Senior cats are actually less likely to be involved in a road traffic accident. If your cat stays inside, it will not meet other animals – domesticated or wild. Others may never have been trained on how to enter or leave the home this way. Wherever possible, socialize your cat to a minimal acceptable standard. Be sure to cat-proof the yard by checking that your fence has no escape routes and by making toxic plants, garden chemicals and other dangerous objects inaccessible. Your cat will likely wail and howl near constantly. With this in mind, spaying a cat that you have no intent to breed is advisable. Do not let your cat push its luck too far, though. If you can, locate the cat tree next to a window so your cat can watch the action outdoors. There are clear positives of keeping a cat inside permanently. Permanently identify dogs and cats through microchip implantation. It does mean that you must respect your cat’s need for space, though. What’s more, it’s a chance to check up on you. In addition, leave curtains or drapes open. Most of the time, these accidents are fatal. It is undeniable that there are pros and cons to both sides of the argument. If you do not want your cat to go outside, it is your choice. Cats do not experience a menopause. Keeping cats indoors can also save you a lot of trouble as an owner. Play with your cat each day. Cats are natural stimulations seekers. The use of repellents is also known to be effective in keeping stray cats away. Your cat may need more stimulation. To coach your…. Good fences = happy kitties Provide a screened porch for your cat to experience the outdoors safely. Other repellents include eucalyptus, citronella, and … Fill this with litter rather than sand. It will become an issue if you ever decide to adopt a second pet, though. Privacy Policy and It's a myth that going outside is a requirement for feline happiness. Remove any clumping litter and scoop any waste. Manage this territorial instinct. Please enable Javascript and refresh the page to continue It is likely that an outdoor cat will experience conflict. All being well, you will meet these needs in the home for an indoor cat. These may cling to your clothing and latch onto a cat. It also keeps local wildlife safe! Keeping cats indoors permanently can be a great way to keep them healthy. Felines lack basic road sense. Factor this into your decision. The cat has entered estrus, aka heat. A domesticated cat is unlikely to be this ambitious. If it cannot claim more land, it will take everything within an acceptable radius. Lack of stimulation and exercise can lead to obesity and behavioral issues, including over grooming, over eating, picking on companion pets, and self-mutilation. To decide whether to keep your cat indoors, think about the pros and cons of this lifestyle. If you constantly interrupt a cat, though, it will look to leave the home for some peace and quiet. 2021 can be the year YOU become a hero for all animals. This is preferable to attempting to track down a lost cat and fearing the worst. Consider building or purchasing a "catio" or similar enclosure to allow your cat to get a taste of the outside without the risks. Equally likely is the potential to eat a poisonous plant or berry. Cats are not always fulsome about their feelings. This will prevent your cat from treading feces throughout the home. Make no mistake, though; cats want to hunt. You just need to help the cat understand that you are in charge. The collar and visible ID could help someone get your pet back to you. The cat is watching birds and considering how it would stalk and capture them. My best friend has 7 indoor cats and they are all just fine. Hunting games, played at least twice a day, should satisfy a cat’s instincts. Cats … Some cats can even be 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 they are tethered). You can buy special leads and harnesses for cats, in order to take them out walking on the lead in the same way that you would a dog. 2. Ensure that your cat has appropriate privacy, and more importantly, a quiet place to nap. Cats in estrus emit constant pleas to intact males and announce their availability through scenting. The life expectancy of most domesticated felines is between 15 and 20 years. Make sure an adult supervises your kitty’s outdoor time to ensure strays cannot come into contact with her. The HSUS's tax identification number is 53-0225390. It may have designs on territory outside the four walls of a home, though. A cat left unsupervised may inadvertently poison itself. If your cat does not venture outside, it will not find itself disoriented and disconnected. A feline's front and back claws may seem insignificant, but they are essential for climbing, hunting, defending, and territory marking. There are many circumstances in which keeping a cat indoors may be safer for a cat and therefore, arguably, better for the cat. This will provide limits to how far your cat can wander. My reasons for keeping my cats indoors is due to being traumatized from owning outdoor cats while growing up. This can make the cat particularly territorial within the home. For your cat to express fondness for you physically…, Onychectomy is the process of removing a cat’s claws. Cats are actually safer indoors because they aren't running into other animals or diseases. This is how cats end up visiting other homes – sometimes growing reluctant to return. Many owners also sleep better at night knowing their cat is home. If you live in a peaceful neighborhood in which you can walk without encountering loose dogs, consider buying a harness and training your cat to walk on a leash. You’ll still need to use preventative treatments. This is typically related to indoor cats, though. You can find low-cost spray bottles online(link to Amazon) or at a local hardware store. Cats can carry any number of infectious diseases. A feline with no experience of other animals will be especially cantankerous. This, in turn, means the cat is less likely to struggle with parasitic infestations. To keep your cat safe in the yard, you could set up a play pen. Move Your Plants In her article, Should You Let Your Cat Go Outdoors? This does not mean that felines are anti-social loners. 