Keeping Your Cat Indoors

When you bring a new kitten or cat home, one of the first decisions is whether they'll be an indoor or outdoor cat. Regardless of your past experience, there are compelling reasons to keep your cat indoors — and with the right setup, they'll be just as happy and fulfilled.

Why Keep Your Cat Indoors

Keeping your cat indoors puts you in control of their environment and protects them from common threats: poisonous plants, diseases and parasites from other animals, cars, predators, and the risk of getting lost or picked up as a stray. Even a collar with ID tags doesn't eliminate these risks. Indoor cats live on average twice as long as outdoor cats.

Create Safe, Stimulating Spaces for Your Indoor Cat

A Place Just for Them

Cats need their own space to decompress — high perches or lookout points where they can monitor the household or nap undisturbed. Install shelves or cat trees they can easily access. This also keeps them off your furniture and away from breakables. Browse our cat beds and furniture collection for perches, cat trees, and cozy beds.

Stimulating Spaces

Indoor cats need regular stimulation to stay healthy and content. Include scratching posts and climbing structures with horizontal and vertical surfaces at varying heights made of rough materials — these satisfy natural scratching instincts and protect your furniture. See our guide on how to stop your cat from scratching furniture for more.

Toys are equally important. Interactive toys simulate hunting and keep cats mentally engaged during playtime and on their own. Browse our cat toys collection for interactive and solo play options. For daily play ideas, see our guide on how to entertain your indoor cat.

Transitioning From Outdoor Cat to Indoor Cat

Create a Stimulating Environment

If your cat is used to roaming outdoors, transitioning takes time and patience. Start with a cat sanctuary — toys, scratching posts, elevated perches, hiding spots, and areas to explore — to mimic the outdoor environment they're used to.

Use Pheromone Sprays

Synthetic facial pheromone sprays and diffusers can help your cat feel safe in a new indoor space by signaling that the area is familiar and secure territory.

Discourage Them From Escaping

During the transition, secure all potential exits. Use a noisemaker near doorways, a squirt bottle with water, or a citrus-scented spray to deter your cat from approaching exits.

Appease Your Cat's Desire for the Outdoors

If you'd like to give your cat some outdoor exposure, try leash walks using a cat harness. This requires patience and training — consult your vet for leash-training techniques. You can also build or install a "catio" — a secure screened outdoor enclosure — for safe fresh air and stimulation.

For more on keeping your indoor cat happy, see our guides on how to play with your cat and why some cats are shy.