‘I’m a vet and there’s one big con when it comes to having indoor cats’

There are pros and cons to indoor and outdoor cats (stock photo) (Image: Getty)

Cats are a popular pet for couples, families and older people who live on their own but it can be hard to know if an indoor or outdoor cat would be best for you.

A small vet called Ben has weighed up the pros and cons of both types of cats in a video posted on . He warned there is one big con with having an indoor cat for a pet.

Ben explained that indoor are at a higher risk of problem behaviours due to boredom and frustration. He also noted there is no right or wrong when deciding which kind of cat to keep, it just depends on what would suit you most.

In the video he said: “Indoor versus outdoor cats: Which is the right choice? Here are the pros and cons from my perspective as a vet.

“Life for an outdoor cat allows them to express the full range of their natural behaviours and it’s probably more fulfilling for a cat but there are a lot of hazards they have to contend with. The risk of being hit by a car and killed or seriously injured.

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“There’s the risk of being attacked and injured by other animals, usually other cats and usually fights over territory. Outdoor cats are also much more likely to be exposed to toxic substances and infections such as FIV which is the cat equivalent of HIV, cat flu and parasitic infections like fleas.”

The vet added there are also environmental considerations as outdoor cats can “hunt and kill” vulnerable species of wildlife, like songbirds. Having indoor cat means you “don’t have to worry about this” so life for an indoor cat is likely to be a lot safer.

However, there is one big con in keeping a cat indoors and restricting them access to the outside world. Being indoors all the time can be very boring, according to Ben, and as much as you can try to keep them “mentally stimulated” with games, toys and scratching posts which are all “brilliant”, it is hard to “fully replicate the variety of outdoor life.”

Boredom and frustration can lead to a higher risk of “problem behaviours” in indoor cats like destroying furniture, urine marking and “sometimes even aggression.” Obesity is another “problem” for indoor cats as they might not get as much exercise as their outdoor counterparts.

Ben continued: “Indoor cats, especially those in multi cat households, have also been shown to be at a higher risk of urinary tract problems which are linked to stress and these can be life threatening in male cats.” He concluded: “So there’s no right or wrong way to keep a cat. It depends on your cat’s personality, where you live and your own views and priorities ultimately.”

The small vet’s video has received 14,600 views, 585 likes and almost one hundred comments. One user shared: “Mine are indoor with a catproofed garden. This or a catio is the best way to care for a cat in my opinion.”

Another added: “FINALLY someone acc (actually) giving a balanced viewpoint and not demonising outdoor life immediately. Those doing indoor should have a catio or secured garden always.”

A third user said: “Every outdoor cat I had growing up died a horrible death. I’ve only had indoor cats as an adult and they’ve had long happy lives.”

A fourth argued: “Most cats barely stray from their homes when they are out. They are usually within earshot and can hear you when you call them. Keeping them locked up is cruel.”

Another user shared their viewpoint: “Only way to ethically keep an outside cat is if you personally own enough land for their territory, our suburbs are too compact. Nothing short of cruel to let them think they can get territory there.”

Cats Protection UK, the UK’s largest cat welfare charity, has on how you can minimise the risks for outdoor and indoor cats. To minimise the risks for an outdoor cat, it suggests keeping your cat indoors at night to protect them from the hazards of the road and having your cat microchipped as a permanent means of identification, increasing your chances of being reunited with them if they ever go missing.

To enhance and maximise indoor life for cats, the charity highlights that it is “particularly essential” to provide a stimulating and safe indoor environment if your cat is solely kept inside. It is commonly known that cats don’t like to eat or drink next to their litter tray for hygiene reasons but it is also suggested to avoid putting food and water bowls next to each other as “many people don’t realise that cats also like to have each of their food and water bowls in separate places too.”

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