Indoor vs Outdoor Cats: Key Pros, Cons, and Safety Tips

Adopting a cat can be a rewarding experience, but you must consider some factors before bringing your furry friend home. This is important because some cats like the coziness of the indoor life while others prefer the active, outdoor life. Keep reading to know about the pros and cons for indoor and outdoor cats, so you can make an informed decision.

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Pros for indoor cats

Cats can live indoors very happily, especially if they are introduced to this type of lifestyle as kittens. According to Pawp, more and more people are opting to keep their cats indoors. There are several reasons for this trend, like the popularity of high-rise apartments and advocacy groups campaigning for keeping pets indoors. The following advantages of indoor cats should also encourage owners to keep their felines within their homes.

Safety

• Indoor felines are less likely to suffer from dangerous diseases because they are not exposed to the harsh outdoor environment.
• Cats can catch several fatal diseases from other animals, such as Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV).
• Staying indoors also saves your cat from injuries because he/she can’t fight with other animals.
• The chances of getting hit by a car are also minimized when your kitty is indoors. Therefore, this is definitely the biggest benefit of indoor cats.

Behavioral and health changes

• When a cat stays indoors, it becomes easier for the owner to notice a change in his/her behavior. This is important because behavioral changes are often considered a symptom of serious medical conditions.

Cons for indoor cats

I Love Veterinary says there are some disadvantages to keeping your cat indoors which are discussed below.

Lack of activity

• Indoor cats are dependent on their owners to keep them healthy, exercised and entertained. Having such a docile and pampered lifestyle means they most often lack enough play and exercise. Therefore, indoor cats are generally not suitable for those owners who work full-time.

The claws come out on your furniture

• Scratching your furniture and carpets is one of the biggest problems with indoor cats. In some cases, domestic felines can also scratch the curtains and clothes of the owners. Some kitties tend to indulge in this negative behavior, even if you have provided sufficient scratching posts and cat toys around the house.

Mental issues