Outdoor access provides significant enrichment for cats but exposes them to traffic, predators, and disease, requiring a balanced, individualised approach to welfare decision-making.
The indoor versus outdoor debate reflects a genuine tension between safety and behavioural enrichment. Indoor-only environments that fail to provide adequate enrichment cause chronic boredom, frustration, and stress. Outdoor environments provide natural behaviour opportunities but carry real mortality and morbidity risks. The optimal solution varies by individual cat temperament, environment, and owner circumstances. Secure garden enclosures, cat-proof fencing, and catio structures offer a meaningful compromise for many cats.