The debate about whether to keep cats indoors or allow outdoor access involves genuine welfare trade-offs between safety and the ability to express natural behaviour, with context-dependent optimal solutions.
The indoor vs outdoor cat welfare debate does not have a single universal answer — it is context-dependent and involves genuine trade-offs between two welfare dimensions: safety and the ability to express natural behaviour. Outdoor cats live shorter lives on average but may have richer behavioural repertoires and lower rates of obesity and boredom. Indoor cats live longer but may suffer from frustrated hunting motivation, weight gain, and stress if their environment is inadequate. The welfare-positive approach involves providing the richest possible indoor environment if keeping cats confined, and managing outdoor access carefully to reduce mortality risk where outdoor access is permitted. Catio enclosures, supervised harness walks, and outdoor runs attached to the house provide intermediate options that expand behavioural opportunity while reducing mortality risk substantially.