ARE INDOOR CATS HAPPY? ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
Are indoor cats happy? While many things contribute to keeping an indoor cat happy, you can surely detect a few vital signs that will tell you if your indoor cat is doing well.
While there are many signs of a happy cat, you can understand if your indoor cat is happy if you see him regularly eating, sleeping well, using the litter box properly, having an interest in playing, drinking enough water, and showing affection toward his owner.
Cats are complicated creatures, but simple to keep them happy. Continue reading to learn more about whether indoor cats are happy, what the signs of a happy indoor cat are, and whether it is ethical to keep cats indoors or not.
CAN CATS LIVE HAPPILY INDOORS?
Allowing your cat to roam outdoor without supervision can be pretty daunting. However, is it okay to only allow your cat to be an indoor cat, or can this make them unhappy and depressed?
Cats can live happily indoors, although cats owner should make an effort to keep them active and entertained since they are not going to procure their food by themselves.
Indoor cats live in a considerably less stressful environment than those that spend time outside. As a result, any indoor cat can be happy and content if provided with an adequate diet, enough stimulus, and space to wander, climb, and explore.
Indoor cats are also protected from external outdoor hazards like being struck by a car, feline leukemia, dog attacks, catfights, fleas, and becoming lost.
ARE INDOOR CATS HAPPY?
Whether you have an indoor or outdoor cat, your primary objective is to keep your feline companion happy and healthy. While outdoor cats benefit from the fresh air and have greater space to explore, this does not mean that indoor cats are unhappy.
Typically, indoor cats actually get to live a more stress-free life than outdoor cats. After all, indoor cats get to take comfortable naps on sunlight-soaked sofas.
There are also several advantages to keeping your cat indoors, including improved health, which can extend their longevity while also improving their general quality of life.
Overall, both indoor and outdoor cats will use their body language to communicate their happiness. For example, a happy cat will
- Lift their heads high and allow you to massage the tops of their heads
- Meow
- Purr
- Snuggle with you
Indoor cats are also known to show their displays of contentment through long naps.
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND INDICATIONS OF A HAPPY INDOOR CAT?
If you want to know if your cat is happy, pay attention to the following signs:
1. DOES YOUR INDOOR CAT PLAY WITH TOYS?
Happy indoor cats should spend time playing with interactive toys. These devices give both cognitive and physical stimulation. They also aid in the prevention of boredom and the promotion of physical exercise.
As a result, whether your cat is pouncing rubber mice or pawing at fluttering feathers, you can be assured that they are actively using their body and mind, which is one of the best indicators of happiness in an indoor cat.
Here are some examples of cat toys:
2. DOES YOUR INDOOR CAT SLEEP A LOT?
On average, indoor cats sleep 13-16 hours daily, so don’t worry if your cat isn’t moving much throughout the day. They’re not lazy; they’re just behaving normally. This amount of sleep is actually necessary for a cat’s growth and body replenishment.
However, when your indoor cat is awake, though, they should spend some time being active and playing.
3. DOES YOUR INDOOR CAT SPEND A LOT OF TIME STARING OUT THE WINDOW?
Is your indoor cat glued to the television or gazing out the window? Again, this could indicate that they feel safe, happy, and content. But, again, stimulation is a crucial indicator of happiness.
A contented cat will sit in his or her favorite window and watch the world go by after those long periods of sleep.
Cats can genuinely spend a lot of time peering out windows. Typically, though, the activity is done throughout the day. After all, during the day, cats can see people and other animals going about their daily activities and can be amused by what it sees.
Here are some examples of cat’s window perches:
Table could not be displayed.5. DOES YOUR INDOOR CAT ATTEMPT TO SEEK AFFECTION FROM YOU?
Does your cat wrap around your ankles when you come through the door? Affection is another indicator of a happy pet, according to experts. Your cat may also, for example, paw at the ground as though kneading bread or provide you with their belly to rub.
Head butts are similar to a hug from your cat, and they are one method your cat may try to mingle your odors together to solidify your connection. But, overall, any display of affection from your feline companion should be interpreted as a sign of happiness.
6. DOES YOUR INDOOR CAT LIKE TO SCRATCH?
A natural cat’s behavior is scratching. Therefore, owners should simulate this natural behavior by providing their cats with various shaped posts in different areas of their homes.
These vertical scratching posts aid in the development and maintenance of muscles in your cat’s back, shoulders, and legs. As a result, letting your cat scratch on a post can be beneficial to both their emotional and physical well-being.
Indoor cats can also benefit from various textures and structures to help them avoid boredom and other undesirable feline behaviors. Multiple scratching posts can also assist a multi-cat home by providing each cat with its own area and possibly reducing bad interactions between cats.
7. DO YOU PLAY WITH YOUR CAT OR SPEND TIME WITH HIM OR HER?
Nothing can replace human love for their pets. However, if you don’t spend time with your cat or leave him alone too much, he can develop problems in behavior or even get sick. In my experience, leaving a cat alone at home without interaction can make him become aggressive.
