Oak Harbor’s recent spate of cat killings is a good reminder to cat owners that their pets belong indoors.

It’s dangerous outside. Cats can be killed or injured by dogs, coyotes, mean people or motor vehicles.

Cats can also be detrimental to the outdoors environment. Ask any gardener who lives in a neighborhood with cats roaming around. Or any bird lover who sees the feathery remains of cats at play. Cats are well-known killers of songbirds and for that reason alone should be kept behind closed doors.

A number of Oak Harbor residents are suspicious that the recent cat deaths, in which several cats have been neatly torn in half, must have been the work of a twisted individual. If so, the police will most likely catch the culprit. But most likely the halved cats are the product of coyotes, whose ability to kill cats is well known. The back half of a cat, one can surmise, is the meatiest part for a hungry predator.

True cat lovers always keep their pampered pets indoors. Feed your cat a healthy diet; make sure it is neutered; take it to the vet for regular checkups; and above all, keep it indoors where it is safe. Your cat will love you for it and live a long, healthy life.