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Are inside-only cats healthier than outside cats?

 

In a nutshell, yes. There are many factors that influence health, but the bottom line is that when a cat lives exclusively indoors, instances of trauma, poisoning and fighting decrease significantly leading to a much longer life expectancy. The typical indoor cat lives to between the ages of 12 and 18 years, whereas outside cats live to only age four or five. According to Dr. Dawn Rubin, one of the major health risks to outside cats is that they are more susceptible to several deadly viruses that are spread by fighting or prolonged intimate contact with an infected cat.
Other major health risks for outside cats include:
 •  Dog attacks
 •  Being hit by a car
 •  Eating poisonous plants
 •  Rat poisoning and other toxins in gardens and yards
 •  Ingestion of radiator fluid pooled under a car (it is sweet and cats like the taste)
 •  Internal and external parasites
 •  Human cruelty
 •  …and in South Florida, dehydration and alligators are an added threat
Observant cat people often nip potential health problems for inside cats in the bud. For example, diarrhea or constipation can be signs of digestive disorders; difficulty urinating can be a sign of a urinary tract infection; frequent sneezing can be a sign of an upper respiratory infection. By catching these symptoms early, many a health crisis can be avoided. There are still some folks that believe cats are meant to be outdoors and that by being kept indoors, they are denied innate cat experience like hunting and climbing. With a little extra effort, any home can be made to provide these and other experiences for the indoor cat. It is truly essential for a cat’s mental health that they have a good deal of playtime, too. Some of that time – at least 10 minutes, two times a day, should be with their human. Not only will this relieve depression and boredom, but also it provides a wonderful bonding experience.
Here are some ways to ‘outdoor’ your kitty’s indoor experience:
 •  Provide a cat condo or cat tree for climbing and scratching. The taller, the better! Find one that is multi-tiered and has a cubbyhole or sleep space.
 •  Hide cat toys in places around the house so that kitty can ‘discover’ them (encouraging his hunting skills).
 •  Create a kitty garden of grasses – wheat, oats, rye and barley are perfect. Great for digestion, elimination of fur balls and offers a taste of the wild.
 •  Put some fresh catnip on a corrugated cardboard cat scratcher and enjoy the show.
 •  Make sure your cat has access to windows with something to see – birds, people, etc.

 

Jodi Ziskin
nutrition consultant for animal companions

 

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