When it comes to cat ownership, there are always so many things to consider. One of those things is whether your cat will be indoor, outdoor, or indoor/outdoor. Personally, my cats are all indoor-only.
However, there are many who believe otherwise. Let this Quick Guide to Indoor and Outdoor Cat Care help you decide what is best for you and your cat.
Indoor Cat
When it comes to the lifespan of an indoor-only cat, you are looking at 14 years. Keeping your cat indoors means that you are always aware where your cat is within the home as well as the safety of the environment.
Cat-proofing your home is the best way to keep your home safest for your cat. By keeping your cat indoors, you are also able to control his diet as well as notice any changes in litter box behavior.
Brushing your cat regularly and keeping his nails clipped are a must. You will need to engage your cat in activities that simulate what he would be doing outside like pouncing, chasing, etc. Varying cat toys will help to increase his physical activity. Purchasing a scratching post is a must have!
Your cat will also need high places for him to venture, which is best done by getting a cat tree for him to enjoy. Daily litter box cleaning will help alleviate problems and keep a clean, litter-free atmosphere for you and your cat.
Outdoor Cat
For an outdoor cat, their lifespan is about 3-5 years, which is about one-third of that of an indoor cat. Your cat will have the opportunity to climb trees, hunt prey and interact with other cats as well as people.
Well many of these opportunities may seem harmless, you need to understand that there will be endless hazards for your cat.
I don’t want to go into all the scenarios, but being run over by a car, attacked by another animal, or facing animal abuse top the list. You will not be able to guarantee his safety whatsoever.
Your outdoor cat will need to be spayed or neutered as well as to be up-to-date on all their shots. You will need to constantly be monitoring for fleas, ticks, wounds, etc.
One product that both an indoor and outdoor cat can appreciate is a fabulous cat tree from LittleWhiskers.ca. You will find that it offers your cat an engaging space that can be enjoyed daily.
Think of it as a scratcher, play toy, napping spot and kitty lookout all-in-one. I have several cat trees for my indoor cats and they are used constantly.
I like to put them in the sunniest places in my home to allow my cats the best sunshine throughout the day. My most recent cat tree addition is the Mississauga Cat Tree.
I have it placed in my front window and it is probably my most-used cat tree right now. It is a discontinued model, but thankfully there are many more cat trees for you to choose from!
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Disclosure: My 3 Little Kittens did receive product for this post. All opinions are honest and that of My 3 Little Kittens.
Sab Edwards says
Yeah we have a cat that adopted us, about 4 years ago. My daughters cat just had kittens and when they were about 4-6weeks old this really fluffy cat walked into our house..made himself at home, he was younger then the kittens we had and I think he lost his mom. He tried to move in with momma cat but she had none of that!! He was so young we could not tell the sex of him and he was so pretty I had always said to him “are you a pretty girl? or a pretty boy?” lol … we momma cat is gone and the kittens have moved to Alberta with my son, but FLUFFY BUTT is still here. He prefers to be outside, even in the winter time he will sleep in my old garage. Right now we’ve tried to cut off as much of his long fur as possible as he’s got “burrs in his Furrs’. The last few days he’s actually stayed inside for about 6 hrs during the night and slept with me. (and yes, he’s fixed lol)
Kristen says
Love hearing this. Thank you for loving him!!!!!!
Erika E says
Now, that is a wonderful cat tree! My cats would really love that! They are all indoors and only one seems to have any real desire to go outside. We have a fenced enclosure in the backyard that has a roof. So they can spend some time out in that when it’s nice and then come back to the safety of the house when they’ve had their fill of fresh air.
Gord says
I would love to have a cat tree like the one pictured above. My cats would love to have one but sadly I do not have the room right now. Perhaps in the near future I will get a bigger place so they can enjoy a cat tree.
Laurie P says
Most people don’t consider all the factors and differences between indoor/outdoor cats…..I sure didn’t until actually owning a cat and learning.
heidi c. says
My cats would have a blast with this fun tree! Give them a little extra exercise!