The case for keeping cats indoors.

As our lives become more urban, responsible pet owners are starting to question some of the assumptions they previously held about what's best for their companion animals. For instance, years ago most domestic cats were indoor/outdoor. But these days most members of the animal welfare community, including The Humane Society of the United States and many veterinarians, unequivocally recommend keeping pet cats indoors. If your cat is spending a lot of unsupervised time outside, here are some compelling reasons to consider an indoor living arrangement.

Long Live the Indoor Cat!
There is strong evidence to support the view that indoor cats will live longer, safer lives. The ASPCA maintains that average indoor cat lives to be ten to twelve years old, and many felines now make it past twenty. Conversely, outdoor-only cats survive for an average of only two years in that situation. An outdoor cat is exposed to innumerable risks and dangers every day that shorten their average life span and can also reduce their quality of life.

It's an (urban) jungle out there
Any animal outside runs the risk of being a target for cruel or psychotic individuals who torture and kill animals for fun or out of hate/spite, such as the perpetrator of a couple of horrific cat killings recently in a northeast Dallas neighborhood.

Pet-napping is another risk for outside cats. There is high demand for certain breeds of companion animal that can be re-sold and scams abound involving ransom demands for a beloved family member or "finding" an animal whose safe return will net a reward. Pets and strays are also often taken for use as bait animals in illegal dogfighting operations, or for sale to research facilities.

Pets who roam can trigger violent reactions by neighbors who resort to killing or hurting animals they don't like "trespassing" on their property, or as a retaliatory act in a neighborhood dispute.
And of course, there's the risk to outside animals of death or injury as a result of being hit by a car, or being poisoned (accidentally or intentionally) by pesticides, fertilizers and other garden maintenance products.

Prey or be preyed on
Outdoor cats can wreak havoc on their local ecosystem by hunting local wildlife and birds and, as suburban developments have pushed ever deeper into the habitats of bears, coyotes and cougars, increasingly find themselves preyed on by opportunistic predators.

Scooby recently used up at least one of his nine lives when a coyote grabbed him last week. Thanks to some fast reflexes, his human was able to scare away the coyote but poor Scooby (and the family's bank account) took a beating and currently has his broken jaw wired shut.

Ted wasn't so lucky - his owner's neighbor witnessed a coyote kill Ted and carry him off into the woods near his home last weekend. The family is devastated by their loss and wish they'd taken a few precautions such as keeping Ted indoors at least between dusk and dawn, if not more permanently. Ted's owner does recognize the need to co-exist with coyotes, however, and alongside her online memorial to Ted, she has posted some tips to co-exist with coyotes and reduce risk to pets and children.

Wildlife attacks are often the exception rather than the rule, though. According to the Dallas Fort Worth Wildlife Coalition, "although coyotes do occasionally prey on free-roaming cats and small dogs, the fear of coyotes or foxes attacking companion animals is greatly exaggerated. Many more dogs and cats meet the unfortunate fate of being struck by an automobile." People greatly increase the risk of negative consequences by encouraging these opportunistic scavengers - leaving out garbage or pet food and using bird and squirrel feeders that attract the small mammals that are a coyote's favorite prey.

Wildlife aren't the only creatures that might attack an outdoor cat - they face death or injury from territorial fights with other cats or dogs and, on a microscopic level, outdoor cats are more likely to contract diseases (such as rabies, feline leukemia or feline immunodeficiency virus) or a parasitic infection.

(As if you need) another reason to spay/neuter
Unaltered outside cats are more likely to get into serious territorial disputes that can result in serious injury or death. Rampant breeding and unwanted litters are another consequence of letting an un-spayed or -neutered cat wander - not to mention those loud caterwauling sessions late at night!

And although this post is about cats, it's worth mentioning that coyotes are attracted to and can mate with un-spayed or un-neutered domestic dogs. There have also been cases of male dogs being lured by the female coyote's scent and killed by male coyotes.

Bringing your outdoor cat in
Cats who have been brought up indoors don't generally want or need to go outside but for a cat who has had the run of the neighborhood, the indoor-only lifestyle might take some adjusting to - of course, we all know that cats are as individual as their humans so some will take the transition in stride while others may not appreciate their boundaries being so clearly defined.

Some people feel guilty that, by bringing their cats indoor, they are depriving the cat of adventure and "what's natural" (although, having been domesticated for thousands of years, who's to say what's a natural habitat for a domestic feline anymore?) - and because cats are notoriously good at getting their way, some may pour on the drama and histrionics, wailing pitifully at the door to be let out. What you need to remember is that a cat will wail just as pitifully outside the door when they want to come back in!

The HSUS has some great tips for adjusting a cat to their new indoor lifestyle, such as making a gradual transition, feeding them indoors, ensuring they have basics like kitty litter, distracting or stimulating them, and providing "kitty greens" for them to munch on.

Keeping your indoor cat happy
It's true that people need to be a bit more engaged with an indoor cat. The ASPCA notes that "when we choose to make our cats indoors-only companions, we have a responsibility to provide the stimulation that nature provides automatically. Scratching and climbing posts become pseudo-trees; interactive toys become hunted birds, bugs and field mice. A rotating array of cat playthings provides excitement, variety and exercise". If you're on a budget, crumpled up balls of paper, some ribbon and a paper bag can be just as entertaining for a cat as store-bought toys, not to mention cheaper and easier to get your hands on.

Some breeds also need more stimulation than others - if you have a Bengal, for example, be prepared to anchor everything with museum gel and make sure you secure your faucets! Many people also suggest that having more than one cat helps keep an indoor cat from getting bored or lonely.

Most cats, however, generally adjust well to the indoor life. Because they sleep a lot, and generally play in short bursts, cats don't need a huge amount of room - your average apartment should be adequate. Some people provide window shelves and perches for their cats to vicariously enjoy the outdoors, while others cater more comprehensively to their cats' love of high spaces and obstacle courses. There are multiple fun things you can do yourself at home to enhance your cat's indoor experience - your only limit is your imagination!

Safe outside time
If you do decide to give your cat some outside time, some suggestions for keeping it safe and supervised include training your cat to wear a harness and taking it for a walk (this is a great way to meet your neighbors, it certainly gets people talking!) or building a protected outdoor enclosure - again, here the only limit is your imagination (and possibly your budget).

If your cat does get out
Even indoor cats need a microchip and ID tag in case they get out, or if something happens on the way to the vet or groomer. Many people think they don't need to microchip or tag their indoor cats, but it only takes an unknowing visitor leaving the door open or a broken window screen for Fluffy to make a break for it, and having no way to identify your cat makes it less likely that you will be reunited if they're found - and even if they survive the risks outlined above, even unidentified cats picked up by animal welfare are at risk of being euthanized in our overburdened shelter system f they can't easily be reunited with their owners.

In a perfect world, we'd be able to give our companion animals unlimited space and freedom, but when it comes down to it, the only reliable way to keep your cat safe is to keep him or her indoors.