Moving to Scottsdale with two cats - one is outdoors, does anyone have outdoor cats, is it safe for them to be left out?
I've read about the wildlife that can be a danger to small outdoor pets, but wondering if it's not as big of a threat in Scottsdale. Also can anyone offer advice on looking for places to live? I'm considering a small town home so my cat can go in and out easily. Thank you!!!
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Hello! I know many people here that have outdoor cats and small dogs. The biggest thing to consider would be how close to non-believers land you will live. If you live in areas with less homes and activity then you'll have a bigger risk of coyotes and rattlesnakes. They do wander into homes that are near the open desert and have been known to attack smaller animals.
I meant non-developed*** land. Sorry auto correct changed it
haha thanks for clarifying I was like hm I wonder what that means. Thank you!
Definitely depends on your location and what you consider "safe." I've had friends that have had their outdoor cats disappear within a few days, and others that have roamed for 15 years. The closer to the east side of Scottsdale, and anywhere considered north Scottsdale are likely to have a significantly increased presence of predators. As a side note, Maricopa county is trying to clean up some of our stray cat population, so there is also the chance that it could be picked up by animal control. It's not likely, but possible.
phew good to know. I will try to steer clear of those areas. Thank you!
I'll repeat some about depending on what part of Scottsdale you love. North Scottsdale will have a bit more wildlife that you will have to be careful. Southern Scottsdale by Tempe has a lot of feral cats, which could cause some problems for your outdoor cat if they don't get along or is not fixed. Both are very urban areas so there is a lot of car traffic. Also there are birds of prey basically everywhere but definitely more prevalent in the north.
I'll repeat some about depending on what part of Scottsdale you love. North Scottsdale will have a bit more wildlife that you will have to be careful. Southern Scottsdale by Tempe has a lot of feral cats, which could cause some problems for your outdoor cat if they don't get along or is not fixed. Both are very urban areas so there is a lot of car traffic. Also there are birds of prey basically everywhere but definitely more prevalent in the north.
I have an outdoor cat in Scottsdale. Old Town Scottsdale...more city than desert. If you're near the desert, you might have a coyote or other predator to worry about.
I have seen outdoor cats at apartment complexes. Even in the extreme heat of the summer. They will seek out shade or go near the pool in order to get water. There are coyotes and sometimes a bobcat roaming around so there is some risk.
Cool thanks Jon and Lauralee!
It depends on what part Of Scottsdale you are moving to. On the outskirts of town meaning rural areas there are a lot of birds of prey and wild cats. Your kitties may end up as a meal. On the other hand, if you live around old town or the city you should be ok.
I live on the south side. There are several feral cats that use my yard as part of their territory. I haven't witnessed anyone in my neighborhood specifically, but I've seen people in other pockets around town that leave food out for them... everything seems like it's been pretty thoroughly covered, it depends on where you are exactly. It seems like there's a pretty good rundown of the area, you can use your best judgement based off where you currently live and what you know about your cat.
:) thank you!
There are all sorts of threats to a cat in the city or on the fringe.. dogs, cars, coyotes, poisoned rodents, owls, hawks, poisonous snakes, poisonous insects, other cats, evil humans, etc.. I'm not saying you should keep kitty indoors all the time, maybe an arizona room would be enough?
Where are you going to be in Scottsdale. As mentioned above, it totally depends on the area. Also remember that the heat is real in the Summer. Wildlife is the bigest risk but I would get recs from your vet about other dangers.