this post was submitted on 11 Jan 2025
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How many animals live longer in a zoo compared to the wilderness? Is that a valid reason for keeping them enclosed?
I'm not pro letting cats outside (in urban areas, anyway), but your argument is a bit lacking. Maybe mention that the hazards are things like cars and people actively trying to kill cats, because otherwise it'll seem like you're just against animals being animals (I.e dying because other predators)
Your rebuttal is worse. We shouldn't let cats wander outside for the same reasons we shouldn't let zoo animals wander outside the zoo. They are not wild animals and they are not native to the environments we keep them in. It is bad for them and it is bad for the rest of the ecology. If someone thinks cats should be treated like wild animals they have no business keeping a cat in their home at all.