Just before Christmas the Australian government announced that it was considering ruling that all cats should be kept indoors. That hardly came as a surprise since some states such as Queensland had for years insisted that all cats be kept indoors at night, that they should be registered like dogs and that no household should have more than two cats.
In the US, UK and Europe such draconian measures have not yet been considered, but with politicians leaning more and more towards biodiversity and wildlife preservation it's probably inevitable that the matter will arise at some time in the not too distant future.
It is, most people will acknowledge, a deeply divisive and emotive subject. If you've ever, like the writer, walked the streets for days looking for a cat you'll never see again you may feel very strongly about it indeed. If you believe that cats should be able to follow their instincts as a domesticated wild animal you may feel entirely the opposite. Below we examine the arguments for outdoor or indoor life and also give you some indication as to which cats are more suited to the outdoor life than others.
When writing this we're assuming that outdoor cat owners will still give their animal access to the home at all times and leave supplies of food both indoors and preferably outdoors as well in cold weather. If they cannot leave access at all times through a cat flap they should certainly provide alternative shelter
Outdoor
Instinct Cats are essentially domesticated wild animals that have retained their natural instinct to hunt. It's not natural for them to be kept in confined spaces, often without company if their owner is at work
A Bigger Playing field Advocates of outdoor cats say that their mental health is improved by having an unlimited playing field for stimulation and that they are less likely to gain weight and become bored than indoor cats
Liberty In the UK Courts have continually ruled that cats should have the liberty to roam freely and that their incursion onto other people's property does not constitute trespass, even if that means defecating on lawns and gardens
Quality of Life Cats that are restrained from following their natural instincts experience an unnatural and lower quality of life than that to which they are entitled
Convenience Having an indoor cat means litter tray duty, every day, for the duration of its life. It means having more cat sitters when you're away and having to take more care when you have visitors. It's much easier to 'put the cat out'
Indoor
Safety Whether you live in an urban or rural area the risk to cats from traffic has increased significantly in recent years. Arguably some have more road sense than others but do you want to risk your cat finding out into which category it falls?
Value Cats are now a valuable commodity and not just in money terms. Your shorthair tabby is just as precious to you as a pedigree costing thousands. The more friendly it is, the more tempting it is to strangers longing for a cat
Disease It's well know that the lifespan of indoor cats far exceeds that of outdoor cats whose average longevity has been estimated at about five years. This reduction is even more in unvaccinated, unneutered cats
Temperament Some cats ironically are just not suited to modern outdoor life. The more laid-back varieties - British Shorthairs, Persians (our Shirazis), Scottish Folds much prefer the sofa life. It takes a bit of effort to walk the streets or hunt. Other more energetic varieties - Siamese, Bengals, Maus are just completely unsuited to assessing their surroundings and end up running anywhere in panic, usually provoking widespread owner searches
No Need for Outdoor Access Whilst it's nice to have an enclosed catio for your indoor cat it's not essential. This means that people living in higher level flats can also be cat owners - as long as they have a means of securing their windows and balconies
Wild Life Preservation Cats are allegedly responsible for the decline in wild birdlife and small mammals in most countries in which they are prevalent
Better Relationships with your Neighbours Your cat pooping on their lawn is not a good way to build friendly relationships with your neighbour
Previous History of Abuse or Accident Most of the cats at Cairo Cat Rescue & Rehoming Champions HQ are from the streets of Cairo; some have been deliberately put there, others were born there, many come to us ill or abused. After months, sometimes years of rehabilitation there is no way we would condone them walking the streets again, even in another environment. Many would be severely traumatised if they were asked to do so. That is why we ask for indoor homes for most of our cats
Which Cats are Suitable for Outdoor Life?
There are many lists on the web advocating certain breeds which have an inclination for the outdoor life. Certainly some are traditional hunters such as Maine Coons, Norwegian Forest Cats, Abyssinians and Bengals. Whilst the first two seem to be the most populous outdoor cats, certainly in my area, it's questionable whether Abyssinians and Bengals have the road sense to survive in an urban environment. Perhaps the most common outdoor cat in most peoples' neighbourhood is the British domestic shorthair (not the pedigree British Shorthair) which seems through the years to have adapted well to mapping its neighbourhood calmly. This probably also applies to mix breed cats in other countries whose ancestry was from domestic farm cats.
Which Cats are Suitable for Indoor Life?
The answer is all - if you are prepared to put in the effort. Certainly British Shorthairs, Persians, Angoras and Scottish Folds require less entertainment but this has to be balanced with activity to prevent weight gain. The slimmer Asian and African cats, Siamese, Savannahs, Bengals, Maus need both entertainment and preferably company of either the human or feline kind but show no signs of the depression suggested by the outdoor advocates. Lack of such entertainment will mean that they will entertain themselves, mainly at the expense of your furniture or decorations, but cat toys are not expensive and a feline companion largely meets their needs.
You can see that I am more than a little biased. What are your views?
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