Domestic cats are cherished members of many families, but experts are cautioning that allowing them to freely roam outdoors may place both them and the environment at significant risk. Research findings indicate that domestic cats that are allowed to freely roam outdoors not only kill many species of wildlife but are also at a significantly higher risk of being injured, falling ill, and dying prematurely.
As reported in Independent, it is estimated that in Australia, the country’s population of 5.3 million pet cats kills hundreds of millions of animals annually, including birds, reptiles, and small mammals. However, the consequences are not limited to the environment. A review of several studies indicates that domestic cats that are allowed to freely roam outdoors are at a significantly higher risk of being injured, falling ill, and dying prematurely.
