Indoor only cats are becoming more common, especially in urban areas, and there is often an underlying worry from owners about whether this lifestyle is actually going to give them the best quality of life.
In my experience, cats can live full, happy lives without venturing into the outdoors. My first cats spent the first 5 years of their lives as indoor only cats and were perfectly happy until they started exploring the great outdoors when we moved to a rural location.
I also see cats that have been outdoor cats sometimes adapting well when circumstances change and they have to stay inside. In either case there are plenty of things you can do to enrich and entertain them and allow them to fully express themselves.
Interactive play
Bonding with your pet gets the best out of your relationship with them and routine play with different toys will help you find out what toys your pet responds to best.
You don’t have to spend a fortune on toys either, cats are often entertained by some very simple handmade toys. Practice golf balls, toilet roll centres, feathers or screwed up newspaper can all be used to entertain a playful cat. If you really want to treat them a lot of cats love catnip toys!
Treasure hunts
If your cat enjoys their food then hiding some treats around the house for them to find will allow them to exercise and engage their senses more than a bowl of food in their normal space.
We do see weight issues more commonly in indoor only cats, so encouraging them to work for their food can only be a good thing.
Slow feeders or feeding towers
On the same theme you can make feeding time more interesting for your pet if you give them dry food and use feeding towers or slow feeding bowls that require a bit of thinking to get their food out. It also helps with weight control if your furry friend is starting to get a little bit chunky.
Catios
Converting a patio space into a safe outdoor area for your cat is becoming more popular. It allows them access to outdoors without the risks associated with free roam.
As a cat owner that has had a cat go missing for a few days I strongly empathise with owners that want to keep them indoors only as it is safer. This option is a good compromise for cats that were maybe used to going outdoors but are now restricted.
Sunny spots and access to windows
For many people, catios are not a realistic option, but giving your pet access to windows to watch the world can help give them stimulus and enjoyment.
Not all cats will be able to jump up big heights so some adaptation might be needed for your pet and making sure they have space without ornaments will help them. Many cats like to find the sunniest spots so finding these and giving them nice beds to enjoy the spot can help them enjoy a lovely afternoon siesta.
A companion
Why have one cat when you can have two! Having multiple cats can cause problems and increase stress related problems. However often having a couple of cats that get on well together is great as they will play together, provide companionship and enrich each other’s lives.
An extra pet obviously comes with additional costs in terms of feeding, vet bills etc so consideration is needed before committing to one. However, they can sometimes help if a cat is struggling being indoor only when an owner is out a lot.
Multiple litter trays
One of the biggest issues we see with indoor cats is stress induced cystitis.
There are many ways to reduce the risk of this condition but first and foremost is the fact that cats like to go to the toilet in private and each cat may have different preferences about location of the litter tray, the type of litter used and whether it is covered or not. A good general rule of thumb is Number of litter trays = Number of cats + 1.
Multiple water sources
This can also really help reduce the risk of cystitis and can help older cats with kidney problems. Cats can also be very particular about where they drink from and some like running water so cat water fountains can be really useful.
Make sure you also have plenty of water sources for the number of cats you have as if there is some bullying going on they might not be getting enough water.
Regular grooming
Finally, a really nice way of bonding with your cat can be getting them used to regular grooming. Some cats will love having this done, and for those longer haired cats this can really help them keep their coat under control and stop it getting matted.
It also will have the added benefit of reducing the amount of cat fluff floating around your house!
Having an indoor cat can be very rewarding and they can be very happy in this environment, so just because you don’t have access to the great outdoors for them doesn’t mean you need to rule out having a loving cat in your home.
