Many cats love the good outdoors. But pet professionals agree that an indoor life is much healthier for them. That way, they’re protected from outdoor hazards. Also, their people are inclined to pay closer attention to them and see signs of health problems earlier.
The upshot of being an indoor cat? A for much longer life span. An all-indoor cat lives a mean of 13 to 17 years, whereas a cat who’s allowed to roam is more likely to survive just two to 5 years. That said, they might live longer depending on just a few aspects, like where they live.
The one absolute rule when making the indoor-outdoor decision: declawed kitties needs to be kept inside. We don’t recommend that you just ever declaw a cat, but sometimes people adopt cats who’re already declawed. Declawed cats can’t defend themselves from dogs, other cats, or predators, making the outside even riskier.
But in case your kitty’s got their claws, and also you’re still on the fence about whether to allow them to outdoors, listed below are just a few things to think about.
Pros and cons of keeping cats indoors
Indoor cats have quite just a few things going for them that contribute to their longer average lifespans. Outdoor cats face a whole lot of day-to-day dangers that indoor cats don’t.
Indoor cats won’t:
- Get hit by a automobile
- Wander away
- Be attacked by dogs, other cats, and predators
- Eat poison omitted by unthinking or malicious neighbors
- Pick up parasites like fleas and ticks unless they’re brought inside by one other person or pet
- Catch diseases spread by other cats
There are, nevertheless, some cons for cats who live indoors on a regular basis, too. You may take steps to avoid these drawbacks, even in case your cat stays inside.
The drawbacks may not outweigh the advantages of keeping your cat indoors, but they’re still vital things to think about.
Indoor cats might:
- Get bored and have interaction in unwanted behavior
- Grow lethargic and gain weight more easily
- Vocalize loudly once you leave, especially in the event that they have separation anxiety
Pros and cons of letting cats outdoors
While it might be dangerous to let your cat outside, outdoor cats do get some advantages from with the ability to experience life in nature. They’ve shorter average lifespans, after all, but perhaps you discover that consequence to be value it to your cat to give you the chance to roam as they please.
Cats outside enjoy:
- More exercise
- More stimulation from the skin world
- The pleasure of fresh air and sunshine
With those advantages in mind, it’s also vital to know the drawbacks of letting your cat roam outdoors. Cats who roam outside face way more dangers than indoor cats, and so they often die much earlier — often in painful ways.
Outdoor cats might:
- Get hit by cars
- Wander away
- Face attacks from dogs, other cats, or predators
- Eat poison omitted by unthinking or malicious neighbors
- Pick up parasites like fleas and ticks
- Suffer from diseases spread by other cats
Keeping cats protected while outdoors
In the event you want your cat to get the advantages of going outside without facing the risks of true outdoor cats, your best bet is to construct an enclosure in your yard. That way, your cat can watch birds and squirrels and do some climbing, yet be protected from most of the dangers they’d face outside of the enclosure.
Consider “catio” enclosures. They’re screened-in areas for cats, and a few will hook up with a window or cat door so your kitty can come and go from the home as they please. Outdoor playpens for cats can present another choice.
If you would like to let your cat benefit from the whole yard, you possibly can install special fencing to maintain them safely enclosed. These solutions aren’t all the time perfect for keeping wildlife out of your yard, but they could work to your particular area and living situation.
You too can train some cats to walk on a leash. This may allow you to spend time outside together with your cat while keeping them protected and under control.
In the event you let your cat roam outside, microchip them for identification and outfit them with a reflective, breakaway collar and current identification tags.
Keeping your indoor cat entertained
Many individuals who selected to let their cats outside imagine that indoor cats might be bored, chubby, and unfulfilled. You may prevent all of those downsides for those who’re a responsible, thoughtful cat parent.
To enliven an indoor cat’s environment, give them access to not less than two of the next:
- A floor-to-ceiling cat tree for his or her climbing pleasure
- A minimum of one window-side perch that offers them a view of a bird feeder or other outdoor wildlife
- An aquarium that they will enjoy watching but not fall into
- Interactive toys that require them to make use of their brain and their physical skills to amass treats
- Each day playtime, petting, and training
- A tall, heavy-duty scratching post that permits them to stretch, sharpen their claws, and leave their signature scent from the glands of their paws
- A cat wheel or other interactive exercise toy that may get them moving
Secure ways for cats to explore
Indoor cats live longer, healthier lives, but when you would like to let your kitty outside, there are safer ways to do it.
A cat enclosure gives you the most effective of each worlds. It allows your cat to get out in nature without facing the hazards of roaming where they please.
We don’t recommend letting your cat roam outdoors. The risks are too high, and for those who’re a diligent cat parent, you possibly can still provide an indoor cat with the entire advantages that outdoor cats get.
