Indoor vs Outdoor Cats: Which Is Better? Dr Karyn’s Opinion

If you want to set off a heated debate, announce to UK cat owners that their pets should be kept indoors, then tell feline fanciers in the US to do the opposite. It is amazing how passionate people are about this topic, and both arguments have some very valid points.

In Australia, where I spent my first 31 years, cats were originally seen as a largely outdoor pet; free to roam as they pleased, with some individuals allowed to venture indoors if they were lucky or felt so inclined. These days, the situation is completely reversed, with cats kept almost exclusively indoors, and laws limiting, even preventing, their outdoor excursions. So what changed? Two things: flea control got better, and the impact cats were having on wildlife populations got too severe to ignore. If the first thing hadn’t happened, I’m not sure if it would have been the cats or the wildlife that would have suffered more.

Felines, Fleas, and Feral Populations

Like many of its residents and visitors, fleas love Australia’s warm climate, and until the mid-1990s, when potent ectoparasiticides like Frontline and Advantage revolutionised flea control, indoor cats invariably meant fleas. I remember my first cats being strictly outdoors (apart from when I would sneak them in for a cuddle), with Mum adamant that she would not risk a flea infestation. By the time Muffin & Tiger had passed on and Gilbert & Sully hit the scene, the tables had turned, and my tabbies were only allowed to venture outside in the safety of their enclosure or on the end of a leash.

Cats were first introduced to Australia in the 1800s, with stray cats becoming an apex predator, the likes of which the current ecosystem had never experienced. The feral cat population is now estimated to fluctuate between one and four million, and kills around six million native animals per day, threatening the survival of over 100 animal species. These cats, more wild now than domestic, are culled on sight, and strict laws have been introduced in an attempt to reduce new cats entering the population. I can’t help but wonder if pet cat numbers would have dwindled had flea control not improved by the time we were waking up to the damage this introduced species was causing. Cope with fleas or forgo having a cat? I know which one my mother would have chosen!

While the indoor/outdoor status of Australia’s cats has been decided by policy and not necessarily preference, pet owners down under will attest to the fact that their indoor kitties are certainly healthier than their outdoor predecessors, living twice as long on average. With that in mind, why are so many feline fanciers so vehemently opposed to keeping their pets indoors? Let’s break it down.

The Argument FOR Indoor Cats

Health and Longevity

Statistically speaking, indoor cats have longer lifespans and have fewer health problems than their outdoor counterparts. Without the risks of cars, dogs, other cats, infections, poisons, parasites and cruel people, they are bound to live longer.

Wildlife Protection

Evidence of domestic cats in the UK has been found dating back to the first century AD, so theirs is not a recent introduction into the ecosystem. Despite there being a long history of large feline predators in America as far back as the last ice age, the domestic cat was only introduced in the 1600s. They are responsible for killing smaller mammals and birds that their larger wild relatives would likely not waste time on, so their ecological impact must be considered.

Indoor Cats Can Have Outdoor Experiences

Catios, cat enclosures, and cat harnesses are all ways we can allow our cats to safely experience the great outdoors. Even those living in upstairs apartments can buy or make window boxes that can allow their cats a taste of fresh air without putting their health at risk.

The Argument AGAINST Indoor Cats

Welfare

The primary argument made against keeping cats indoors is that it is ‘cruel and unnatural’ to keep them confined, as their nature is to roam and explore. Although this is true, the same assertion is never made about dogs, whose wolf ancestors are every bit as wild as the lion or puma. Is it simply that dogs are more easily contained? Additionally, it can be argued that cities and suburbs with crowded housing, fast cars, and high population densities bear little resemblance to the native habitat of wild cats.

Certainly, a small house or apartment is not an ideal environment for a creature whose instincts tell them to run, jump, hunt, and explore, but this is something that can be overcome with cat runs and enclosures, cat trees, shelves, and platforms, and through the selection of more placid cats over the ‘wilder’ breeds like the Bengal or Savannah.

Environmental enrichment is a major consideration for pet wellbeing, but a compromise needs to be reached between the risks to their health and that of the local wildlife.

Preference

Many people prefer having a pet that comes and goes as it pleases, doesn’t require a litter box, and is seen very much as a ‘low-maintenance pet.’ This may be seen as a somewhat selfish argument, but it can be difficult to go against a long-held view of a cat’s place in the household.

It’s Hard to Keep Cats Inside

While the escape efforts of dogs are generally stymied by the building of a fence, cats are not so easily contained. In the UK, flyscreens and security screens are few and far between, so keeping a cat inside means keeping windows and doors securely latched, which can be stifling in the summer. Many cat owners assert that it is virtually impossible to keep their cat inside, and they often give into their pet’s incessant attempts to escape, reinforcing the belief that keeping a cat indoors is cruel.

What’s My Position?

You might assume that, with five indoor cats, my position is pretty clear, and yes, I am largely in favor of keeping cats indoors. However, it is an opinion with several caveats based on geography, ecology, and history.

Using the example of Australia, the way cats fit into the ecosystem there is simple: they don’t. For thousands of years, there have been no predators with the size, stealth, and killing capacity of a feral cat, so the impact of a carnivore of their caliber introduced less than 250 years ago has been devastating. The feral cat situation in Australia is an ecological emergency, and the only way for people to continue living with them is to keep them indoors – end of discussion.

Although the domestic cat has only been found in America for around 500 years, the continent has its fair share of feline predators, and the impact made by these smaller felines is not as great. However, the presence of such predators, along with the number of deadly and dangerous diseases endemic to a considerable part of the continent, makes me err on the side of keeping kitty safely inside.

So what about merry old England? The lengthy presence of the domestic cat suggests that the current ecosystem has evolved alongside these small predators, and in fact, they have arguably taken the place of some wild felids and canines that have been driven out through hunting and habitat destruction. However, I would argue that built-up areas with a high concentration of pets, people, and cars are not a natural environment, and are likely a source of stress and high mortality for the average housecat, and these are the reasons I keep mine confined to the house and catio. If I were to move to a more rural area with no near neighbors and minimal traffic, I would reconsider my position, though probably not with my current clowder of inexperienced cats.

Despite what many believe, the indoor/outdoor debate is not black and white – more tortoiseshell, perhaps? What is most important is that you consider all the variables, including the health and welfare of your pet, their impact on local wildlife, and your ability to provide them with an enriched and happy life.