Is it Cruel to Keep a Cat Indoors?

One of the choices a new cat owner needs to make is whether or not they’re going to allow their cat to free roam outside of the home. While many people think this is a simple decision, there are actually a few reasons why an owner might keep their cat indoors. 

Here, we’re going to discuss whether you should keep your cat indoors and how to care for an indoor cat. 

Should Cats be Kept Indoors?

It can be tricky to decide whether to keep your cat indoors or let them explore the world outside your home, and there’s recently been some debate about which is the better option for the cat. The honest answer is that it depends on both your individual circumstances and the cat in question. 

Some of the reasons you may want to keep your cat indoors include:

• The cat’s breed — Some cat breeds were specifically bred for living indoors and so are happy enough to do so or have a too docile temperament to be allowed out as they’re unable to stand up for themselves or the risk of being stolen. 

• The cat’s health — A number of health conditions might mean your cat’s not well enough equipped to survive the outside, including deafness, blindness, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, Cerebellar Hypoplasia, and more. 

• Your living situation — If you live in an apartment or by a busy road, you may not be able to give your cat access to the outside, or it may not be safe for you to do so. 

• Indoor cats are less likely to be injured or get sick — Without the risk of cars or your cat picking up diseases from other cats, they’re less likely to need expensive vet visits.

• Indoor cats tend to live longer — Outdoor cats have a 2-5 years life expectancy. However, indoor cats are expected to live for 17 years or even longer. 

This might make it seem like a no-brainer that you should keep your cat inside, but there are still steps you need to take to ensure your cat is happy living indoors exclusively. Not letting your cat out deprives it of both exercise and enrichment. 

How to Care for an Indoor Cat

The key reason people allow their cat’s outdoors is so they can receive plenty of enrichment and exercise without the need for as much human intervention. By keeping your cat indoors all the time, you need to supplement these needs within the home by providing: 

• Scratching posts

• Indoor cat toys

• Interactive cat toys

• Climbing towers

There are plenty of ways you can supply enrichment for an indoor cat, just make sure you are encouraging their natural hunter behaviours and keeping their minds active.

Do Indoor Cats Need Vaccines?

Yes, indoor cats still need routine vaccinations to protect them from common cat diseases such as cat flu and feline enteritis. However, cats never going outside may not need the vaccine for leukaemia.

Can Indoor Cats Get Fleas?

Unfortunately, doors and windows aren’t enough to keep fleas from entering your house. They can latch onto your shoes, clothing, or hair and be carried into your home, where they will latch onto your pet. 

To be safe, make sure you keep your indoor cat protected with routine flea treatments for cats, and learn how to get rid of fleas in the house too. 

Can Indoor Cats Get Worms?

Much like with fleas, indoor cats can still get worms if they eat something infested with worm eggs, including but not limited to fleas and raw diet foods. This is why we recommend keeping your indoor cat up to date with their routine cat worming treatments as well to ensure your cat is protected. 

Best Food for Indoor Cats

As they tend to get less exercise, indoor cats may be more prone to obesity than those outdoors. This can easily be managed by being conscious of how much food and treats you feed your cat or by providing them with a completely indoor cat food diet such as the Royal Canin Adult Indoor Cat Food or Hill’s Science Plan Adult Hairball Indoor Cat Food. 

These foods are specially formulated for indoor cats and provide all the necessary nutrients while keeping down the calories. They also contain advanced fibre to reduce hairballs and highly digestible protein to reduce stool odour. 

Choosing whether to keep your cat inside isn’t to be made lightly. Some cats are drawn to the outdoors and may not be comfortable being kept in all the time. Many adoption services will also not rehome a previously outdoor cat to an indoor-only home as it causes them unnecessary stress.