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Our indoor vs outdoor cats pros and cons piece will let you know more about whether having an indoor cat or outdoor cat is better for you, and which one is better for your cat in general. There are outdoor vs indoor cats pros and cons no matter which one you choose, or which your cat chooses since we all know how willful they are, but this will keep you more informed.
Indoor vs Outdoor Cats
Having a cat in your life is wonderful, but not everyone can afford to keep their cats in their homes. Right now it’s completely up to you whether you want the cat to live in your home all the time, or if you just want them to come and go as they please. Truth is that cats are resourceful and smart, which means that they’ll find ways of staying warm and fed even if they’re outdoors. It can be risky of course, but that’s one of the drawbacks that will go over.
There’s also the mixed cat which is an indoor/outdoor type of cat. They have the best of both worlds, but there’s of course pros and cons to know about as well.
Difference Between Indoor and Outdoor Cats
Curious about the difference between outdoor and indoor cats? Many people are confused by this difference, especially for those who are first exposed either to indoor-only cats or outdoor-only cats.
The distinction in a general sense is very easy. An indoor cat is one that lives within the home and never goes outside. Maybe it’ll go out in the yard, but it will spend the majority of its time within the home. Outdoor cats are the exact opposite. They primarily live outside and will come inside every now and then to eat or drink, but that’ll only be an occasional delight when you’ll get to reconnect with your feline.
Indoor/outdoor cats are more similar to outdoor cats, but they spend more time indoors than regular outdoor felines.
The difference between living indoors or outdoors might seem minor, but this small difference creates a range of different traits and characteristics for these pets. An indoor cat needs to be treated differently than an outdoor cat. They actually have very different needs, so it’s important to know exactly what your pet needs from you.
Caring for Indoor Cats
These cats will be spending the majority of their time within the home, which means that they are at low risk of injury, disease, or anything else that will impact their health. The chances of them being around cars is also very low, and chances are that they won’t be exposed to FIV or feline immunodeficiency virus, or FeLV or feline leukemia virus.
Much like dogs, you want to maintain a vaccination protocol ensuring that they have all of their shots.
Much like human homebodies, these cats are prone to get overweight and out-of-shape. You’ll need to spend time with them to make sure that they play and stay healthy, and you want to make sure that they get enough stimulation to keep them from getting bored and tired. They become very dependent on owners for stimulation and to satisfy most of their other needs.
Are Indoor or Outdoor Cats More Stressed?
Surprisingly enough, indoor cats are actually more prone to stress. This is especially true when owners leave the home or if they see unfamiliar faces show up. For those who don’t know, stress has a highly negative impact on felines and causes a range of behavioral issues and illnesses.
You can counter this by improving their environment with objects to climb, scratching posts, and other things to keep them calm and engaged.
Caring for Outdoor Cats
Unlike their counterparts, outdoor cats regularly get enough exercise and are often fit and healthy. They also rarely get bored because they have many opportunities to explore new areas, meet new faces, and engage with their environment. This greatly reduces their stress.
These felines also tend to have a more trustworthy and balanced character likely because they know that they are self-sufficient. While their overall health and stress is better, they are exposed to many risk factors. Vaccination is essential because they will be exposed to viruses and ailments, and either spaying or neutering is important to reduce pregnancies and diseases.
Flea infestations are a large concern that can affect the entire home and both people and pets living with you. While there are flea repellents, it’s almost impossible to keep outdoor felines 100% clean.
Since they are around more cats and animals in general, they also tend to be around more viral and bacterial diseases, and vaccinations are not 100% guaranteed to keep your cat healthy.
While it’s often harder to bring these pets to the veterinarian, it’s essential that they get regular checkups because their health can be more at risk. It’s also best to have some type of ID tag or other way to identify them in case the pep gets lost or injured.
Indoor vs. Outdoor Cats: Exploring The Pros And Cons
Here we’ll explore the major benefits and drawbacks of both of these cats so that you know which one is right for you.
Pros of Keeping Cats Indoors
Let’s start off with the benefits of indoor cats. We’ll explore the major benefits, but keep in mind that each feline is different and you might see different pros and cons in your own cat.
Pro: Safety
Perhaps the biggest benefit is safety. Outdoor cats tend to be healthier, but this is greatly countered by them being exposed to more risks. An indoor cat barely gets into fights, isn’t exposed to as much disease, and rarely has a chance to get hit by a car. You also have an easier time seeing behavioral changes with the starting signs of serious medical illnesses before they get worse.
Pro: Wildlife Population
Many people are beginning to understand the unfortunate devastation that outdoor cats can have. You may not realize it, but your little house cat can be a lethal and efficient hunter if left outdoors. If there are too many cats in an area, they can easily wipe out the bird and other wildlife population. Keeping your cat indoors ensures that birds and other animals can thrive.
Cons of Keeping Cats Indoors
Now let’s look at the drawbacks of having your furry friend live indoors.
Con: Low Stimulation
Outdoor cats have endless opportunities for stimulation by exploring their world and meeting other cats. Indoor cats really have this opportunity. Not only do they have too little stimulation, but they’ll often take out their boredom by scratching, engaging in hunting and stalking habits, and being a general nuisance. This can also lead to poor fitness, as they can become overweight and lazy.
Con: Higher Stress
Surprisingly enough, indoor cats tend to have more stress because they have fewer ways to express themselves and feel better. Much like with stimulation though, this could be fixed by giving them opportunities to explore their environment.
Pros of Keeping Cats Outdoors
Outdoor cats were the norm for the longest time. In fact, indoor cats were seen as a nuisance until the twentieth century when kitty litter was invented. Until then, cats just lived outdoors.
Pro: High Stimulation
An outdoor cat has endless opportunities to get stimulation. From climbing, hunting, exploring, and meeting new faces, don’t get significantly more stimulation than indoor cats. This reduces their stress and often makes them more self-sufficient and calmer.
Pro: Better Overall Health
You’ll have to weigh the risks with the rewards here, but outdoor cats tend to have better health overall. This is because they’re able to exercise more and they tend to be in much better shape than their indoor counterparts.
Cons of Keeping Cats Outdoors
While it might have been the norm for a long time, and while outdoor cats tend to adapt to their environment, there are drawbacks that you should consider.
Con: Numerous Risk Factors
Despite these cats being healthier, they are also surrounded by more danger. This can include other animals hurting them, being hit by cars, and being around more diseases. They are also at risk of pregnancies if they are not spayed, and may go on to develop feline leukemia or FIV.
Con: Lost or Rarely Seen
While outdoor cats return every now and then, the truth is that you’ll have no idea when your cat will come back. There’s also the possibility that your cat won’t return and you’ll be left wondering what happened.
Combination Cats
Indoor/outdoor cats tend to have the best of both worlds. They’re indoors work more often than their outdoor counterparts, which keeps them safer and allows you to keep an eye on them. They also are allowed to go outside enough to get stimulation and exercise. It could be hard to strike an ideal balance because each cat is different and they tend to be willful, but many people are moving towards this.
Final Thoughts
The main thing you should consider is your pet’s safety and what’s best for them. Consider their temperament along with the environment and you’ll easily know which of these is right. Truth be told though, your cat will likely tell you if it prefers staying indoors or going out and having fun.