Those cats can develop problems interacting with other pets and with humans. Ultimately, spending time with your cat will make him happy.
IS IT CONSIDERED ETHICAL TO KEEP A CAT INDOORS?
Keeping your cat indoors is considered ethical and is often best for your cat’s well-being.
This is because indoor cats are not only protected from all the dangerous outlying factors that the outdoors can possess but can also extend the lifespan of your feline companion.
Feline AIDS or leukemia, for example, is a highly infectious, incurable illness for which no vaccine exists and can only be avoided if cats are kept inside. Unfortunately, these are only two of the numerous dangerous infections that outdoor cats can get.
Cars, dogs, animals, and, most terrifying of all, people are also all threats to outdoor cats. As a result, keeping your cat indoors is actually deemed better and more ethical as long as they are given appropriate space, nutrition, and stimulation.
CAN INDOOR CATS BECOME DEPRESSED?
Indoor cats can become depressed if they are not provided with the necessary tools and affection that make them feel secure. In addition, cats can easily stress if they believe there is a threat to their survival.
Unfortunately, a lonely, unhappy, or worried cat can exhibit undesirable behaviors, including scent marking in the home, toileting anyplace besides the litter box, over-grooming, clawing furniture, doors, and carpets, and even going off its diet or suffering stress-induced cystitis.
Any of these negative behaviors can indicate that your cat is sad, depressed, unwell, or bored. As a result, you should establish the source of the behavior as soon as possible in order to correct the issue and assist your feline companion in regaining his or her happiness.
WHAT DO INDOOR CATS REQUIRE TO BE HAPPY?
If you are not sure your indoor cat has all the necessary, here is a list of things that can help you figure out if your cat is covered or if he might miss something.
1. DOES YOUR INDOOR CAT HAVE ADEQUATE SPACE?
There is no set formula for calculating the exact amount of room a cat requires, and various cats will require varying amounts of space. However, it is often assumed that a cat requires at least 18 square feet of the total dwelling area.
It’s crucial to remember, though, that cats require a lot of vertical climbing, hiding area, and a lot of floor room. As a result, the layout of your home is more significant than the size of your property since your cats will want to climb and hide.
For example, if you have a number of high-up cat view spots, you may compensate for a little floor space. Similarly, if you have a vast room that is mostly open plan with no climbing possibilities, your cat may not have enough 3D area to go about in.
2. ARE YOU PROVIDING YOUR INDOOR CAT WITH ADEQUATE NUTRITION?
Indoor big cats require a variety of ways to ensure that they receive appropriate diet and care. After all, diet is the cornerstone of our feline companions’ health and well-being.
Indoor cats, who rely exclusively on their caretakers for what, when, and how they feed, require particular nutrition. As a result, indoor cats are more likely to become overweight or obese, as well as have behavioral issues.
Although many factors contribute to cats becoming overweight, obese, or having behavior problems, nutrition, and feeding strategies can play a significant effect. As a result, ensuring that your indoor cat receives all of the necessary nutrients is one of the first steps in helping keep your cat happy and healthy.
3. ARE YOU PROVIDING YOUR INDOOR CAT WITH ADEQUATE STIMULATION?
Indoor cats, despite being sleepy creatures, still require mental stimulation. You can provide them with this stimulation by playing with them or giving them an interactive cat toy that will keep them entertained. A little crinkle kitty ball or a laser pointer can also help.
Here are things you can get for your cat:
- Cats trees
- Different cats toys
- Catios is possible
- Give window access to look outside
- Bring your cat out for a walk
- Cat’s shelves where they can climb
Here are some examples of tall cat trees:
INDOOR CAT VS OUTDOOR CAT – WHICH ONE IS HAPPIER?
Indoor cats have a far lower stress level than those that spend time outside. As a result, any indoor cat can be comfortable and happy if given enough food, stimulation, and enough area to wander, climb, and explore.
There are also more benefits to keeping your cat indoors, including increased health, which can help them live longer and have a better quality of life.
In addition, external outside threats such as getting hit by a car, feline leukemia, dog attacks, catfights, fleas, and becoming lost are also avoided when your cats remain indoors.
Overall, suppose your cat appears to be sleeping for the majority of the day but is aroused and engaging in behaviors such as scratching, looking, or seeking to get your attention when awake. In that case, you can be confident that your indoor feline buddy is happy and content.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
My indoor cat wants to go outside, what should I do?
It is usual for cats to want to go outside. If that happens, you can give him window access or let him out under your supervision for a walk (with a leash or without).
What are the reasons to keep cats indoors?
The main reason to keep cats indoors is to keep them safe from the dangers of the outside environment. Especially in the city, with many cars, and dangers, cats can get lost or be victims of accidents. In addition, cats can become sick drinking contaminated water or bad food.
What are the best indoor cats breeds?
The best indoor cat breeds are the Ragdoll, Sphynx, Siamese, Burmese, Persian, and Russian blue cats. Other cat breeds are good to keep indoors, and those are the most known.
