bacteria that can cause infection. The sharp claws leave deep puncture wounds not easily visible to the naked eye that damage internal organs and rupture air sacs in birds, equivalent to rupturing lungs. Imagine the fear and pain these animals suffer in a cat's mouth or claws. Personally, I don't consider predation by dogs, cats, or people as "nature taking its course."

As an animal lover I will try to appeal to pet owners' love for their pet and sense of responsibility toward their pets. I'm pretty sure that pets kept indoors aren't hit by cars, poisoned, pet-napped, fighting with other animals, picking up diseases like leptospirosis and feline leukemia, reproducing all over the place, or being preyed upon by other animals. I think a trip to the local animal shelter is an eye-opening experience of how animals really aren't generally being well cared for because if they were, there wouldn't be so many of them ending up in animal shelters. Maybe it's just me but I believe adopting a pet is about making a lifetime commitment to looking out for that animal's best interests and providing a good life. These animals don't have a choice but we do and I feel it's our job to take very good care of them for the rest of their lives. I don't believe pets are expendable and/or disposable. Too many times I get phone calls from people regarding their missing cats and small dogs that are left outdoors, especially at nighttime. Did the owl take it? The coyote? Somebody looking for bait for training fighting dogs? Somebody grabbing animals for the purpose of abusing them? We know that dogs and cats can pick up parasites, like worms and fleas, and diseases, and bring them home. Cats (and dogs) using the neighbors' lawns and children's sandboxes for a litter box don't make the neighbors very happy, either. If you feel your cat just absolutely must go outside no matter what, how about constructing a predator-proof, outdoor cat enclosure? Or walking the cat on a leash, like people with dogs and ferrets do? I know from working with several veterinarians over the years that medical care for pets can be quite costly, with few people able to afford the acute care, surgeries, labs, and followup care, resorting instead to having their pet euthanized they simply can't afford the vet bill. Probably some of these situations can be avoided with education and good animal care but of course, sometimes even the best cared for pets have accidents.

I guess my point is, aside from the detriment to native wildlife that I see regularly in my line of work, my hope is that people who love their loyal animals that can bring so much joy to a household will make a serious, concentrated effort to bring an animal into their home only after educating themselves on the species, knowing that they can make a lifetime commitment to the animal, adopt from legitimate shelters and not impulse buys or pickups out of the cardboard box animal trade. I hope you will consider spaying and/or neutering your pet, and keep current on the immunizations for the animal. I hope you will be kind to your pet and encourage your children to do the same. Each life is valuable and by making the decision to share our lives with an animal, we need to make a lifetime commitment to that animal.

So please, if you care about your cat or small dog, consider keeping that animal indoors, for the safety of your pet, our wildlife, and yourself.