Indoor – Outdoor

Some time ago I had the opportunity of taking over the Lost and Found cat database for my local branch of Cats Protection while a colleague was on holiday. I was shocked at the number of lost cats there were on it. Although of course some cats may have found their way home again, most unfortunately will not. I have first hand experience of this as my beloved Siamese neutered boy, Skipper, went missing in the summer of 2006 and I never saw him again. I was distraught and inconsolable and even today I still look out for him if I am out walking.

I have decided to share some information with you that I hope you will find interesting.

As in every other aspect of pet healthcare, prevention is better than cure. The most effective way to prevent straying is not to let your cat out at all. Many cat owners do this but many people also think it is unfair to the cat.

INDOORS OR OUTDOORS?

You are the only person who can make this decision for your cat. Until we get to the point where we can accurately read a cat’s thoughts, we have to base our ideas on direct observation. The most significant observation in this regard is the fact that entirely indoor cats live (on average) about 4 – 5 years longer than “free range” cats.

At this time, we give domestic pet cats an average lifespan of about 15 years. This average is made up of young cats (1 – 2 years olds dying from road accidents and old cats (20 years plus) who don’t go any further than from kitchen to sitting room.

To put this figure in context, the average age of intact wild or feral tom cats is only 4 – 7 years of age, so being any sort of pet cat will double your life expectancy.

POINTS IN FAVOUR OF KEEPING CATS ENTIRELY INDOORS:

  • minimal risk of contracting infectious disease
  • very much reduced risk of getting parasites
  • very much reduced risk of fatal accidents
  • reduced risk of fighting
  • allows better nursing care to be provided in times of illness

POINTS AGAINST KEEPING CATS ENTIRELY INDOORS:

  • greater risk of obesity through insufficient exercise
  • greater risk of behavioural problems resulting from boredom
  • requires dedicated cat exercise area, otherwise greater likelihood of damage to home furnishings

POINTS IN FAVOUR OF ALLOWING CATS TO ROAM FREELY OUT-OF-DOORS:

  • allows the cat to fully exploit their natural potential
  • reduced risk of obesity

POINTS AGAINST ALLOWING CATS TO ROAM FREELY OUT-OF-DOORS

  • high risk of straying, or choosing a new owner
  • high risk of fatal injury from road traffic accidents
  • greater exposure to infectious diseases
  • greater exposure to parasites
  • risk of attack by dogs, cats or foxes
  • potential damage to wildlife (and neighbour’s ornamental fish)
  • can make nursing a convalescing cat more difficult
  • minimal control over diet if on special food due to problems with kidneys, liver, etc.

THE COMPROMISES : –

KEEP YOUR CAT INDOORS WHILE YOU ARE ABSENT, BUT TAKE HIM OUT ON A LEAD FOR EXERCISE:

…gives him all the benefits of an indoor lifestyle and some of the extra exercise and stimulation his outdoor cousins get. Not without it’s problems, however. If the walks are not frequent enough, he will dread them – it’s just not his territory. If they are too regular, he’ll start to dream of life in the great outdoors. This is NOT a substitute for a decent gym: If you haven’t provided one of those, you should still feel guilty.

KEEP YOU CAT INDOORS DURING THE DAY BUT ALLOW HIM OUT “FREE RANGE” DURING THE NIGHT:

…the worst of all worlds. Most fatal road accidents happen at night. The fact that traffic is lighter at night gives a false sense of security. In fact, cars travel much faster at night, especially on ‘quiet’ roads (e.g. country lanes, suburban cul-de-sacs) and fat pet cats just can’t get out of the way in time. This is also the time when feral dogs and cats roam most freely, so the risk of injury all round is high.

KEEP YOUR CAT INDOORS OVERNIGHT BUT ALLOW HIM OUT “FREE RANGE” DURING THE DAY:

…the risk of accidents is lower (but not “low”) so you win on the swings. However, if anything does go wrong and you are not there, puss has no way of alerting you – so you lose on the roundabouts. At the very least, if you are considering this option, you should ensure that your cat has access to a sheltered area provided and checked by you on your return home. This way, if he does become injured, he has somewhere safe to hide up. Incidentally, it is during the day that most neighbours feed cats that are not their own – so you may find that “your” cat is more of a time-share. Make sure he is positively identified as yours.

PROVIDE YOUR CAT WITH A CAT-FLAP, ALLOWING HIM TO DECIDE WHEN HE WANTS TO BE IN OR OUT:

…this is probably the most common form of cat-keeping. It gives your cat the greatest personal freedom and if you provide him with good food and company, it is likely that he will spend most of his time indoors or snoozing on top of your shed. There is a risk that someone else in the neighbourhood will provide “better” meals or a more comfortable flowerbed but that’s the risk you take. You are relieved of the need to provide a gym or litter trays so this can be the best option for owners with a small house. Potential problems are toileting and parasites. With a lockable cat-flap, you have the facility to impose restrictions when it suits you – but remember that you could have trouble with toilet arrangements if your cat is not used to using a litter tray. Parasites are a big problem with this lifestyle but you should have a daily opportunity to look for evidence and take appropriate action.

KEEPING YOUR CAT OUTDOORS BUT ALLOWING HIM IN FOR MEALS:

…all of the disease risks and none of the control. This can be great for vets: you will need lots of effective parasite control and you won’t notice other problems until they need serious, expensive treatment. Not great for the cat though………

KEEPING AND FEEDING YOUR CAT OUTDOORS:

…that’s not your cat! He’s simply chosen to stay around for a while.