The debate between indoor and outdoor cat keeping involves genuine welfare trade-offs. Evidence-based approaches balance enrichment needs with safety and environmental impact.
Cat outdoor access welfare involves genuine ethical complexity. Outdoor cats experience richer environments and express more natural behaviours, with real welfare benefits. They also die younger and kill wildlife. Indoor cats with inadequate enrichment experience welfare compromise. The optimal approach depends on individual cat personality, local environment, and owner commitment to indoor enrichment. Catio solutions and supervised outdoor time can capture enrichment benefits while minimising safety and wildlife welfare costs. Neither dogmatic indoor-only nor unrestricted outdoor keeping serves all cats equally well.