Indoor Cats
Keeping your cat inside is the best way to keep it safe. Cats who are always kept safely confined can live to be 18 to 20-years-old. The expected life span of a cat who goes outdoors depends on several factors, including the type of neighborhood you live in and sheer luck. On average, cats who are allowed to roam outdoors often don't live to see age five.
Allowing your cat to wander outside without your supervision puts it at risk of:
- ingesting a deadly poison like antifreeze or a pesticide.
- being attacked by a roaming dog, cat, or wild animal.
- contracting a disease from another animal.
- becoming lost and unable to find its way home.
- encountering an adult or child with cruel intentions.
Going outside is not necessary for feline happiness. A cat can be purr-fectly happy living indoors provided
it has adequate food and water, a stimulating environment
that satisfies its climbing and
stalking instincts, and plenty of attention from its human family members.
To keep your indoor cat happy, you should consider:
- keeping your cat indoors from the start. Cats who have always been kept inside usually show no inclination to go outdoors. In fact, they may become frightened if they accidentally wander outdoors.
- playing with your cat each day. Try different types of toys that recreate "fishing," "chasing," and "flying" prey. And leave "toys" such as paper bags and cardboard boxes out when you are not home.
- hiding treats around the house and encouraging your cat to find them. You can purchase a remote door bell, clicking device or a buzzer (something that makes a distinct noise). Associate the sound with a treat for your cat by pressing the buzzer and giving a treat immediately. You can then hide the buzzing device in different locations around the house with a treat beside it. Once in a while press the buzzer and watch your cat go “hunting“ for its treats.
- giving your cat a feline friend—they can provide one another with companionship and entertainment.
- installing a perch near a sunny window. Padded perches can be purchased at many pet supply stores or through catalog retailers. Another option is an enclosure that sits in a window frame (much like an air conditioning unit) and provides a secure space in which your kitty can "hang out." Larger options are available that attach to the side of a house or ground-floor apartment patio. It's best to allow your cat access to these when someone is home to supervise.
- buying a ready-made cat tree (often called a "kitty condo"), or making your own. A cat tree may stretch from floor-to-ceiling or be shorter. It provides great climbing opportunities and, in multi-cat households, creates more play and rest areas by taking advantage of vertical space.
- planting cat grass (available from pet supply stores) in indoor pots so your feline can graze.
- providing a screened porch or other safe way for your cat to experience the outdoors. Consider building or purchasing a "cat fence" or similar enclosure. Such an enclosure can allow your cat to experience all the pleasures of the great outdoors without the risks. However, a fence may not prevent animals from entering your yard, so you should always be present when you allow your cat outside. And be sure to cat-proof the yard by checking that the fence has no escape routes and by making toxic plants, garden chemicals, and other dangerous objects inaccessible.
- buying a harness and training your cat to walk on a leash, if you live in a peaceful neighborhood where you can walk without encountering loose dogs. This training takes time and patience, for both you and the cat, and it's easiest when your cat is young. Some cats can even be trained to sit on your lap while you are on the deck or patio, or harnessed and tied to a stationary object to enjoy the outdoors while you are gardening nearby (but be sure to never leave your cat alone while she is tied to a stationary object).
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Content adapted from information provided by the British Columbia SPCA, the Ontario SPCA, and the Humane Society of the United States.
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