Scientists discover letting your cat outdoors poses major risk to your health (opens original article in a new tab)

Scientists warn that allowing cats outdoors increases health risks due to zoonotic pathogens, with outdoor cats carrying higher pathogen loads and contributing to public health concerns through fecal contamination and wildlife interactions.

• Outdoor-roaming cats have three to five times higher odds of carrying zoonotic pathogens than indoor-only cats
• Cats allowed outdoors carry similar zoonotic pathogens as feral cats, with 60% of owned cats having unsupervised outdoor access
• Outdoor cats contribute to public health risks through fecal contamination and transmission of pathogens like rabies and Toxoplasma gondii
• Preventing unsupervised roaming is recommended to reduce health risks for humans and animals