Gallery
CATIO IDEAS
12 Reasons to Keep Your Cat Indoors
1. Indoor cats generally live longer in general, a cat who spends his entire life indoors will live many years longer than a cat restricted exclusively to the
outdoors. If you cat has indoor/outdoor access, chances are he’ll live longer than the exclusively outdoor feline but he still faces increased risks to his
health and safety that can impact lifespan.
2. Indoor cats won’t get struck by vehicles. The outdoor cat is always at risk of being struck by a vehicle. Even the most supposedly “street savvy” feline can
become distracted while in pursuit of prey or while being chased by another cat or a dog. Cats get hit by cars at an alarmingly high rate and a little eight-
pound cat is no match against a car or truck. Even if the cat survives, the injuries are usually extremely severe.
3. Reduced risk of cats being poisoned. Outdoors cats are at risk of exposure to ethylene glycol (antifreeze) poisoning, lawn pesticides, poisoning from
spoiled food in trash cans, mole and rodent poisons and intentional poisoning from people. Even though there’s a risk of poisoning in an indoor
environment as well, you’re better able to remove toxic plants, toxic chemicals and other dangers in order to keep them out of your cat’s reach.
4. Prevent Injury from animal fights. It’s not unusual for an outdoor cat to become injured or develop a painful and serious abscess from fighting with
another cat, dog or other outdoor animal. Even if you have your cat neutered or spayed, there are many intact cats roaming outside who are extremely
territorial and will fight to the death if needed.
5. Decreased risk of disease to your cat. If your cat isn’t exposed to other outdoor cats, he has a greatly reduced risk of contracting a contagious disease.
6. Decreased risk of parasites to cats. The chances of your cat becoming infested with fleas, ticks or internal worms will be greatly reduced if he remains in an
indoor environment because he won’t be coming in contact with infected feces, prey, grass or soil.
7. No danger to your cat from predators. Cats are potential prey to some dogs and if you live in certain areas of the country they are also at risk of being
attacked by giant eagle owls.
8. Being able to control food with an indoor cat you can control what he eats and how much he consumes each day. If your cat goes outdoors you have no
idea whether he’s munching on some cheap food left out on a neighbor’s back porch for the local stray cats. By eating from that same food bowl he will
also be at risk of contracting disease.
9. No risk of cruelty toward your cat. Outdoors, your cat may easily become the victim of a cat-hating neighbour, mean children who think it’s fun to abuse a
helpless animal or people who use cats for unspeakable things.
10. You’ll know where your cat is all the time. If your cat is indoors, there’s a greatly reduced risk of him getting lost or stolen.
11. Better health monitoring of your cat. With an indoor cat you can easily monitor what is or isn’t happening in the litter box. That early detection of any
change in your cat’s litter box habits could mean less pain and suffering. You’ll also be able to better monitor changes in food or water intake, activity level,
etc.
12. You’ll be a better neighbour. Not everyone wants a cat using their garden as a toilet, stalking the backyard bird feeder or lounging on the car in their
driveway. In most cases, your neighbours will be happier knowing your cat is quietly watching the outdoor activity from inside the house.
outdoors. If you cat has indoor/outdoor access, chances are he’ll live longer than the exclusively outdoor feline but he still faces increased risks to his
health and safety that can impact lifespan.
2. Indoor cats won’t get struck by vehicles. The outdoor cat is always at risk of being struck by a vehicle. Even the most supposedly “street savvy” feline can
become distracted while in pursuit of prey or while being chased by another cat or a dog. Cats get hit by cars at an alarmingly high rate and a little eight-
pound cat is no match against a car or truck. Even if the cat survives, the injuries are usually extremely severe.
3. Reduced risk of cats being poisoned. Outdoors cats are at risk of exposure to ethylene glycol (antifreeze) poisoning, lawn pesticides, poisoning from
spoiled food in trash cans, mole and rodent poisons and intentional poisoning from people. Even though there’s a risk of poisoning in an indoor
environment as well, you’re better able to remove toxic plants, toxic chemicals and other dangers in order to keep them out of your cat’s reach.
4. Prevent Injury from animal fights. It’s not unusual for an outdoor cat to become injured or develop a painful and serious abscess from fighting with
another cat, dog or other outdoor animal. Even if you have your cat neutered or spayed, there are many intact cats roaming outside who are extremely
territorial and will fight to the death if needed.
5. Decreased risk of disease to your cat. If your cat isn’t exposed to other outdoor cats, he has a greatly reduced risk of contracting a contagious disease.
6. Decreased risk of parasites to cats. The chances of your cat becoming infested with fleas, ticks or internal worms will be greatly reduced if he remains in an
indoor environment because he won’t be coming in contact with infected feces, prey, grass or soil.
7. No danger to your cat from predators. Cats are potential prey to some dogs and if you live in certain areas of the country they are also at risk of being
attacked by giant eagle owls.
8. Being able to control food with an indoor cat you can control what he eats and how much he consumes each day. If your cat goes outdoors you have no
idea whether he’s munching on some cheap food left out on a neighbor’s back porch for the local stray cats. By eating from that same food bowl he will
also be at risk of contracting disease.
9. No risk of cruelty toward your cat. Outdoors, your cat may easily become the victim of a cat-hating neighbour, mean children who think it’s fun to abuse a
helpless animal or people who use cats for unspeakable things.
10. You’ll know where your cat is all the time. If your cat is indoors, there’s a greatly reduced risk of him getting lost or stolen.
11. Better health monitoring of your cat. With an indoor cat you can easily monitor what is or isn’t happening in the litter box. That early detection of any
change in your cat’s litter box habits could mean less pain and suffering. You’ll also be able to better monitor changes in food or water intake, activity level,
etc.
12. You’ll be a better neighbour. Not everyone wants a cat using their garden as a toilet, stalking the backyard bird feeder or lounging on the car in their
driveway. In most cases, your neighbours will be happier knowing your cat is quietly watching the outdoor activity from inside the house.