Should I Keep My Cat Indoors?

Dr. Justine Lee, PetMD

I’ve talked before about avoiding the “hit-by-car” emergency by keeping your dog or cat under control: either on a leash or by keeping them indoors. I got a lot of grief from some feline owners and veterinarians when It’s a Cat’s World … You Just Live In It came out. Why? Because I stated my opinion: that cats should be kept indoors.

First, there are several medical reasons for why to keep your cats indoors. Let the statistics do the talking: the average outdoor cat lives to two years of age, while the indoor cat lives to a more geriatric age (approximately 15 to 18). So ultimately, it depends on how long you want to have your cat around.

As a veterinarian, I’ve seen too many cats succumb to the “trauma of outdoor living”: being mauled by dogs, maimed by cars, shot by BB guns, etc., only to have pet owners who couldn’t afford to have them treated (resulting in euthanasia).

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Lauren S.

2:16PM PST on Feb 19, 2012

I really have enjoyed reading this article and would love if more and more people would take note of this! So many people don't take care of their cats like she should and get touchy about it. I think they get so touchy because they know they should be doing exactly what this article says to do!

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Joe R.

4:27PM PST on Feb 15, 2012

Good points!

Mdragoness X.

12:38PM PST on Feb 12, 2012

Good article. Too many times I read black-and-white 'cats must be indoors' pieces. Nice to see someone give both sides.

John W.

4:36AM PST on Feb 9, 2012

We keep our cats indoors!

New G.

11:34PM PST on Feb 7, 2012

Thank you.

Diane L.

10:54PM PST on Feb 6, 2012

Exactly, Audrey. As a fellow gardener who has cats, isn't it FUN to be working in the yard, maybe removing weeds, planting seedlings and have your cat decide it's her personal litter box? My little inside cat that I referred to (that insists on going outside) only weighs 7 lbs, so because I'm very rural and a lot of predators around here, I don't WANT her outside, but she's persistent. It was funny the other day when I had 3 loads of "pit run" delivered to put in my horses' muddy areas, and the first thing she did was run out and go up on top of one of the piles and dig her little "hole" and squat in it! I wish I had the camera handy. She thought she was QUEEN of the hill, up there!

Audrey L.

10:49PM PST on Feb 6, 2012

My cat is mostly inside but she does love to go out a couple of times a day. In the summer when I am out gardening she is right out there with me and I enjoy her being around , she makes a game hiding in the grasses t hen tearing around, no I couldn't take that enjoyment away from her, she is fixed and has all her shots. I don't think there is any right or wrong way to raise a cat, just do what your cat enjoys and they are happy.

10:25PM PST on Feb 6, 2012

It's unfair to judge others who have cats that go outside or not, based on their own situations or beliefs. I believe most definitely that declawing a cat is cruel in the first place, but if it was done for whatever reason, then that cat most assuredly should be kept indoors if at all possible. Sometimes, it just isn't possible to keep a cat inside. I'd love to hear how that can be done IF the cat is determined to go out, without resorting to keeping the cat in a crate or locking in another room whenever you go in or out thru the door! I have 4 cats, 2 of which are indoor cats, the other two 100% outside. One of the inside cats USED to be an outside cat, and she is the one who decided she wanted to be "inside". She still goes out, but briefly and comes right back in. The other "inside" cat was born an outside cat, started out with ME as an "outside" cat, and because of her diminutive size, health issues that required constant "monitoring", I decided she was NOT going out again. However, she decided otherwise. It's been a 2-yr-battle with her. Lately, she's decided she WANTS to stay in, unless I'm outside and the door is open, and she will come out and follow me around.

Cats! They do what THEY want to do, most of the time.

Mz B.

8:46AM PST on Feb 6, 2012

Either way some cats cannot stay in the house! I have three cats, two stay in the house and one has to go out. They are all fixed so no babies but this cat that goes out was previously with other people and he is an outside cat. It dont matter how domesticated you think a cat is, if this cat dont get to go outside he shits on everything that includes our beds!!! the couch!!! what ever he sees fit to shit on!!! he absolutely will not use a liter box! So what do you say to that? I mean seriously to each his own some cats are outside cats like it or not. Also if you look up different breeds of cats some cats like this one are outdoors type of cats anyways. I wont be replying as I'm stopping notifications to this post but I wanted to just say that again you cannot keep all cats indoors. If you have been able to then you are LUCKY!!! My other male races to try to get out every chance he can and he aint got no balls! He just still wants out. So for them its open windows and lots of outside viewing from indoors, but I will always let the other one out as he requests. anyways.....................

MarilynAway D.

8:14AM PST on Feb 6, 2012

My cats have never set foot outside and they're very happy.
We spend time playing with them and the get plenty of exercise from that and from playing with each other.

Indoor cats live longer than cats that go outdoors.
Letting cats out alone is animal abuse.
They're not equipped to deal with the dangers of the outdoors....ie: traffic, people and other animals who would harm them, toxins and the list is too long and dangerous.

Country cats may fare better outdoors, but not city cats.
No matter where I live, I'll never let my cats outdoors.
They have no desire to go out and they live wonderfully full lives ...and are spoiled.... and very happy.