Should Your Cat Live Indoors or Outdoors?

November 9, 2015

By Morgan Clark

We love our cats and always want them to be happy, but there is one decision that has a huge impact on our cat's lives: the decision to keep them indoors or let them roam free outdoors. The knee-jerk reaction is often to not keep cats cooped up in the house and to let them out into the sunshine, but there are very real risks to letting cats out. This article will help you make the decision for your cat and your situation.

Physical Hazards

The first thing that needs to be considered is the environment around your home. Many hazards around the home can endanger your cat's life. Traffic is the most obvious of these. If the roads around your home are busy and drivers frequently speed, then you may want to reconsider keeping kitty inside. If you live in an area with wild animals or lots of feral cats and dogs, your cat could be eaten or killed by territorial animals. Your cat can also catch diseases, worms, fleas, and ticks from other animals or even just grassy fields where parasites can live. If you do let your cat out, make sure they are up-to-date on their shots and are regularly given flea and tick medication. Your veterinarian can give you more information on the exact vaccinations and medication recommended for your location.

You will also want to give your cat a collar if you let them out with emergency contact info in case they wander too far from home. If you let your feline friend outdoors, odds are they will climb everything from trees to fences to your neighbors' roofs. As a result, collars can get stuck and hang your cat. To keep them safe, use a breakaway collar that snaps off if it catches on something, freeing your cat and keeping them safe from injury.

Environmental Concerns

Bird and small mammal populations are suffering dramatically from the explosion in the feline population. Cats are the biggest threat to birds and small mammals like squirrels and mice with deaths of songbirds alone climbing into the millions. In order to mitigate this effect, put bells on Kitty's collar to warn nearby critters of the approaching predator.

It's an unfortunate reality that indoor cats require cat boxes and kitty litter to do their business. Kitty litter is manufactured through “strip mining” that leaves behind massive amounts of waste rock. Many kitty litters can also be harmful if inhaled or ingested, which can happen accidentally while your cat cleans her fur, leading to health problems and possibly death. If you do need to get a litter box, there are a number of eco-friendly litters on the market made from plant pulp, recycled paper products, and other biodegradable substances.

Boredom

One of the biggest arguments against keeping cats indoors is that they will get bored, tearing up furniture and carpet as a result. This isn't necessarily true for the savvy cat owner who keeps their pet entertained with toys and play. Make sure there are lots of toys for your cat and play with them daily to keep them stimulated. Cats are carnivores, so they like to hunt, even if it's just play. The best cat toys move on their own or when batted by a playful kitty. You should also personally engage with your cat at least once per day to bond with them. There's no reason why an indoor kitty has to be a bored kitty.