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Why Not Outside?Written by Pat Johansmeyer Angeldolls Ragdolls There are many dangers for any outdoor cat, dangers that far outweigh the pleasure of lying in the grass or chasing a butterfly. Your Ragdoll is, by nature and design, an indoor only cat. It lacks the street smarts to protect itself from other animals or a car speeding down the street. The trusting and affectionate nature that makes it such a wonderful companion leaves it defenseless against human predators. The beauty that attracted you to this breed attracts many people including those who would happily take your Ragdoll home to share their lives or to sell to a pet store or research facility. It could also attract the attention of someone who does not share your appreciation for cats and enjoys harming them or drops them off in the nearest shelter. A cat outdoors is at increased risk of being exposed to many diseases. Some of these, such as Panluekopenia (distemper), FIV, Feline Leukemia, and FIP, are deadly. Others, such as upper respiratory infections, can cause lifetime health problems. All are too high a price to pay for enjoying the great outdoors. Your Ragdoll's silky, semi-long coat is beautiful and low maintenance but ill suited for the outdoors. It can easily pick up external, disease carrying parasites such as ticks, fleas which carry a blood parasite that causes the life threatening FIA (Feline Infectious Anemia or commonly known as Hemobartonellosis), body or ear mites and fungal infections such as ringworm. Burrs and seeds can become entangled in their coats, causing irritation. A cat may enjoy chasing and catching small prey but can become infected with internal parasites (roundworm, hookworm, tapeworm) by eating their prey or ingesting a flea. For an animal, a simple mosquito bite can result in a deadly heartworm infestation. You prepared your home carefully for your Ragdoll, making sure there was nothing that would put it at risk. This kind of preparation isn't possible with the outdoors. There are too many things that can't be controlled. Pesticides, fertilizers and other chemicals can be invisible to the naked eye but deadly when your Ragdoll gets them on it s coat and ingests them while grooming itself. Small antifreeze spills in driveways are common. Antifreeze is sweet tasting and extremely attractive to animals. It s also deadly. Unfortunately, by the time you knew your cat had ingested it, irreversible damage would be too far advanced to save the cat from a very painful death. Your Ragdoll was born and raised to be your loving companion for many happy years. It trusts you completely to keep it safe. We know you want it to be happy. Please don t feel you are depriving it of anything by keeping it indoors. It will enjoy looking out a window but it won't miss being outside. All it really wants is to be with you. Spoil it rotten shower it with love, attention and toys but protect it so it can be there to love you for a long, long time. PLEASE don't let your Ragdoll go outside.
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