Getting a cat can be an exciting thing. Everyone wants to see their cat happy, and so many owners feel it is unfair to keep their cat cooped up indoors. Allowing your cat free reign of the neighborhood can seem like a kindly thing to do, especially when your cat always seems to find its way back home at night. However, there are some dangers associated with letting your cat roam free that you must consider before making the choice as to whether your cat will be an indoor cat or an outdoor cat.

Finally, remember that your cat is a hunter. This means that your cat may kill other small animals such as bunnies, mice, or even bats, and bring them home. In addition to it being somewhat unpleasant to come home and find a dead bat on the kitchen floor, this habit can also put your cat at risk. Bats may have rabies or other diseases that your cat could catch by killing its prey. Even a mouse could be dangerous if a mouse found its way into some rat poison or other pest-control product that people may leave around and then was eaten by your cat.

The first thing to consider is how to reduce the stress on the cat. If the cat has been an outdoor cat or indoor/outdoor cat, you should keep the cat in for a few days to a week before moving. To prevent the cat from running away, extra care should be given to keeping the cat confined to a private room while movers are loading household items, preferably with a companion person or other friendly pet. Make sure the cat has the necessary water, food and litter box and that the door is kept closed. Place a large note on the door saying "Do Not Open" to remind the movers and family members.

Outside access should only be given with supervision until you are sure the cat has accepted the move and it's new surroundings and won't try to run back to the old house. Even if your move is hundreds of miles from the old house, the cat doesn't know that and may try to find it's way back. This is, most often, the reason people lose their cats after a move.

With all these risks, consider whether it is really the kindest thing to do to allow your pet to roam free. Your kitty can have plenty of fun and exercise inside your house with cat toys, wind-up mice, and a human friend by its side, and do so without risk.

When it comes time to physically move the cat, transport the cat in a familiar pet carrier. If you have to buy a pet carrier, buy it a week or two before the move. Leave the carrier open in a place the cat normally spends time. Inside the carrier, place some familiar things like toys, a cushion, etc. The cat(s) will get used to seeing it and should go in and out, familiarizing itself with it and not associating it with anything negative.

Outdoor cat carriers come in a variety of different shapes and sizes. Some cat enclosures are simply a mesh like tunnel, giving your pet room to explore a little. Others are large, including not only a run, but also a condo style enclosure as well. If you plan on spending any long period