The Joys of the Indoor Cat

One of the resolutions in my New Years blog stated:”I will make my cat an indoor cat increasing its lifespan and protecting the bird population.” Each morning my neighbor’s beautiful cat, Scooter, comes to visit my cat, Hope.  He sits on the window ledge and peers longingly into my house. When Scooter first came to the neighborhood he was on the losing end of several nasty cat fights that unfortunately took place in my side yard. I scooped up his missing fur and brought it to my neighbors to no avail. It seems that Scooter was an outside cat long before he was adopted and he asks to go out and maybe thinking that they are good owners/guardian/parents they let him out.

Research has shown that outdoor cats do not live as long asindoor cats. They are exposed to other cats with diseases like feline leukemia and feline AIDs. They increase their parasite load from eating small rodents as well as picking up fleas and ticks. Outdoor or indoor/outdoor cats as noted above get into fights which leave them with nasty abscesses and the owner with increased veterinary bills.

A cat exploring the great outdoors is at the mercy of cars and neighborhood dogs, coyotes and poisons such as rat poison, slug bait and anti freeze. Cats can be poisoned simply by grooming themselves after walking across treated lawns or eating a mouse that has ingested rat poison.

Outdoor cats also prey on local bird populations. Research done showed that cats killed 39 million birds in a single state.

I had indoor/outdoor cats for over twenty years. I paid my vet bills for ear mites, many abscesses and spent many a sleepless night when a cat would not return for a meal. In 1998 I made a forced decision to keep my cats indoors. I moved to eastern WA for a year where cats are a regular source of protein for the coyotes. When I moved back into my house in Gig Harbor I decided to keep my cats indoors.

The transition was not easy and in the beginning with all their cunning the cats tried to slip past me out the door. But I hardened my resolve. In doing so it was my responsibility to provide the cats with indoor enrichment. I brought in cat grass which is very easy to grow. I set up an out of the way place for their litter box. Even when allowed out my indoor/outdoor cats have always had a litter box. A litter box enables a cat owner to be on the look out for early signs of urinary and bowel issues like straining and infection. I provide the cats with cat toys and spent time keeping them well groomed.

My cat, Hope, has several window high perches, my file cabinet being one, to look out at the world. I have a totally fenced in back porch where she accompanies me when I garden. Cats can also be trained to walk on a leash if you don’t have an escape proof outdoor space.

My cats, Kitty Too, Cleo, and Lily lived long and happy lives.  The shortest time I had to share my life with a cat was 16 years the longest 17. I do not doubt that their longevity was enhanced by the years they spent as indoor cats. I am hoping for the same long, safe, indoor life for Hope.

© 2012