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https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/08/how-to-keep-outdoor-cat-indoors-protect-environment>
"Cats are a popular pet in Australia: second only to dogs, they’re found in a
third of homes, with about 5.3 million felines nationally.
Roughly half of owners keep their cats completely indoors, according to a
national survey by Animal Medicines Australia.
When cats roam, they risk getting hit by a car, going missing or getting into
fights. Now, with the arrival of H5N1 bird flu in Australia, they are also at
risk of catching and spreading the virus.
When cats catch bird flu, the virus can be deadly. One study, published by the
American Veterinary Medical Association, found domestic cats infected with H5N1
had overall mortality rates of 50 to 70%.
Keeping pets indoors, contained in outdoor enclosures known as “catios”, or on
a harness, also protects native wildlife. Each roaming puss kills about 186
mammals, reptiles and birds every year, according to research by the Threatened
Species Recovery Hub.
Cats that are contained have very little effect on native wildlife, says Rob
Brewster, the rewilding manager at the Invasive Species Council, whereas at the
other end of the spectrum, the impact on biodiversity is “profound”.
“A safe cat is an indoor cat,” says wildlife veterinarian Dr Tania Bishop.
“Roaming cats already face threats from cars, snakes, dogs, ticks, powerful
owls and disease. With H5 bird flu now at our doorstep, there is also a risk
cats could become infected by scavenging or coming into contact with sick or
dead birds.”
“Cat containment is one of those rare measures that’s a win for everyone – it’s
better for cats, better for wildlife and better for communities.”
But what do you need to know before bringing your outdoor pet indoors?"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
