{"id":4180,"date":"2017-02-28T07:37:11","date_gmt":"2017-02-28T13:37:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dev.diamondpet.wearewoodruff.xyz\/?p=2774"},"modified":"2025-12-05T09:14:51","modified_gmt":"2025-12-05T15:14:51","slug":"let-cat-outdoors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.diamondpet.com\/blog\/culture\/great-outdoors\/let-cat-outdoors\/","title":{"rendered":"Should You Let Your Cat Outdoors?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether your companion cat should be an indoor-only kitty or be allowed to spend time in the great outdoors is a much-debated topic among U.S. cat parents \u2014 second only to the topic of declawing our feline friends. Both sides of the debate have relevant arguments, but they also sometimes lose sight of the wants and needs of the individual cat.<\/p>\n

Writing for the Worms & Germs Blog<\/a>, veterinarian Scott Weese explains that \u201cthere\u2019s no simple answer to the indoor vs outdoor question.\u201d A board-certified veterinary internal medicine specialist and professor at the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph in Canada, Dr. Weese advocates for cats to be indoor-only. He also encourages cat parents to base their decision on several factors, recognizing that there\u2019s no single approach that works for all cats, households and areas of the country.<\/p>\n

In fact, the vast majority of veterinarians, bird and wildlife organizations, and humane associations in the United States recommend indoor-only living for cats. (That\u2019s not the case in other areas of the world such as the United Kingdom and Europe.) However, the key to a happy and healthy indoor-only cat is an environment that allows them to express their natural behaviors and provides mental stimulation.<\/p>\n

In September 2016, the welfare committee of the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) published an updated position paper<\/a> that reviewed the risks and benefits to pet cats living exclusively indoors versus spending some time outdoors. The AAFP committee\u2019s position is that indoor\/outdoor living for cats in an environment that is safe<\/u> is the best option<\/em> for our feline friends.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, the decision to allow your cat to go outside is up to you. This post will look at the risks and benefits associated with choosing an indoor-only, an indoor\/outdoor or an outdoor-only lifestyle so you can make an informed decision about what\u2019s best for your<\/em> cat.<\/p>\n

Safety is the primary reason for indoor-only living<\/h2>\n

A significant reason for keeping your cat inside is to keep them safe from possible dangers that can threaten their well-being and even their life. The great outdoors is filled with many situations that are potentially hazardous to cats, which explains why the average life span for an outdoor cat is 4.5 years, compared to nearly 15 years for an indoor cat.<\/p>\n