Cat Care & Advice – Caring For An Indoor Cat
Caring For An Indoor Cat
Adopting an indoor only cat carries different responsibilities compared to those allowing their cats to have access to the outdoors. Domestic cats have evolved very little from wild cats, so living in a home with no access to the outdoors is a very different experience than their species is genetically built to deal with. While cats who are kept indoors are safer from physical harm, they are much more prone to mental suffering as they can struggle to cope with living in a confined area. With fewer sources of stimulation to keep them entertained and having fewer opportunities to allow them to express their natural behaviours, some cats can become unhappy living solely indoors.
We try very hard to place our cats in a suitable home, so would never rehome an outdoor cat to a solely indoor home unless there were extenuating circumstances. If you live in an area where it is possible for you to let your cat have outdoor access, this is preferable. If you are not able to give a cat outdoor access, then it is important that you do everything you can to make your home a good environment for a cat to live in. This means providing lots of sources of stimulation to prevent boredom and frustration, as these can lead to cats developing behavioural issues, which is a common reason for people putting their cats into rescue.
Play time
The most important and effective thing you can do to keep your cat happy is to make sure they get enough good quality play time with you, every single day. This allows them to use their hunting instincts which is fulfilling and mentally stimulating for your cat. The best way to do this is using a fishing rod toy, make sure you move it in a way that is realistic and resembles the way a cat’s prey might move.
Make sure to introduce new toys regularly and put old ones away for a few weeks to keep things interesting. Play time is best done just before a meal: play, eat, groom, sleep, repeat is the cycle that your cat’s day should involve. Try to aim for a 10-20 minute play session, some younger cats may need several sessions in a day and for a longer duration, whereas older cats may need shorter sessions.
Make sure your cat also has enough toys that it can safely play with by itself when you are not around. Regularly introduce new toys and cycle old toys, provide them with new items to explore and play with – a simple thing like a cardboard box can provide a lot of entertainment. Toys don’t need to be expensive, there are plenty of ideas online for toys you can make out of things you may already have in your house.
Other cats
It can be tempting to introduce a new cat to the house as a friend to keep your cat entertained. This may be a good option for some cats, but be aware that many cats cannot tolerate living with other cats, no matter how carefully they are introduced. Cats are naturally solitary animals, and although there are some exceptions to the rule, the majority of cats are happy as an only cat.
If you think you may want more than one cat in the future, please consider adopting a bonded pair to start with.
Health
Obesity is a common problem for indoor cats, and can lead to serious health issues such as arthritis, diabetes and even urinary tract disease. Make sure not to overfeed your cat and ensure you keep them active.
It is important that indoor cats are kept up to date with vaccinations or they will not be protected from infection if they ever are exposed to these diseases. Additionally, if you are going on holiday and want to book your kitty into a cattery, they will only accept vaccinated guests.
Flea and worm treatments should be kept up to date as these can easily be brought into the home on clothes and shoes, and these parasites are very uncomfortable for your cat. Treatments should always be obtained from your vet – for more details see our flea eradication advice.
Make sure to keep the details on your cat’s microchip up to date, so that if they ever accidentally end up outside and get lost they can quickly be returned to you.
Environment
For your new cat your house will be their entire world, so it is important that it is set up in a way that helps them feel secure. Cats thrive in quiet homes with predictable routines. Changes in a home can be unsettling for all cats, but especially for indoor cats, as they aren’t able to remove themselves from the situation if something in the house is causing them stress.
To help cats feel safe and happy they need secure access to all their resources (i.e. beds, food, water and litter trays); make sure that there are at least 2 of all of these and they are positioned in different areas of the house, so that your cat can access at least one of each type easily, even if they are avoiding an area of the house due to a stress factor (i.e. visitors or other pets).
If your household can be busy or loud, or has other pets, it is important for the cat to have a quiet area where they feel safe, that they can go to if they are stressed by anything going on in the house.
Make sure your cat has plenty of beds and hiding spots. Give them shelves and high up areas that they can safely access so they can climb and jump and explore as they would outdoors.
Cat furniture such as scratch posts and cat trees are an essential addition to your home. They provide an appropriate place for your cat to scratch; this deposits their scent making them feel more secure, keeps their claws in good condition and enables them to stretch and use muscles to keep them in shape.
Climbing and jumping are natural behaviours for cats. A cat tree with multiple levels allows them to express these behaviours, which are good exercise, expand your cat’s territory and gives them a high point to nap or observe from.
Litter trays are an important resource for cats. Ensure they are positioned in a quiet area, that there are at least 2, and that they are scooped daily and cleaned every few days to prevent them becoming smelly. An overly soiled litter tray can deter the cat from using it which in turn can lead to them soiling outside the tray. Imagine not flushing the loo for a day in your home… would you want to reuse it before flushing?
Is having an indoor cat the right option for me?
Cats can live happily indoors, but please consider carefully whether having an indoor cat is the right thing for your household and a cat.
Are you able to put in the time and effort that is needed for an indoor cat to have a happy life based on the information you have read here?
Food time
Meals should be given after a play session if possible. If you’re feeding dry food there are lots of different types of puzzle feeders and interactive food dispensing toys available that help make food time more like hunting for your cat and keeps them mentally stimulated, make sure to switch these regularly to keep them interesting.
Indoor cats are usually much less active than cats with outdoor access, so a close eye needs to be kept on portion sizes, and on your cat’s weight.