Indoor Cat or Outdoor Cat? That is the Question!

Every new pet owner worries about how to care for and keep their pet safe. The indoor cat or outdoor cat question is one that comes up regularly for cat owners. Read on to learn what to consider the real risks of your feline living either full time in your home, outdoors or partly in and out.

Is this Siamese cat an indoor cat or outdoor cat — If you getting a new pet cat you might be trying to decide whether to nurture an indoor cat or outdoor cat

Photo by Alex Meier

Indoor Cat or Outdoor Cat? – How To Decide What’s Best For Your Feline

Deciding whether to keep your cat as an indoor pet or allow them to roam outside freely is a significant choice for any cat owner. It not only affects their overall health and safety but can also impact their general happiness and behaviour.

Whilst indoor cats can avoid the potential dangers of the outside world such as traffic on the roads, predators, and diseases, outdoor cats benefit from more natural, stimulating environments where they can hunt and explore.

It’s not an easy decision to make when welcoming a cat to your family, so below are some helpful tips to keep in mind. Like all owners, you only want to do what’s best for your cat as well as ensure they stay safe, so let’s first look at the outdoor experience.

The Outdoor World of Exploration

tabby cat outdoors — Cats with access to the outdoors often stay close to home despite their adventures out or doors

Photo by Hadley Woodall

Cats have instinctual needs for exploration and hunting, so being outside is the perfect place where they can enjoy a stimulating environment.

Outdoor cats generally enjoy a greater sense of freedom where they can roam, climb, and interact with the natural world, helping their overall physical and mental well-being.

Outdoor cats are exposed to more risks out of your control

However, whilst this all sounds great, this freedom does come with significant risks, including the potential for them to go missing, which is why microchipping has become a legal requirement for all cats over 20 weeks old to be able to reunite lost felines with their owners more easily.

One potential danger to cats is traffic, and even though cats are well-known for their quick reactions, accidents involving vehicles can unfortunately happen.

The same goes for cats that interact with other animals whilst roaming. According to animal charity Cats Protection, 31% of cat owners have said their cat had been injured during ownership, with 22% of injuries sustained during fights with other cats or animals and 5% due to a road traffic accident.

More toxic and dubious risks outdoors

Going outside also means facing risks from poisons and baits that have been left for other animals such as slugs and snails, with Metaldehyde used in these baits highly poisonous for cats.

Diseases spread by other cats or wildlife are also a risk, with outdoor cats having an increased chance of picking up Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP), Feline Leukaemia (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) according to feline behaviourist Lucy Hoile writing for pet insurance provider Petgevity.

Many of these risks drive some owners to resolve on the indoor cat or outdoor cat issue by choosing to keep their cats indoors or will seek to find a balance to have some supervised outdoor time instead. So, what about the indoor experience?

The Indoor Cat Lifestyle

indoor cat looking at the window — Indoor cats live in your protected home environment with largely manageable risks

Photo by Stephanie Harvey

Many of us feel safe indoors, and the same goes for our cats. Indoor living offers a protected, more controlled environment for cats, shielding them from the unpredictability of the outside world.

They can avoid busy traffic on roads and are also less exposed to potential threats from other animals or simply going missing. However, indoor cats may lack the natural stimuli they would get from being outside.

Things you must do if your cat is an indoor feline

Being indoors means as an owner you’ll need to enrich their living space to keep them feeling content and happy. Cat trees, scratching posts, and a variety of toys that encourage physical activity and mental engagement are all needed to help with this.

As they may not be as active as an outdoor cat with significantly less movement, interactive play sessions will keep your cat fit whilst also strengthening the bond between you. Indoor cats may become more attached to their owner so building a bond is important, just like it is if you own a dog.

Keep your cat healthy and happy

So, whilst the risks are lower, indoor cats still need to live a fulfilled, healthy lifestyle for their health and well-being to compensate for not being outside.

Again, this is another reason why some owners may look to find a balance between indoor safety and outdoor stimulation. Another key point to ponder regarding the indoor cat or outdoor cat question.

How Do You Decide Which is Best – Indoor cat or outdoor cat?

Depending on your cat’s personality, you may already have an indication of what’s best for them, especially if you have recently adopted one. If they are used to living an outdoor life, you may find they will struggle to adjust to being indoors all of the time and vice versa.

According to pet charity the Blue Cross, they may not cope well with a change in lifestyle from what they are used to which may lead to behavioural problems such as clawing or urinating on carpets and furniture, which is less than ideal.

Indoor cat or outdoor cat – The cat may decide for itself

Of course, not all cats want to roam free outside – some will be quite content being indoors and watching the world go by through the window, so it can work out perfectly for the right type of cat.

Some cats may naturally be more curious and energetic, thriving in an outdoor environment, while others may prefer the safety and quiet of indoors.

Age and health of your feline will affect your decision

Age and health are important too – younger, more agile cats may be able to overcome outdoor challenges better, while older cats or those with existing health conditions may benefit from a controlled, indoor environment.

Making an informed choice involves balancing these factors against your cat’s needs and your ability to provide a safe, stimulating environment.

Ultimately, if you are happy with letting your cat roam free and they are used to doing so in the past this can be best, as they may struggle to become a house cat. However, you may want to try the following as a compromise that gives them the best of both worlds.

Help Your Cat Enjoy An Indoor & Outdoor Life

One popular solution is the installation of a ‘catio’. This is a secure outdoor enclosure that allows cats to experience the outdoors without the dangers of complete free roaming. These can be custom-built to fit your garden and provide a safe environment for climbing, resting, and watching the world. Your cat gets to enjoy the outdoors whilst you’ll have peace of mind they are protected.
Using a harness can also allow for controlled outdoor exploration, giving cats the physical exercise and mental stimulation they need while keeping them safely under your supervision. Just like walking a dog, your cat will be attached to a lead that connects to the harness making it an ideal compromise. However, training a cat to get used to a harness may take time, and some may refuse, so you’ll need patience and a slow approach to try this.
You may want to consider GPS trackers and reflective collars which can help keep tabs on your pet’s location and increase their visibility at night if they do roam.
Ensure their indoor environment is just as stimulating. You need to give them plenty of space to be able to climb, hide, and rest that is away from the floor where they may feel relaxed, such as with a cat tree, and give them scratching posts to avoid clawing your furniture or carpet. Don’t forget about playtime too and interact with them using cat toys like fishing rods which can bring out their natural instincts. This will prevent them from becoming bored and restless whilst inside.

Final Thoughts on The Indoor Cat or Outdoor Cat Question

In the end, you must do what’s best for your cat and make them feel as happy as possible. This will help them from experiencing anxiety or developing destructive behaviour indoors. So do consider the indoor cat or outdoor cat question before you make the final decision.

Understandably, many cat owners will want to avoid the dangers of letting them roam outside, but this can be a detriment to their overall well-being. Finding a balance in many cases can be the best scenario.

If you are unsure still, it is best to consult with your vet or find a cat behaviourist for further advice. This way, you can find the right balance for your cat that matches their unique personality and needs.

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