Are outdoor cats happier than indoor cats?

We all want what’s best for our feline friends, but with all of the information out there, it can be difficult to decide what that is. When it comes to outdoor vs. indoor cats, opinions are incredibly strong on both sides.

The real question for most people is if we should let our indoor cats venture outside once in a while. If you’ve seen a happy cat playing outside and lying in the sunshine, it’s hard to say they aren’t happy. One of the reasons this question comes up is because your cat tells you they want to go outside, and they can be very stubborn and convincing.

So, do domestic cats need to be able to free roam outside in order to live their best lives? The answer that most veterinarians, animal experts, and experienced cat owners will give you is a resounding No! Feline pets should remain indoors with proper enrichment and not be allowed to free roam outside.

Indoor-only cats, with the proper environment and access to outdoor entertainment, will live extremely fulfilling lives that are free from the dangers of the great outdoors.

In this article, we will outline the potential dangers for outdoor cats and provide tips for enrichment activities that nurture their natural instincts.

Do Indoor Cats Get Bored?

One of the most common arguments for allowing cats outdoors is that they’ll become bored and feel trapped inside the house. Some people believe that indoor life prevents cats from acting on their normal instincts and living happy, healthy lives.

However, this couldn’t be further from the truth! Indoor cats, when properly cared for, are happier and healthier than their outdoor counterparts. Keeping indoor cats happy doesn’t take much effort at all—30-45 minutes of daily play easily replicates the hunting experience while keeping your cat and local wildlife safe.

Here are some things to note when it comes to indoor cats and their lifestyle:

Cats sleep up to 20 hours every single day. Outdoors, they spend a lot of time hiding to get rest—and can end up not getting the sleep they need in stressful environments.
Play mimics hunting for cats, so indoor cats don’t miss out on anything at all! Other cats, daily playtime with their person, and independent play all provide enrichment.
Indoor cats can be safely allowed outdoors with human supervision. This might mean harness training, building a catio, or accompanying your cat outdoors with a stroller!

Enrichment for Indoor Cats

Other animals: The best enrichment for any social animal is interaction with its own species. Two or more cats can provide social engagement and exercise and will even teach one another how to behave. For instance, kittens learn bite inhibition best from other cats. Dogs and other common household pets can also provide positive enrichment.
Daily play: All cats should receive 30-45 minutes of hands-on daily play broken into 10-15-minute sessions throughout the day. This applies to seniors and cats who “don’t like” toys! Cats naturally enjoy play when engaged properly because it mimics hunting.
I recommend beginning with a wand toy with feathers. Move the toy away from your cat (not toward!) in unpredictable movements. Try to mimic prey by soaring the toy through the air like a bird or dragging it along the ground like a mouse or snake. Have it “crawl” up furniture to encourage jumping or race across the room to encourage running. Different cats will prefer different play styles, so pay attention to what your cat enjoys.
Independent play: In addition to playing with another cat and their human companions, cats should have interactive toys around the house that they can play with independently. Mine love YEOWWW! brand catnip toys, spring toys, and battery-operated toys.
If you’re looking to save money, try catnip stuffed in a paper bag, flattened cardboard shipping boxes for scratching (they love shipping paper, too!), or large bottle caps. Cats can make toys out of so many household items!
To ensure your pet’s safety, be sure to remove any broken toys or pieces and not give them anything that can fit in their mouths. It is best to supervise playtime with smaller items, as cats may choke or swallow these objects if left unsupervised.
Scratching posts: Scratching flexes cats’ muscles, provides mental enrichment and is a way for them to mark their territory. Scratching posts and pads are incredibly important to have around the house, even if they’re homemade from cheap items like cardboard boxes.
Try to have at least one vertical and one horizontal scratching post in the house so that your cat can choose based on their preferences. You can also try different textures and materials, such as cardboard, sisal rope, and carpet.
Heights: It sounds silly that being up high could be enriching for a cat, but they do love it! Allowing your cat to climb up onto a bookshelf and survey their kingdom can keep them amused for quite a while. I recommend looking into the method of “catifying” your home to make it as cat-friendly as possible. After all, cats love climbing trees, even causing some cat owners to call animal control for rescue.
Windows: A bird feeder in front of a window will keep your cat entertained forever! Cats also love to bask in the sunshine, sleep on windowsills, and even watch leaves fall from the trees in the autumn months. Access to sunshine throughout the day is a must for a happy cat’s life indoors.
Plants: Cat-friendly plants can make your home feel greener, which you and your cat will both enjoy. There are also plenty of plants your cats can eat, such as cat grass, catnip, and spider plants. The last two will even provide a high for your cat, making them sure to come back for more!
Harness Training: Harness and leash training your cat will allow them to explore the outdoors without running away, hunting, or encountering threats. Most cats hate the harness at first but begin to beg for it once they associate it with access to the outdoors.
Begin slowly when harness and leash training your cat. Stay indoors and provide plenty of treats and praise as you get your cat into the harness and teach them to walk with you. Learning and playing together can be a fun bonding experience. Be sure to have your camera ready!
Catios: Another way to provide an indoor cat access to the outdoors safely is to buy or build a catio or cat patio. These enclosed porches provide fresh air, bird watching, and sunshine for your cat while keeping them safe and healthy.

