It can be very tempting to let your cat outside. The outdoors provides many great sources of enrichment for cats, boosts their mood, and allows them to fulfill their natural instincts, among other things. However, in most cases, the risks of letting your cat roam freely outdoors can deeply outweigh the benefits.

Cats who are allowed unsupervised time outdoors statistically have shorter lifespans. Besides the obvious concerns of cars, predators, and unkind people, there are many other dangers to the outdoors. Diseases such as feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) are often transmitted through communal feeding stations or territory disputes. Parasites are also very common in cats that are allowed outdoors. You can view our Indoor-Outdoor Handout for more information about risks and benefits of an indoor/outdoor lifestyle.

Cats who live indoors only can live full, happy lives with proper enrichment. Wand toys, puzzle feeders, cat trees, and enrichment toys are all great substitutes for outdoor time. There are also ways to provide your cat safe access to the outdoors, such as in a fully enclosed catio, or through harness training and stroller walks. Our Cat Basics page provides more information about alternative enrichment activities for indoor-only cats.