Should You Let Your Cat Outside? Risks, Benefits, and Safer Options

If you’ve ever owned a cat, you’ve probably spent some time wondering if you should let them enjoy some solo time outside, or if they should remain safely indoors. While spending time in nature can satisfy some biological instincts of the feline species, it can also be quite dangerous for your animal. Oakland Veterinary Referral Services is here to lay out the risks, benefits, and a few safer options for giving indoor cats a taste of being outside cats to help you decide what’s best for your cat’s health and happiness.

Outside Cats: The Pros

While they’re wrapped up in an adorable little, furry package, cats are natural-born predators. They’ve been biologically wired to do things like climb trees, stalk their prey, and learn the goings-on of the area by exploring new scents and sounds. Cats who spend at least a little time outside tend to be more physically active and enjoy more mental stimulation. Some owners believe these factors lead to a happier cat who is less likely to be bored.

Outside Cats: The Cons

There are many unknown variables for cats who wander alone outside, and many risks to their health and safety. Some of the biggest risks to outdoor cats are:

• Traffic accidents
• Large predators like coyotes or birds
• Territorial confrontations with other animals can lead to fights that result in injury or even death
• Disease exposure to illnesses like feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline leukemia virus (FeLV), and infections from parasites
• Exposure to potentially toxic hazards
• Getting lost
• Getting stolen

Safer Alternatives to Letting Your Cat Roam Outside

Choosing to protect your cat from potential outdoor hazards does not mean they need to be completely confined to your home for the entirety of their lives. A cat can enjoy being an "outside cat" with much less risk. Here are some safer alternatives that let your cat enjoy the best of both worlds:

• Daily walks on a leash and harness. You can train your cat to walk safely on a leash, letting them enjoy the great outdoors with a much lower risk.
• Build a catio. These secure enclosures enable your cat to enjoy some outside time safely and from a distance.
• Supervise yard time. If you have a backyard with a large fence, you can bring your cat out daily for a little bit of outside fun without putting their health at risk.
• Affix window perches or bird feeders. These accessories can provide some much-needed mental stimulation for your cats (without putting local birds at risk).
• Invest in enrichment toys. Puzzle feeders, climbing towers, and other interactive toys provide necessary enrichment that can keep your indoor cat from getting bored.

OVRS Recommendations

At OVRS, our team generally recommends keeping your cats indoors as much as possible for optimal health and safety. Indoor cats tend to live longer and enjoy better overall health. If you want your cat to enjoy some of what the outdoors has to offer, we recommend some of the alternative methods we mentioned above. Be sure to microchip your cat, keep up-to-date on all vaccinations, and provide monthly parasite preventives. Call us at (248) 334-6877 to learn more about how to keep your cat happy, healthy, and safe.