We’re in the middle of a series of articles meant especially for those of you who are considering adding a cat or kitten to your household even though you’ve had little or no experience with felines.
To get you started off right, I’ve asked for advice from cat lovers and animal professionals. You might be surprised at their answers to one basic question.
Will your new cat or kitten be “outdoor” or “indoor-only”?
I wasn’t too surprised at the agreement among those who answered my call for suggestions. I was surprised at their vehemence! Yes, it’s true. People who have experience with cats and kittens agree: Today, there’s only one “right” answer and that’s “indoor only.” I’ll let them speak for themselves.
Darcey Byrne (Washington) Oh! Indoors, please! The amount of dead birds, the crapping in the neighborhood, and the being run over by a car is enough to support [the concept of] the indoor cat. If you live on a very large piece of property (10+ acres), then you can consider the outdoor cat.
Sue Heron (Florida) Indoors, please. We had a neighbor who had a cat who was killed by a coyote and the idiots got another one and same thing happened. We have a huge lanai and allow [our cats] there supervised. We have a hawk that visits while they’re out there, and my dogs let me know.
Tom Robinson (Washington) Adoption to me means that the cat previously had a permanent home, so it is not a kitten going to its first permanent home. The difference is that a kitten can be trained to be an indoor cat, but a cat that has spent a fair amount of time outside will almost always try to escape back outside rather than remaining an indoor cat. A factor to consider with outdoor cats is the danger of being taken by a coyote, even in the middle of the city. During the night, coyotes roam the city streets looking for whatever they can eat, then disappear into brushy areas during the day.
Judith Kay Killin (Washington) Indoor cats. I have four and they were all outdoor strays, but since they came to me they have been indoor only. Too much danger outside. Cars, dogs, kids. They don’t even seem interested in it. They like [looking] through the window.
Photo by Leslie Woodfill
Barbara Carlson (Pennsylvania) My cat was allowed outside until I was fed up with the fleas. He still wants out, but he doesn’t get out. (My husband allowed him outside. Not any more.) We have a large back porch and hubby made it cat proof. They love lounging out there watching the birds and eating bugs. Hubby let our long-haired Himalayan out for a while until I was sick of not only of the fleas but of brushing out burrs. Now they are inside cats. They aren’t exposed to diseases inside. They won’t get parasites inside. They won’t be killed or injured inside.
Steven Cogswell (Colorado) Indoors! The life expectancy of an indoor cat is 10 to 15 years; an outdoor cat’s, 2 to 5. Here’s a nice handout that covers quite a bit:
Cats-Indoors_or_Outdoors.L (ucdavis.edu)
Teri Stripes (Washington) Indoor. Even indoor/outdoor altered adults get hurt by fighting. I had one killed by a stray dog, and one had to be put down because what the vet thought was just a subcutaneous abscess had punctured the abdominal wall. Also some that never came home. Our indoor kitties have led much healthier, happier, longer lives.
Ruth L. Heller DVM (Pennsylvania) How is this even a question that you are asking? The world is not safe for cats outdoors, nor do we need the predation on our vanishing songbirds. The lifespan of an indoor cat is hugely longer than that of an outdoor cat, on average. And there are things such as catios that allow a cat to spend time in fresh air. Our pet cats should be indoors, bottom line.
Erin Darling Looney (Washington) Indoor. If you feel they need to experience the outdoors, you can leash-train cats with a harness, or even buy cute kitty backpacks which let them see the world while still being safe. Or build them a kitty patio. There are too many dangers outdoors for unsupervised animals, including traffic, other animals, and some humans.
Donna Lange (Washington) We have two old ones that are indoors only, and two that are indoor/outdoor only in the morning. I hate letting them out at all, but that’s where they came from and they’re not happy unless they get to explore a bit. I worry about them when they’re out, though. Next cats will be indoor only.
Lori Leah Monet DVM (Colorado) Indoors, because you hardly ever hear of a cat getting hit by a car in the house. (I won’t say never because I am sure it has happened once, maybe.) No chance of FIV/FeLV. Also add neutered or spayed. My cats get to go out on my second-floor deck with me. No stairs down to ground.
Trudy Meakin Rogers (Washington) Catio! Build a catio. We have a solar light so in the evening as they move it turns on and they can chase as many bugs they wish. There is a Facebook group called “Catio.” People from all over the world share pictures of their endeavors. We built ours during the 2020 summer. They love it.
Em E Wolf (Colorado) For the safety of the cat and the wild bird population, they should be indoors. That being said, the ethogram of a cat makes strictly indoor living stressful and boring. Tons of enrichment should be provided and a catio, even if just a window box.
Alisha Ardiana (California) We have a top-floor flat in a San Francisco Victorian. It has a patio and a roof deck. When we first got the cat, we were super careful not to let her out. But over time, we realized she was not going to leave the patio. She’s super happy just lying in the sun and has not harmed any birds or made a great escape.
But I did teach her to come when I made a clicking sound with my tongue.
https://youtube.com/shorts/mm9i99Cfj8k?feature=share
Should You Have an Indoor Cat or an Outdoor Cat?
https://pets.webmd.com/cats/features/should-you-have-an-indoor-cat-or-an-outdoor-cat#1
10 Reasons Why Your Cat Should be an Indoor Only Cat
https://pethelpful.com/cats/10-Reasons-Why-Your-Cat-Should-be-an-Indoor-Only-Cat
Keeping Your Cat Happy Indoors
https://www.paws.org/resources/keeping-your-cat-happy-indoors/
NEXT WEEK: House training for cats and kittens—expert advice from experienced cat lovers.
