Companion Animal Welfare

Cat Welfare and Outdoor Enrichment

Outdoor enrichment including catios, secure gardens, and controlled outdoor time significantly improves indoor cat welfare by enabling natural behaviour expression.

Key Facts

Catios come in many designs from window boxes to large garden enclosures
Secure garden enclosures allow free outdoor movement without free-roaming risk
Harness and leash walking is suitable for some confident, adaptable cats
Even small catios significantly increase a cat's perceived territory and environmental richness
Plant cat-safe vegetation including cat grass, catnip, and cat thyme in outdoor spaces

Welfare Considerations

Outdoor enrichment dramatically expands indoor cat welfare by providing environmental complexity, fresh air, and natural behaviour opportunities that indoor environments cannot replicate.

What You Can Do

Install a catio or secure garden enclosure for your indoor cat
Explore harness training for confident cats interested in outdoor exploration
Plant cat-safe vegetation in outdoor spaces to add sensory enrichment
Start any outdoor access training gradually with positive reinforcement