6 Reasons Why Cat Parks Should Be Banned!
If you feel like your cat could use some exercise or a playdate, you might want to know why are there no cat parks. However, while cat parks sound adorable, in practice they would likely be a nightmare!
Even though cats are social creatures, they are also territorial. Cats also take much longer to warm up to other animals and their environments than dogs. Cats need weeks to get used to another cat or dog, so meeting dozens all at once in a new environment would be too stressful.
Having adopted two scared Maine Coon cats 2 years ago, I know for a fact that my Maine Coons would run a mile if they encountered another cat at a cat park!
Read on to find out why cat parks aren’t a very good idea, and learn how you can make your cat’s life fun and exciting without cat parks.
Why Are There No Cat Parks?
If you’ve ever wondered why there are countless dog parks, but you’ve never been able to find one for cats, here’s a list of reasons why cat parks can cause more harm than good.
1. Cats Don’t Need That Much Exercise
Although many pet cats do not get as much exercise as they should, they don’t need as much rigorous activity as dogs.
Cats can run at great speeds but they have poor endurance, so it’s better to exercise them in short bursts.
Even though many cats would appreciate having some outdoor space to explore, a huge public park designed specifically for cats to run in would not be an efficient use of space.
2. Cats Are Territorial
Cats are social creatures and can live in great numbers peacefully, but this balance takes a long time to develop.
Even though some feral cats live in large groups, a cat that’s used to living on its own won’t take kindly to new cats!
Even though some cats live communally, they still have territorial instincts.
If you bring your cat to a completely new environment filled with strange cats, your cat might become hostile and aggressive out of fear.
These are the Signs Of Aggression that you might notice.
3. Cats Are Easily Overwhelmed
Have you ever switched laundry detergents or rearranged the furniture and realized your cat won’t come out from under the bed?
When pet cats are confined to a house or an apartment all their lives, new sensory experiences can be scary and overwhelming.
If you do want to bring your cat outdoors for some supervised playtime, it’s a good idea to keep a cat on its owner’s property at first and slowly let your cat get accustomed to new spaces.
Otherwise, all the new smells, sights, and creatures can cause your cat to run away or freeze in place (source 1).
4. Cats Take A While To Make Friends
When cat owners bring home a new kitten or dog, it takes weeks to introduce their new pet to their other cat properly.
The new addition to the family has to stay in another room, so your cat doesn’t feel as though its space is being invaded.
This gets both animals used to one another’s scent without the opportunity for a fight.
Even if your cat seems lonely, taking it on a random playdate to meet a strange new cat isn’t a good idea.
While this works well for most dogs, cats don’t make friends right away. Sometimes, even two cats in the same household will never become friends, instead learning to tolerate one another’s company!
If you think your cat could use another companion, then you should consider adopting a new pet rather than taking your cat to meet strangers (source 1).
5. Cat Parks Can Be Dangerous
Not only would a cat park lead to lots of stressed or fighting cats, but it could also be unsafe for your kitty.
Cats need many vaccinations so they don’t contract conditions like:
- Distemper
- Rabies
Taking your cat outdoors around other cats could result in infection, and in the case of feline leukemia, the consequences could be permanent.
Furthermore, when cats are stressed, they tend to run and panic. This can result in them tangling themselves up in their leashes, or even escaping their harnesses if they aren’t properly fitted.
The outdoors is also filled with dangers for an indoor kitty, including:
- Wild Animals
- Dogs
- Pesticide Use
- Cars
Even if you take your cat to one of the local public parks on a leash and harness, there are lots of potential dangers.
Many dog owners do not keep their dogs on leashes, despite leash laws.
Feral cats can start fights or your cat could become infected after touching or smelling their feces.
Just keep in mind that cats are small, fragile creatures, so you should keep it in a well-fitting harness on a tight leash to ensure it can’t escape or run too far.
6. It’s Bad For The Environment
While letting your cat explore the great outdoors has many advantages, it’s also dangerous for the environment if you aren’t careful.
Outdoor cats and stray cats pose a major threat to native wildlife. Their desert-dwelling ancestors became opportunistic hunters, catching prey whenever they could since food was harder to find.
In places like the United Kingdom or the United States, however, when a single cat can catch hundreds of birds, small mammals, and other prey animals within its lifetime, it becomes a huge problem.
Sadly, cats are already responsible for the extinction of dozens of birds.
Cats are also experts at reproduction! Free-roaming cats that aren’t spayed or neutered can produce multiple litters a year, and each kitten in that litter can produce several litters of its own less than a year later!
A great number of cats in any habitat is an impending ecological disaster.
These ruthless predators will decimate local wildlife and can even contribute to habitat loss, and continue to produce more stray cats that, statistically, will likely die of illness, infection, or injury between the ages of 2 and 5.
As a result, it’s important to provide supervised outdoor access for your cat instead of letting it roam free. This is safer for local wildlife and for your kitty! (source 1).
How To Exercise Your Cat
If cats don’t get enough exercise and enrichment, it can lead to destructive behaviors like:
- Chewing
- Spraying
- Shredding
Here are some different ways you can exercise your cat:
Indoor Play
You don’t even need to go outdoors to provide your cat with hours of entertainment!
Playing with your cat instead of relying on floor toys is a good start when it comes to exercising your cat.
A great way to get your cat moving is to run up and down the hallway with its favorite feather or wand toy.
You can also purchase interactive toys like robot mice to keep your cats entertained while you’re away.
DIY Fun
You don’t have to buy anything fancy to entertain and exercise your cat! Simply taping two cardboard boxes together and cutting holes of varying sizes in the sides and top can result in hours of fun for your cat!
You can make your cat new toys out of paper towel tubes, newspaper, or just about anything.
Some people even like to make their cats little obstacle courses or mazes to add some extra fun!
Leash And Harness
Did you know there are cat harnesses made specifically so you can take your cat for a safe walk outside?
While it can take cats a while to adjust to a new harness, this is a great way to let your cat experience the outdoors safely.
Go On A Hike!
For more adventurous cats, it might be rewarding to head to a state park or nearby hiking trails.
Keep in mind that cats don’t have the same kind of stamina as people or dogs, though.
Thankfully, there are lots of cat backpacks for sale that allow you to bring your kitty with you without getting tired!
Go Swimming!
If you happen to have a cat that likes water, such as a Maine Coon, you could teach your cat how to swim at a local pool or lake!
Just make sure to stay by your cat at all times so it doesn’t drown or get swept away by the waves.
Build A Catio
You can encourage your cat to exercise more by adding lots of cat trees, shelves, scratchers, and other furniture to your space.
An even better way to do this is by building a catio!
That way, your cat will have its own space to run around in, and it will also give your cat a taste of the outdoors without any of the danger.
Conclusion
If you’re wondering why are there no cat parks, it’s because cats are not as friendly or open as their canine counterparts.
Even though cats are social creatures that benefit from having companions of the same species, it takes them a long time to get used to any new animal.
Cat parks would be overwhelming for a first-time visitor, and would likely lead to injuries or escaped cats instead of some relaxing fun and exercise.
