Indoor Cat Care

Indoor cat or outdoor cat? When you bring home a cat or kitten, this is likely one of the first decisions you will have to make.  A Indoor cats are safer than their outdoor counterparts—research shows that outdoor cats generally have a lifespan of two years or less—but indoor cats require extra attention and entertainment to stave off potential boredom and keep their “call of the wild” instincts healthy and active. Indoor Cat Care!

Indoor Cat Care

Good fences = happy kitties

Provide a screened porch for your cat to experience the outdoors safely. Consider building or purchasing a “catio” or similar enclosure to allow your cat to get a taste of the outside without the risks. A regular fence may not prevent other animals from entering your yard, so you should always be present when you allow your cat outside in your yard.

Be sure to cat-proof the yard by checking that your fence has no escape routes and by making toxic plants, garden chemicals and other dangerous objects inaccessible.

Walk this way

Install a perch indoors near a sunny window; padded perches can be purchased at many pet supply stores, through catalog retailers or at our online store. Another option is an enclosure that sits in a window frame (much like an air conditioning unit) and provides a secure space in which your kitty can hang out. Larger perches can attach to the side of a house or ground-floor apartment patio.

Keep Life Interesting

To most indoor cats, life is humdrum, monotonous. So you have to keep them occupied as much as possible.

“Our misunderstanding of cats as ‘low-maintenance’ pets has led to cats that are bored and stressed. This has resulted in an epidemic of feline obesity as well as stress-associated diseases” like urinary tract infections, says Ariel Mosenco, DVM, of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. Cats need interactive play time that will satisfy their hunting instincts and keep them active.

Chip in for safety

For extra insurance, consider having your cat microchipped and keep your contact information with the microchip registry up to date. If you do lose your cat, contact your local animal shelter immediately to file a report. Shelter workers can give you tips on getting your pet back home safely. Also read our tips for finding a lost pet.

Indoor Cat Care!