Many cat charities and shelters are reluctant to home a cat with a family unless the cat has outside access. This was certainly true in the past, but times are changing some and the UK is adapting to the idea of indoor only cats. In fact, many cat owners now prefer their cats protected from the dangers that come with the outdoors. However, some charities will still refuse to place a cat in a home that doesn’t have outdoor access. Don’t let this stop you from getting in touch with your local shelters, there are exceptions to the rule.
Why Keep Cats Indoors?
Several loving cat owners want to keep cats indoors to prevent road injuries, loss, disease and other risks. For all the reasons we recommend reading through the International Cat Care’s largest ever survey on cat containment systems. It’s an interesting read and it highlights the concerns that most pet owners have.
Adopting Indoor Cats
When contacting the shelter or charity it’s always a good idea to discuss your views on indoor cats. Let them know that you have a loving home and family but that you wish to keep the cat indoors or allow them outdoor access in a contained environment with a catio, cat fencing or a similar cat enclosure.
Shelters will be happy to rehome cats that are deaf, disabled, blind or cats that have FIV. FIV cats cannot encounter other cats, which means an indoor or contained life is perfect for them. The shelter may also have cats that are particularly suited to the indoor life, while others they will prefer to rehome with free roaming access. Each case is individual, which means there are options open to you.
Is Your Home Suitable?
Before contacting the shelter it’s important to think about the suitability of your home and life. Indoor cats will need company, they need entertaining and they do need to have a lot of space to call their own. You’ll need to provide toys and add extra pieces of furniture into the home such as cat activity centres and cat shelves.
It’s also important to ensure you and your family will be able to keep the cat safe in the home. Will doors and windows be closed to prevent the cat from escaping? Can everyone be trusted to remember this new strict rule? Is there an outdoor area or balcony that could be safely enclosed to increase space for your new cat or cats to play?
There’s a lot to think about when it comes to adopting a cat. In the past it may have been difficult to adopt an indoor only cat, but there’s always possibilities. Don’t let your reluctance of giving a cat free access to the outdoors stop you from contacting your local shelters and cat charities. There are so many cats out there that need a new family to call their own.