If You Cannot Commit to a Cat Like You Would a Dog, Do Not Get a Cat

ANIMAL WATCH - For many people, a cat is more than just a pet. It is a beloved member of the family, a companion that provides affection, comfort, and unconditional love. Yet every day, countless domestic cats are allowed to roam freely outdoors, exposed to dangers they cannot possibly understand.

As a lifelong cat lover and retired Los Angeles Police Department sergeant with approximately 23 years of law enforcement experience, I have witnessed firsthand the cruelty, neglect, and suffering that innocent animals can endure. Some of those experiences have stayed with me throughout my life. Others have occurred right outside my own front door.

In 2009, I discovered an injured cat wandering my street. Someone had shot him in the neck, yet somehow this little animal had managed to survive. I immediately took him to an animal hospital, where he received the medical attention he desperately needed. Fortunately, he recovered. That same cat went on to become a cherished member of my family, living safely indoors for many years until his passing in 2025. I often wonder what would have happened to him had nobody stopped to help.

Ten years later, in 2019, shortly after retiring from the LAPD, I encountered another cat on the same street. He was extremely sick, weak, and clearly in need of medical attention. In my opinion, he might not have survived another few months living outdoors.

Once again, I intervened. I took him to a veterinarian, obtained the medical care and vaccinations he needed, and welcomed him into my home. Today, he remains my faithful companion, living a comfortable and protected life indoors.

Two cats, rescued ten years apart, both found on the same street. Both might have faced very different outcomes had someone not cared enough to help.

And now there is a third. Recently, a small, affectionate young cat began visiting my backyard. I don’t know whether he is a stray or belongs to someone nearby who allows him to wander. He is friendly, playful, and trusting. He enjoys being petted, eagerly greets me when he arrives, and has gradually developed a bond with me.

I’ve been providing him with regular meals, fresh water, and an insulated outdoor shelter. I’m also working with someone involved in animal rescue to arrange for him to be neutered and receive appropriate veterinary care. Unfortunately, I cannot safely bring him into my home because his vaccination status and general health remain unknown, and I must also protect the health of my own cat.

So, for now, he comes and goes. And every time he disappears, I wonder whether I’ll see him again. Has he encountered a coyote? Has he wandered into traffic? Has someone harmed him? Or is he simply resting somewhere, unaware that someone is worrying about him? These are questions no animal lover should have to ask.

In my own neighborhood, three cats have been killed by coyotes, and others have been struck by vehicles. These are not imaginary dangers. They are real tragedies involving animals that had no way of understanding the risks around them.

During my years in law enforcement, one of the most important lessons I learned was that some of the most vulnerable victims in our society are those who cannot protect themselves. Just as a small child depends upon responsible adults for safety, guidance, and protection, domesticated animals depend upon us for their well-being.

A young child cannot always recognize danger or understand the consequences of a dangerous situation. Neither can a domestic cat. A cat cannot understand that an approaching vehicle may kill it. It cannot recognize that a coyote is hunting for its next meal. And it certainly cannot comprehend the intentions of a person who might deliberately cause it harm.

We would never knowingly allow a small child to wander through busy streets, exposed to traffic or individuals who might cause them harm. Why, then, do we accept unnecessary risks when it comes to animals that are equally dependent upon our judgment and protection? The responsibility belongs to us, not to the animal.

Yet we continue to see notices on neighborhood websites, social media, and Ring community alerts from heartbroken owners desperately searching for missing cats. Photographs are posted. Neighbors are asked to check their garages and security cameras. Families hope that somehow their beloved companion will find its way home. Sadly, not every missing cat does.

There is also the impact that freely roaming domestic cats can have on birds and other wildlife, creating additional concerns beyond the safety of the cats themselves.

I believe responsible pet ownership means doing everything reasonably possible to protect the animals we bring into our lives. If we expect dog owners to exercise responsibility by keeping their animals safely confined or under supervision, why should we expect anything less from cat owners?

There is another aspect of cat ownership that deserves serious consideration. I sometimes wonder whether people acquire a cat expecting it to behave much like a dog. Perhaps they envision an animal that constantly seeks their attention, follows their every move, or eagerly responds whenever they call.

