There has been a lot of debate on this subject, specially since most owners believe that they owe it to their cat to give them a life in wild, at least some of the time. There may be arguments on both sides but one thing is clear: According to Jack Sparks, vice president of communication with the American Humane Association in Colorado, "studies show that the average life expectancy of an outdoor cat is just two to five years, while an indoor cat can live 17 years or more."

We believe that as a general rule cat should remain indoors, for these reasons and many more:

• Outdoor cats bring fleas, fungus, ear mites, and ticks into your home to your family
• These parasites and wreak havoc on your cat's health and can infect you and your home as well.
• Unsterilized cats contribute to the already over saturated cat population.

·        There are already way more cats than people can care for and cats have sexually transmitted diseases too!

• Cats can get stomach and/or heart worms from other cats and even your garden.

• Young children playing with cats from outside can get worms. Though the treatment consists of a simple pill, if gone unnoticed can cause complications.

• Cats are less likely to be hit by a car crossing the living room than crossing the street.

• Your cat can't tear up your unappreciative neighbor's garden or garbage.

• Neighbors have the right to call the authorities concerning any damage caused by your cat on their property. There have even been cases of an unfriendly neighbor calling the pound to have a cat "put down" claiming it was a stray.

• Your cat is less likely to be the target of abuse inflicted by some children.

• We've all heard stories...though most children don't mean to, cats often get hurt when kids play rough or try to hold an unwilling cat. Also you don't have to worry about angry parents at your door claiming that your cat scratched their child.

• Cats can be easily poisoned by certain plants, antifreeze, and certain foods they find outdoors.

• You can control your cat's exposure to all of these poisons by keeping them safely indoors.

• Your cat has a lot less chance of being cat-napped indoors.

• Believe it or not, this happens way too often and not only to pure breeds.

However should you decide to let your cat outdoors, here are a few tips to help you and your cat….

• Declawed cats can be let outdoors only under supervision with a harness.

• Letting a declawed cat alone outdoors is an act of cruelty not compassion! Declawed cats cannot defend themselves against cats and dogs. We once found a declawed cat dead at the base of a tree that it tried to climb in order to escape a dog.

• Let cats out without supervision only in the country where there are no any close roads.

·   Cats get hit by cars way too often and so the farther you live from a road, the better chances your cat has of not getting hit.

• Make sure that your cat has been sterilized, do your part in controlling the cat population!