Keeping Your Cat Indoors
Why Should I Keep My Cat Inside?
Across Ireland we have seen a huge amount of cats go missing from their loving homes, with numbers increasing rapidly since the beginning of August 2017.
We believe that cats should be kept inside wherever possible, to prevent them from coming to harm.
Cats can be successfully, happily and healthily kept as indoor only pets. They can enjoy mental and physical stimulation and fun, without being subjected to the risks that come with allowing your cat to free roam outdoors.
Cats do have a legal right to roam, and it is a criminal offence to cause harm or suffering to an animal, or to remove an animal from a loving home. However, the amount of cats who have seemingly disappeared has caused widespread concern, and realistically the only way you can ensure your cat's safety is to keep it inside your home.
Indoor cats also tend to live longer lives, are victims of less attacks by other animals and suffer from fewer parasite infestations.
Health Concern 1: Water Intake
Instinctually, cats do not enjoy drinking from still water sources as in the wild, a water source which is not moving has a much higher risk of contamination. A Cat Water Fountain is the best solution for a cat who likes to drink moving water.
Some cats will drink from a wider bowl, because they do not like the feeling of their sensitive whiskers touching the sides of a normal sized bowl. Others will prefer a Ceramic bowl to a Stainless Steel bowl, and some will like a plastic bowl. With cats, it is often a matter of trial and error.
The majority of cats will see issue with the film of fine dust, hair and other particles which quickly gather on the top of their water. Changing your cat's water, and cleaning the bowl with disinfectant regularly will help to avoid this.
Health Concern 2: Fibre Intake & Hairballs
When cats have access to outdoor areas, many will consume small amounts of grass and other fibrous material.
It is believed that the intake of grass is widely used by cats after they have eaten prey, as it causes the cat to vomit and expel indigestible material.
However, all cats, even those who have never caught prey, will be attracted to grass. This may be due to the trace minerals, vitamins A & D and folic acid, which grass naturally provides. Before the use of antibiotics, Chlorophyll which is found in grass was used as a remedy for pain, infection, ulcers, skin diseases and anemia. Chlorophyll also has breath cleansing properties.
Cat grass also offers cats a safe alternative to nibbling on flowers and houseplants, some of which can be toxic.
For the majority of indoor cats, the provision of cat grass will be of great use for their instinctual behaviours. The fibre in grass allows cats to dispel hairballs, and helps with digestion by acting as a laxative.
Longhaired cats in particular should always have access to cat grass, and may need further supplementation via hairball remedies or specialist hairball care cat food.
Health Concern 3: Weight Gain
Although indoor cats can be more prone to weight gain than those that have access to the outdoors, this is regularly due to indoor cats having more access to food, rather than lack of exercise.
To encourage your indoor cat to exercise as they would if they were able to free roam, provide a variety of Scratching Posts and interactive toys. Catnip Spray is great for encouraging your cat to visit those harder to reach areas of scratchers, which take more energy to get to.
Preventing your cat from having access to a buffet style feeding regime, where food is available throughout the day, will also help to prevent weight gain. Food should be offered 4 times per day, and cats at risk of becoming overweight should have their food weighed so they are not being overfed. Senior foods can be helpful for helping cats to lose weight.
If your cat is severely overweight, please visit a vet to ensure there are no underlying health issues.
Enrichment, Creating a Natural Environment & Hygiene
When free roaming, cats will encounter many different enrichment items per day. These can vary from a particularly attractive fence post to balance on, to catching and playing with prey such as mice.
In your home, it is important to recreate as many enrichment situations for your cat as possible.
Catching of prey can be simulated with the use of cat feeding toys which make your cat work for their meals by interacting with the toy. This will tire the cat out as well as giving a sense of reward for use of their instincts.
Interactive toys allow your cat to encounter a number of sensory items, including feathers, bells, patterns and lights.
Teaser toys are excellent for allowing your cat to play with you, and you will both have great fun! Toys such as lasers and rod teasers are ideal for this - or use a remote control cat teaser toy to keep your furry friend busy from the comfort of your sofa!
Tunnels and Scratching Posts allow your cat places to hide and pounce, both natural behavious which are important for your cat to enjoy.
When added to any toy, Catnip will have over 80% of cats exhibiting ecstatic behaviour - rolling around, relaxing, and enjoying their home.
Some cats may enjoy a taste of the outdoors using a cat-sized harness and lead. They can be trained in a similar manner to a dog, with plenty of treats and rewards. This provides an excellent form of both exercise and enrichment for your pet.
Many cat owners strive to have a cat that uses an outdoor area as a toilet, however indoor cats will need a litter tray available at all times.
Covered litter trays will help to reduce smells, and when paired with a high quality litter and regular cleaning, you will barely notice the litter tray is there.
It is important that the tray is kept clean, ideally faeces should be removed at least twice daily. Cats will rarely use a dirty litter tray and this is when owners will often begin to experience problems with their cat toileting elsewhere.
Many covered litter trays also offer the option of inserting a carbon piece, to further prevent odours.
Further Considerations
Many dedicated owners of indoor cats choose to have a 'catio' built, so their pet can safely enjoy the outdoors and some fresh air, while keeping safe.
All cats should be microchipped and neutered, regardless of whether they live inside or outside. Neutering makes for a happier, healthier pet. Microchipping increases the chances of you getting your pet back, should they ever escape.
If you have any further queries about keeping your pet indoors, please do not hesistate to ask.