Why do Outdoor Cats Live Shorter Lifespans?

The average age of an indoor cat is dramatically longer than that of an outdoor cat. While outdoor cats live an average of 2-5 years, indoor cats live 10-15 years.

This comes down to the risks outdoor cats face, which include:

Traffic, being hit by a car, freeways, highways, and even cats sleeping in cars in the winter
Predators, domestic dogs, and coyotes
Other cats can pass on contagious diseases and parasites or injure your cat in fights
Poisoning from eating toxic plants, foods, prey, or other materials
Humans, animal cruelty, intentionally poisoning, shooting, or otherwise hurting your cat, or bringing them to a shelter where they may be euthanized
Diseases, including Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)
Parasites, including fleas, ear mites, and ticks

An outdoor kitty also poses a great threat to local wildlife. Many people believe their cat only hunts common mice or sparrows, but what you see is a small percentage of the prey your cat kills. It’s estimated that outdoor cats kill over 24 billion animals in total each year, and they’ve led to the extinction of 33 species.

Bell collars don’t help wildlife and can irritate your cat, so they aren’t a solution for hunting.

In addition, your cat likely isn’t staying as close to home as you think. Studies have shown some cats have outdoor territories of over 1,000 acres. Unneutered males, in particular, wander more than other cats.

What do Outdoor Cats Eat?

An important component of long-term kitty health is diet. You should always be feeding your cat a high-quality diet, but cats who go outdoors are also bound to hunt and scavenge.

In theory, this isn’t much of a problem—after all, mice and birds are a cat’s natural prey. So, what can go wrong?

They may kill mice or rats who’ve been poisoned, thus consuming this poison themselves. In addition, cats can catch parasites or diseases from their prey.

Another thing to consider is what your cat is scavenging for outdoors. Are they getting into the neighbor’s garden, eating plants that could be toxic? Can they find their way into a garage and drink antifreeze that’s dripped from someone’s car? Are your neighbors cruel and leaving out poison in an attempt to kill strays?

If you want your cat to eat as naturally as possible, a well-sourced raw diet will serve them better than having them catch their own food. And if it’s exercise or enrichment you’re worried about, check out the healthier options listed above!

How Do I Know if My Indoor Cat is Happy?

Learn your cat’s body language. Cat body language can be subtle and sometimes confuses people who are new to them. For instance, cats can purr while happy or when in pain. They lay their ears flat when scared and when ready to pounce at their favorite toy.

Look for calm body language, such as purring, rubbing against objects, slow tail movements, and slow blinking of the eyes.

During play, you’ll see more excitable body language that means your cat is happy, such as a flattened body, attentive eyes, and a fast, flicking tail.

Provide the essentials. This includes a good diet, fresh water, daily playtime, scratchers, and toys. If your cat has everything they need, they’re likely to be happy indoors.
Give it time. Cats are creatures of routine. If you’ve just brought a cat indoors, it’s going to take time before they’re truly content with their new life. Most cats take two weeks to acclimate to new surroundings.

How to Keep an Outdoor Cat Indoors

Many people struggle and give up during the transition process. It can feel like you’re harming your cat by keeping them indoors when they’re crying at the back door to be let out or trying to dash between your legs every time you check the mail.

However, keeping a cat indoors is actually very simple: keep the doors and windows closed and wait them out.

Your cat may throw a tantrum about this! Their entire life has changed before their eyes, and it’s fair that they want things to go back to how they were.

However, your cat doesn’t know the risks they face outdoors. You do! It’s your responsibility to provide for them, and this includes keeping them in a safe, happy, and enriching environment.

Here are some tips to help your cat adjust:

Provide supervised or contained outdoor time via a harness or catio.
Play with your cat for 10-15 minutes, 3 times a day. This is best done before meals, before bedtime, or before you leave the house.
Give your cat multiple scratchers and a variety of toys.
Keep windows closed as well as doors—many cats will tear up window screens to escape confinement.
Spay or neuter your cat. This will decrease their desire to roam, and they’ll likely beg less to go outside once the surgery is through. Unneutered male cats and female cats in heat will do just about anything to find a mate!

Conclusion

Indoor cats are not only safer but are actually happier than outdoor cats. With proper care, they receive all the benefits and enrichment of outdoor life with none of the risks. This allows them to live full, long, and incredibly happy lives!

If you’d like to transition your cat to living indoors, the best thing you can do is provide plenty of enrichment. From there, have patience as your cat adapts to their new lifestyle.

The opinions discussed in this article are supported by most veterinarians due to the health risks of letting your cat outside. Please consult your veterinarian to discuss your specific situation.