Because they’re more protected from other animals and diseases, indoor cats live longer than outdoor cats. According to the Humane Society of the United States, indoor cats live from 12 to 15 years. On the other hand, a healthy outdoor cat sometimes doesn’t even make his third birthday.
Advantages of Indoor Cats
Safety – When deciding whether to keep your cat indoors or outdoors, consider where you live. Do you live on a busy street where your cat could easily get hit by a car? On the other hand, do you live in a quiet suburban neighborhood, away from traffic? Do you know if your neighbors have any dogs that aren’t cat friendly? If you live in the wilds, chances are you don’t want your cat to roam and run the risk of losing his (or her) life to a coyote or other wild animal. Also, consider the possibility that an outdoor cat can run off and get lost. Unlike dogs, you can’t fence in a cat. Although most cats have little or no road sense, the tonkinese breed (which is a crossbreed from the Burmese and Siamese cat) is especially known for darting out in traffic.
Health reasons – When cats roam free they can easily eat poisonous foods or pick up germs from other animals.
Challenging Indoor Cats
Although any cat can learn to live indoors, some are more challenging than others. If you get these cats as kittens it will be easier to adapt them to being indoors. However, when adopting an older cat from a shelter, it’s harder. Cats such as Norwegians are hunters, so they may need more space to roam. Bengals (a cross between Asian Leopard and a domestic cat) are also hunters and need to stretch more than other breeds.
Tips for Owners of Indoor Cats
If you choose to keep your cat indoors then you’ll have to keep him occupied as well as take care of toiletry needs.
Litter Training – Cats are clean animals, easy to litter train. Place litter boxes in a clean area, away from household traffic. Some breeds, such as the Safaris have been known to use the toilet on their own.
Sunlight – If you have a covered porch or sunroom, this is an ideal spot for your cat to watch what’s happening outdoors and soak in sunlight.
Scratching posts – Because cats love to scratch, you need to provide a scratching post, either bought in a pet store or homemade.
Entertainment – Of course the best source of entertainment is interaction with the owner. However, when you can’t be with your cat, simple boxes and balls to push across the floor can provide hours of entertainment.
The Best of Both Worlds
Just because your cat stays indoors doesn’t mean he can never venture outside. Teach him to walk with a harness and leash. Walk in safe areas where you know there aren’t any vicious dogs to go after your cat. However, if a stray dog does approach, just scoop up your cat and calmly reassure him he’s okay. Cats are also sensitive to noise, so try to walk him where there isn’t much construction or traffic sounds.
Whether or not your cat lives indoors or outdoors is a personal decision. Just be sure to consider your situation and where you live before deciding where your cat will spend most of his time. On the other hand, if your cat does live outdoors you can always crack open your garage a couple of inches so he’ll have a safe retreat at night.
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