3. It’s a simple equation. If you want an indoor cat, keep your cat home at all times. There are a number of pros and cons involved in terms of cats being allowed outside versus cats being kept in the home. If you let your cat roam, stand by this unless medically inadvisable. This does not mean that felines always make the best decisions, though. Have a spray bottle of water handy, and give your cat a spritz when they get near your plants. For the former indoor/outdoor cat, a two-box system filled with fine-grain, clumping litter works best. Potentially just as dangerous are stings and bites from insects. Assign your cat territory in the home and respect its boundaries. That means every room, every piece of furniture and everything you own. Keeping an indoor vs. outdoor cat is a debate that has raged for years among owners. The biggest danger of keeping cats at home is boredom. Cats that live indoors need to be cared for appropriately. Some cats are happy to be submissive, while others will fight back and…, If your cat kisses you on the lips, it is expressing significant affection. In addition to hunting, cats are instinctively driven to climb, dig and claim territory. Also read our tips for finding a lost pet. It also prevents local birds or rodents from being hunted. Indoor cats with appropriate stimulation are happy and healthy. It is impossible to make any guarantees about a cat’s lifespan. My husband, an engineer, once built one for our gang out of scrap wood and chicken wire. As you will see, there are certainly many advantages to keeping a cat inside. I'm experienced in all cat health-related matters, behavioral issues, grooming techniques, and general pet care. Luckily, cats can find enjoyment from playing with almost anything. You could fit your outdoor cat with a belled collar. What is true, though, is that indoor cats are likelier to live longer. Create the ideal environment for your cat. Your cat will look for, and seize upon, any opportunity to escape. Larger perches can attach to the side of a house or ground-floor apartment patio. Indoor cats can grow bored and territorial. Keeping your cat as a house cat will help keep them away from busy roads, but some indoor environments can become predictable and boring, leading to stress, inactivity and obesity. Equally, older cats are often arthritic. My mother hated cats and demanded that our pets weren’t allowed permanently indoors and that it was a waste of money to bring any animal to the veterinarian. If your cat is desperate to hunt, it can become frustrated by inability to do so. Playing regularly with a cat and providing their entertaining toys can easily satisfy their stalking instinct, keep them stimulated and provide the exercise they need to stay healthy and happy. Part of the appeal of roaming outside for cats is expanding claimed territory. A Cat Enclosure to Keep an Indoor Cat From Escaping Cat enclosures can be a godsend to indoor cats. If your cat is female and unspayed, pregnant is a lifelong possibility. Wild cats can claim terrain as vast as two miles. A cat keeping one eye closed all…, Cats are solitary creatures, often unused to sharing. Cats are born hunters. The same applies to unfixed males, too. While keeping a cat indoors is not cruel, indoor cats aren't entirely immune to problems and dangers. A cat that previously roamed will struggle with a change in the status quo. A cat will be fertile for her entire natural life and continue to enter estrus cycles. You have to follow cats where they want to go. The cat will turn this frustration on you. Cats are innately curious, and prone to imitation. Play with your cat. You just need to provide an appropriate lifestyle. If your cat has always lived indoors, it will likely accept this lifestyle eventually. This will not reduce hunting instinct, though. Outdoor cats, meanwhile, can become grizzled veterans, learning how to survive over time. Even if this is not the case, a cat can be seriously injured. But…, Cats can develop a sudden phobia of using a cat flap. Some will stalk anything that moves, others are more selective. My friend Linda also got a cat enclosure. Our Cats Indoors program educates the public and policy makers about the many benefits to birds, cats, and people when cats are maintained indoors or under an owner's direct control. This can be heart-breaking for owners and cats alike. With indoor cats, a common spray target is either at the window where the outdoor cat was seen or on the wall opposite the window. Introduce new sensations and scents to capture the imagination. Boredom can also lead to overeating and obesity. If you cannot physically tend to your cat, ask a friend or neighbor to help out. While cats enjoy toys, Behavioral Processes finds that many prefer human interaction and food. The outside world is where a cat can embrace its natural instincts. Cats love to look out of the window. Consider building or purchasing a "catio" or similar enclosure to allow your cat to get a taste of the outside without the risks. We also need to consider that cats can be aggressive and combative by nature. Indoor Cats Do Not Get Hit by Cars. The Journal of Veterinary Behavior confirms that prolonged playtimes reduce the likelihood of unwanted behaviors. Under some circumstances, I accept that there are strong arguments for keeping cats indoors permanently. At the very least, stir cat litter multiple times a day. Some cats are allergic to bee or wasp stings, for example. What it does not know is what you do. If humans spend too much time alone, we become set in our ways and less tolerant. You need to make a choice that benefits you and your cat. Terms of Service apply. A cat that stays inside cannot run away and get lost. It may have lost its bearings and found itself stray. When you've tired out your cat, store toys that could harm them (such as toys with strings attached) out of reach. Keeping a cat indoors at all times removes this risk. This is the classic cat “training” technique. 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