A cat needs enrichment in its life to stay healthy and happy. Boredom is one of the biggest well-being challenges indoor cats face. Supervised outdoor time is a great way to add variety to an indoor cat’s life.
Walking Your Cat on a Leash
It’s best to get a cat used to a harness and leash from when they are kittens. While older cats can also be trained, the process may be more challenging. If a cat does not adapt to the harness despite training, it should not be forced.
Choosing the right harness is essential, as cats are experts at wriggling out of them.
Harness training should start indoors, gradually and carefully. At the same time, the cat should be engaged in something enjoyable, such as play or treats, to create a positive and reinforcing experience associated with the harness.
Once the cat remains calm wearing the harness and leash, outdoor adventures can begin.
Start walking in a quiet area. It’s a good idea to bring a carrier, so the cat has a safe place to retreat if it gets scared.
Let the cat explore at its own pace. Cats often move slowly and savor their surroundings. If the cat goes somewhere it shouldn’t, gently pick it up and redirect it. Teaching your cat to come to you when being called at home can be beneficial for outdoor walks as well.
Safe Outdoor Adventures in a Cat Enclosure
If your home has a yard, building an outdoor enclosure is a great way to give your cat safe outdoor time. To prevent escapes, the enclosure must have not only net walls but also a roof. The net size should be small enough to prevent the cat from escaping or getting stuck.
The enclosure should be designed with the cat’s needs in mind. In addition to a litter box, it should include climbing structures and hiding spots to keep your cat engaged and comfortable.
Free-Roaming Cats
The law regarding free-roaming cats is not as clear-cut as it is for dogs. While there are some legal restrictions, enforcing them can be challenging if a cat is allowed to roam freely without supervision.
- Firstly, the Public Order Act states that cats must not be allowed to roam freely on jogging trails, public beaches, children’s playgrounds, marketplaces, ski tracks, or sports fields. In practice, this is impossible to monitor if the cat is outdoors unsupervised.
- Secondly, the Animal Welfare Act requires that an animal’s well-being and living conditions be checked regularly. The Animal Welfare Decree clarifies that this means at least once a day. If a cat is left to roam freely for several days, this legal requirement is not met.
- Thirdly, the Animal Welfare Act states that an animal’s living environment must be safe. In urban areas and places with heavy traffic, this condition is not fulfilled.
Risks of Letting Your Cat Roam Freely
Letting a cat roam freely outdoors has negative consequences both for the cat itself and for the surrounding environment.
- Unneutered free-roaming cats contribute to a serious animal welfare problem
Cats reproduce rapidly, and in a short time, they can form large populations. In such groups, diseases and inbreeding are common, and without proper care, many cats die in the wild. Additionally, cats without human interaction become feral.
- Outdoor cats are exposed to numerous dangers
A free-roaming cat can get hit by a car, end up in fights, fall prey to larger animals, or become a victim of human violence. In urban areas, wandering cats can also cause conflicts between neighbors.
- Free-roaming cats are more prone to parasites
Outdoor cats are at a higher risk of parasitic infections and should be dewormed approximately every three months.
- Roaming cats have a significant impact on wildlife
A study conducted in Finland estimates that free-roaming cats kill over a million wild animals each month, including at least 144,000 birds.