Should I let my indoor cat go outside? This is one of the most highly controversial questions that even veterinary professionals will fight over. (Know that most small animal veterinarians advocate for keeping cats indoors.) People on both sides are very passionate about their opinion when it comes to indoor vs outdoor cats.
So, should cats go outside? As a veterinarian and a cat parent, I can see it from both sides. Cats that go outside can get more exercise and have more environmental enrichment. But, as an emergency critical care veterinary specialist, I will also say that I see a lot more medical problems in the ER due to a cat’s indoor/outdoor status. The short of it? Cats that go outside are more at risk of harm or injury.
Indoor vs outdoor cats
First, let’s define what “going outdoors” is. If your cat goes outside at all, your cat is considered an indoor/outdoor cat. I know it sounds basic, but I’m often shocked when people tell me that their cat is indoor only… until I ask a few more questions and then they state, “Well, he goes outside for 10 minutes a day.” Well, that’s what we define as indoor/outdoor.
Even if 90-95% of your cat’s life is indoors, we veterinarians still need to know about the small percentage of time spent outdoors. Why? Because it affects how we care for your cat and what diagnostics, vaccines, medications, and treatment we may use.
Should cats be allowed outdoors?
Personally, I choose to keep my cats indoors. Why? Because letting cats go outside opens them up to a lot of potential dangers. It can also pose dangers to other animals, and even to you!
10 reasons why I keep my cats indoors
1. Getting lost – or stolen
First, if you let your cat outside, they may not find their way home and be lost forever. Any sudden noises, a car honk, or barking dog can scare your feline family member and result in them getting lost or chased up a tree.
I also don’t want my cats getting stolen (or “adopted”) by someone else. The well-intentioned neighbor may think your cat is lost and take them in as their new cat. If your cat spends any time outdoors, you can easily avoid this by making sure you have a breakaway collar and ID tag on your cat; I always recommend that your cat be microchipped also, as breakaway collars can fall off!
2. Trauma dangers
Being outside poses trauma dangers. Your cat might get hit by a car, attacked by a dog or coyote, injured by the neighborhood bully, or beat up by the neighborhood tomcat. This is the #1 issue that I see in the veterinary ER with indoor/outdoor cats. Unfortunately, trauma can result in fractures, lung bruises, internal bleeding, and even death. Plus, treatment may cost several thousands of dollars for repair.
3. Poisoning dangers
Next, being outside also poses poisoning dangers. This is especially true if your cat munches on your neighbor’s tiger lilies or daylilies, digs around and finds some mouse poison, or is accidentally exposed to antifreeze in your neighbor’s driveway. (Did you know it only takes 1 tablespoon to potentially kill a cat?) Not worth the risk!
4. Infection or disease transmission
The outdoors pose infection or disease transmission risks that can potentially be fatal to your cat. Fighting with other cats can easily result in your cat getting the blood infection feline leukemia (FeLV) or kitty AIDS/FIV. Also, if your cat goes outside, the risks of tapeworms, fleas, ticks, and other parasites dramatically increase. If your cat goes outside at all, it’s really important that your cat be vaccinated and up-to-date on their FeLV and rabies vaccines, along with year-round flea, tick, and heartworm medication. We vets aren’t trying to upcharge you here—it’s truly because you don’t want a flea infestation in your house, or your cat spreading bubonic plague to you from fleas. Seriously. It still happens, especially in the Four Corner States.
5. Pet overpopulation
Letting your cat outside contributes to pet overpopulation if they are still intact (not spayed or neutered). As thousands of cats get euthanized due to pet overpopulation, you can help save a cat’s life by keeping your cat inside—at least until they are neutered or spayed!
6. Zoonotic disease spread
Yes, more disease spread. Cats can carry Toxoplasma gondii, the parasite that results in the disease toxoplasmosis. If your cat defecates in your garden or your neighbor’s sandbox, it can spread to people. This can potentially result in severe issues, such as miscarriage and neurologic problems in humans—particularly in those who are immunosuppressed.
7. Angry neighbors
Keeping your cats indoors makes for happier neighbors. Having a cat spray on landscaping or the foundation of a neighbor’s house, or defecate in your neighbor’s garden, doesn’t win them over. Sometimes, it can result in ill will towards you and your cat!
8. Shorter lifespan
Cats indoors likely live longer. While there aren’t a lot of peer-reviewed publications proving the average age that indoor versus outdoor cats live, in my experience, indoor cats live longer.
9. Saving money on veterinary bills
If you keep your cats indoors, you’ll save money on veterinary bills. If you let one of your cats outside, they are more at risk for bringing home FeLV, FIV, or other infectious diseases. Your other cats—even if they are indoor only—should also be vaccinated and kept up to date on FeLV and rabies vaccines, along with flea and tick medications.
10. Birds and wildlife
Finally, indoor/outdoor cats are the #1 killer of songbirds. It’s estimated that almost 3 billion birds are killed in North America each year. I’m an amateur birder and love all types of wildlife. I have lots of bird feeders and I’m the granola/crunchy type who feeds squirrels, too. Knowing how well our feline family members can unleash their inner hunter, I hate to see wildlife killed by house cats. (For this reason, absolutely no bird feeders in your yard if you do let your cat outside—or you’ll get bad future pet karma.)
Give your cat the best indoor life
Believe it or not, cats can be just as content indoors. The biggest thing is making sure to provide environmental enrichment for each cat in your household. Remember how I mentioned that cats that go outside do get more exercise and environmental enrichment? Well, you too can provide that for indoor vs outdoor cats! This includes things like the perfect living space, such as:
- A safe, stress-free place to eat and drink
- Ocular stimulation (a cat tree to look outside on)
- Plenty of cat-friendly, cat-safe toys
- Cat grass to chew on
- The appropriate number of litter boxes (or one automatic Litter-Robot per 4 cats in the household)
- Plenty of fresh water in multiple locations
- Lots of playtime (5 minutes twice a day, please!)
Depending on how many cats you have, you want to be able to provide resources for each cat—which means you may need lots of room.
How to keep your outdoor cat safe
If you really want your cat to experience the great outdoors, make sure to follow these recommendations (dare I say “rules”).
- Make sure your cat has a breakaway collar with a bell on it, along with an ID tag in case they are lost. Also ensure they are microchipped, as you only have to do this once in their life!
- Make sure your cat is up to date on their feline vaccines (e.g., FVRCP), including the feline leukemia (FeLV) vaccine and rabies. This includes all the other cats in the household too.
- Please keep your cat—and all the other cats in the household—on flea/tick and heartworm medication if they are exposed to a cat that goes outside.
- Supervise your cat outside the whole time—in other words, make sure you are outside with them and watch them the entire time.
- Train your cat to be on a leash and keep them supervised when outside at all times.
- Use a treat container and shake it to call your cat inside, so you can train your cat to come back when called. Choose something irresistible that they’ll come running home for!
- Make sure to only let your cat outside when you’re home, and ideally just for short periods of time. Please don’t do this overnight.
- Consider a “catio” or some type of enclosed cat net or tent.
- Provide a kitty litter box outside—no one wants your cat defecating in their yard.
- Make sure your children’s sand box is covered at all times when your cat is outside. (After all, it does look like one huge litter box!)
- No bird feeders, please. The American Bird Conservancy has great resources on the “ABC’s Cats Indoors program” on what you can do to protect both species!
Ultimately, the decision to have indoor vs outdoor cats is up to you. And I support and validate what you choose! Just weigh all the factors and make sure your cat—and all your other cats—are as protected as they can be.
