Cats that are allowed to roam outside unsupervised are less likely to scratch furniture and display other disruptive behaviour, according to a new study.
The research, published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science, discovered that outdoor felines had lower levels of bad habits, though the results were modified by other factors such as the presence of other cats in the home.
Dr Lee Neil, a behavioural biologist from the University of Guelph in Canada and lead author of the paper, told the Daily Mail: "One possibility is that cats who scratch household items have not been provided with their preferred options for scratching indoors."
"Cats with outdoor access have more opportunities to find these preferred options when outside which might give them an outlet that prevents the behaviour indoors," Neil said.
Neil acknowledged that uncontrolled outdoor access for pets remains a controversial topic among owners.
Recent studies show that 31 per cent of cats in the UK are kept exclusively indoors, leaving owners divided over the healthiest approach for their pets.
Lifespans and safety concerns
Many cat owners point out that the life expectancy of indoor cats is significantly higher due to a lower risk of injury and illness. Researchers at the University of California, Davis, note that an indoor cat lives for 15 to 17 years on average, while an outdoor cat's lifespan is two to five years.
Cat owners have heavily debated the issue on social media. In a post on TikTok, one user expressed fear over letting their pet out, saying: "I don't want to answer the door to someone telling me he's been run over."
Another commenter agreed, adding: "My baby has always been indoors as she's safe and happy. I think people who let their cat free roam unsupervised are the neglectful and irresponsible ones."
A third owner posted: "I can't help but feel bad for having so much control over him but I've taken the responsibility to make sure he is safe."
Conversely, other pet owners complain on social media that it is cruel or unnatural to keep cats confined indoors.
Behavioural problems indoors
Despite safety concerns, recent research suggests that cats kept exclusively indoors have higher rates of bad behaviour. One Spanish study found that indoor cats had a higher risk for owner-reported aggression and were more likely to use the bathroom outside of their litter tray.
In the new study, scientists surveyed 7,793 cat owners in America and Canada about the habits and behaviour of their pets.
Overall, indoor cats had the highest rates of scratching. The survey revealed that 48.5 per cent of owners reported that their cat scratched the furniture.
According to Neil, this is likely because indoor cats are not finding the right places to work out their natural behaviours. "We know that cats need to scratch to condition their nails, to stretch and to leave markings for communication," Neil said.
Cats with uncontrolled outdoor access, by contrast, had the lowest reports of scratching. They also had the lowest rates of night-time activity, such as running around, and excessive vocalisations, such as yowling.
Enrichment and individual needs
The researchers cautioned that outdoor access is not a universal fix for behaviour issues.
"Our data does not support the idea that cats with outdoor access are necessarily better behaved," Neil said. Some negative behaviours decrease as cats spend more time outdoors, but others can increase in some situations.
These effects usually occur through interactions with other factors, including the type of outdoor access, the sex of the cat, the number of cats in the home, and medical issues.
"The general consensus among cat behaviour experts is that cats have numerous opportunities for natural behaviours when outdoors, but many of these opportunities can also be offered indoors through appropriate enrichment," Neil said.
Neil added: "It might be easier to meet cats' needs through outdoor access, but we can also create appropriate indoor spaces and allow controlled outdoor access to meet their needs."
The researchers advise owners to try to understand their pets' individual needs and find ways to meet them. This could mean letting them roam outside if the area is safe, or providing play and exploration opportunities indoors.
"Uncontrolled outdoor access for cats is a controversial topic with lots of differing opinions and no clear solution, and this study is just one more part of the puzzle," Neil concluded.
Understanding feline communication
Cats are often branded as aloof and solitary creatures who spend their days plotting their human owner's demise, but such characterisations could not be further from the truth.
In fact, felines constantly communicate their feelings of affection to their owners, whether it be through their whiskers, tail, face or body language.
In her new book Kitty Language: An Illustrated Guide to Understanding Your Cat, author Lili Chin explains how to interpret these movements with the help of animal behaviourists. The book details some of the most common behaviours and what they could signal to owners.