But cats are not dogs. Cats generally have a more independent nature. They express affection differently, often on their own terms. Some are exceptionally affectionate and enjoy constant companionship, while others prefer their personal space. Neither behavior makes them any less deserving of love and protection.

When a cat does not behave the way an owner anticipated, what happens next? Does the owner become disappointed? Does that independence somehow lead them to believe the animal would be happier living outdoors? Or do they simply misunderstand the responsibility they accepted? I cannot speak for every owner’s motivations, but I believe these are questions worth asking.

Anyone considering bringing a cat into their home should first take the time to understand feline behavior, temperament, and the commitment involved in caring for one. A cat is not a dog that happens to meow. It is a different animal with its own instincts, personality, and emotional needs.

And just because a cat may not come running to you every five minutes seeking attention does not mean it doesn’t love you, need you, or depend upon you for its safety. An animal should never be placed outdoors simply because its personality or behavior did not meet someone’s expectations. If you cannot commit to a cat like you would a dog, do not get a cat.

Cats may be independent by nature, but independence does not mean they are immune to danger. Nor should it relieve their owners of the responsibility to protect them. For domestic cats, that means providing a safe indoor environment where they can receive proper nutrition, veterinary care, affection, exercise, and enrichment without facing the constant hazards of the streets. A securely enclosed outdoor space can also allow a cat to enjoy fresh air without roaming freely.

The Need for Stronger Municipal Laws

I also believe the time has come for local municipalities to seriously consider adopting ordinances that prohibit owners from knowingly allowing their domestic cats to roam freely through neighborhoods. We have long recognized the importance of laws requiring dog owners to maintain control of their animals. Yet in many communities, cats are treated differently, with owners permitted to allow them to wander unsupervised. Why should responsible ownership apply to one domestic animal and not another?

I believe municipal ordinances should require owners of domestic cats to keep their animals indoors or within secure outdoor enclosures, rather than allowing them to roam freely. Simply requiring cats to remain on their owners’ property is not necessarily sufficient. Cats can climb fences, jump walls, and escape ordinary residential yards with remarkable ease.

Such ordinances should also provide for meaningful fines when owners repeatedly and knowingly disregard these requirements. As a retired law enforcement officer, I recognize that any regulation must be reasonable, practical, and enforceable. Violations should be properly documented, and owners should not be penalized simply because a cat accidentally escapes despite reasonable precautions.

There must also be appropriate exceptions for stray and feral cats, along with protections for individuals and rescue organizations involved in humane trapping, sterilization, vaccination, rehabilitation, and adoption efforts. The goal should never be to punish compassionate people attempting to help homeless animals.

The purpose of these laws should be to encourage responsible ownership, establish accountability, and prevent unnecessary suffering before it occurs. Education is important, but education alone may not persuade every pet owner to take responsibility. Reasonable laws, supported by fair enforcement, can establish a clear standard of care.

We already expect people who own dogs to take reasonable precautions to prevent their animals from roaming through neighborhoods. I believe cat owners should be held to a comparable standard of responsibility. Owning a pet is a privilege that comes with obligations. Those obligations should not disappear simply because the animal happens to be a cat.

A Responsibility We Should All Share

Of course, stray and feral cats present a different challenge. The compassionate individuals and rescue organizations working to feed, sterilize, rehabilitate, and find homes for these animals deserve our appreciation and support. My concern is with the preventable dangers faced by domestic cats whose owners knowingly allow them to wander unsupervised.

I am not suggesting that every outdoor cat will suffer a tragic fate. But after rescuing two cats from dangerous circumstances and now caring for a third, I have seen enough to know how quickly an animal’s life can change.

The first cat I rescued survived a bullet wound. The second was struggling with serious illness. The third is a friendly little fellow who continues to face the uncertainties of outdoor life. Each has reminded me of the difference one caring person can make.

I spent much of my professional life protecting people. Today, I believe we should give greater consideration to protecting the animals that depend upon us. They ask very little of us: food, shelter, kindness, and companionship. Surely, we can offer them safety as well.

If you love your cat enough to make it part of your family, you should love it enough to protect it.

(Michael Barone is a retired LAPD Sergeant, Serial #33210, with 23 years of service. He writes about public safety, law enforcement history, and civic accountability.)