Indoor or outdoor cat: what is the difference and which one is better to choose

Cats are a popular pet for couples, families, and seniors living alone, but it can be hard to know whether an indoor or outdoor cat is best for you.

A veterinarian named Ben weighed in on the pros and cons of both types of cats in a video posted on TikTok. He warned that an indoor cat, surprisingly, can be a total disadvantage.

Ben explained that domestic cats are at a higher risk of problematic behavior due to boredom and frustration. He also noted that there is no right or wrong decision when deciding which cat to keep, it just depends on what suits you best.

"Living outdoors allows cats to express their full range of natural behaviors, and it's probably more fulfilling for the cat, but there are many dangers they have to deal with. The risk of being hit by a car and being killed or seriously injured is just about the life of street animals," the veterinarian said.

In addition, cats living on the streets are much more likely to be exposed to toxic substances and infections such as FIV, which is the feline equivalent of HIV, feline flu, and parasitic infections such as fleas.

The veterinarian added that there are also environmental considerations, as outdoor cats can "hunt and kill" vulnerable wildlife species, such as songbirds. Having an indoor cat means that you "don't have to worry about it", so the life of an indoor cat is likely to be much safer.

However, there is one big downside to keeping your cat at home and restricting its access to the outside world. Staying indoors all the time can be quite a boring affair, and no matter how hard you try to keep them "mentally stimulated" with games, toys, and scratching posts that are "ingenious," it's hard to "fully recreate the variety of life in the wild."

Boredom and frustration can lead to a higher risk of "problem behaviors" in indoor cats, such as furniture destruction, urine marking, and "sometimes even aggression." Obesity is another "problem" for domestic cats, as they may not get as much exercise as their wild counterparts.

"Domestic cats, especially those living in multiple cat households, have been shown to have a higher risk of stress-related urinary tract problems, and this can be life-threatening for cats," the veterinarian explained.

At the same time, he reiterated that there is no right or wrong way to keep a cat. It depends on the nature of your cat, where you live, and your views and priorities, after all.

Subscribe to OBOZ.UA channels in Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events.