Moving a pet cat from an outdoor lifestyle to living indoors is easier than many owners expect, according to new research that could help improve feline welfare, protect wildlife, and ease concerns about keeping cats contained.

Australian and New Zealand researchers surveyed 87 cat owners, revealing that most who transitioned their pets to indoor living reported the change was ultimately worthwhile, with the benefits to both cats and owners outweighing the challenges.

The study, published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science, found that while owners initially worried about their cat’s happiness and behaviour, more than two-thirds said the process was easier than expected.

Lead author Dr Julia Henning, from Adelaide University’s School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, said the findings challenge the perception that cats cannot adapt to an indoor lifestyle.

“Many people worry that keeping a cat indoors will be stressful for their cat, but our findings suggest that the transition was often easier than expected,” Dr Henning said.

“Owners certainly faced some challenges during the transition, particularly in the first few weeks, but most found these were temporary and that the long-term benefits far outweighed the difficulties.”

The research found cat safety was the strongest motivation for moving cats indoors, with owners concerned about road traffic, attacks by other animals, disease, parasites, poisoning and cats’ threats to local wildlife, particularly birds. After the transition, these same issues were overwhelmingly cited as the greatest benefits, alongside improved peace of mind.

Owners also reported being better able to monitor their cat’s health, spending more quality time with their pet and, in many cases, experiencing closer bonds with their cats.

The study found approximately half of the cats adjusted to indoor living within a matter of weeks, while younger cats generally adapted more quickly than older animals.

However, the research also identified several common challenges. Cats were more vocal, scratched at doors and windows, or appeared frustrated during the adjustment period. Owners also reported concerns about providing enough environmental enrichment, maintaining litter trays and preventing weight gain.

Moving cats indoors increased some costs (including food, litter and household modifications), however veterinary costs reduced over time because their cats faced fewer injuries and health risks associated with roaming.

Many owners described feelings of guilt about restricting their cat’s freedom, despite believing they were making the safest decision for their pet. Others worried their cat might become bored or unhappy indoors.

Senior author Dr Susan Hazel, from Adelaide University, said these findings highlight the importance of supporting both pets and their owners.

“Keeping cats indoors offers significant benefits for their safety and welfare, but successful transitions depend on supporting owners as much as their cats,” Dr Hazel said.

“Our research shows that owners often need reassurance that the behaviours they see during the transition are temporary and that there are practical strategies – such as providing climbing spaces, scratching posts, toys and opportunities for play – that can help cats adapt successfully.”

The study also found that transitioning cats indoors was often prompted by unexpected events, including injuries, illness, moving house or sudden safety concerns. More than one-third of owners reported having little or no time to prepare, while almost half made no preparations before the transition.

Despite this, most owners still described the experience as easier than anticipated.

Researchers say the findings highlight the need for readily accessible information and practical resources to help owners make the transition successfully, particularly when circumstances change unexpectedly.

‘Owner-reported experiences of transitioning cats from outdoor to indoor living’ is published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science. The authors are from Adelaide University, Companion Animals New Zealand, EthicoNZ Ltd and Navigate Welfare.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) recommends planning ahead for calm, comfortable trips for you and your pets.

According to AVMA President, Dr. Michael Q. Bailey, visit your veterinarian to make sure your pet is current on all vaccinations and you have all the paperwork and medications necessary for your journey.

“Summer travel is exciting, but it comes with real responsibilities for pet owners that are easy to overlook,” said Dr. Bailey. “Before you head out, talk to your veterinarian. Whether your pet is coming along or staying behind, a little preparation can make all the difference.”

Bailey’s advice begins with considering whether travel is right for your pet, as some dogs, cats, and other animals may be uncomfortable with travel due to illness, injury or temperament. Consider a pet sitter or boarding your pet if there’s a chance they may not be comfortable traveling. If you’ve decided to bring your pet along, here are the AVMA’s top pet travel tips:

The Basics

• Ensure your pet has up-to-date ID tags and a microchip.
• Introduce your pet to their carrier and travel harness before the trip. Placing a familiar toy or blanket in the carrier can help your pet feel more comfortable.
• Check your airline’s or carrier’s pet travel policies before you depart.

What to Bring

• Proof of vaccination, pet ID info, and a recent photograph.
• Leash, water dish, waste bags, blankets, treats, car carrier, toys and a pet first aid kit.
• Enough food to last the entire trip.
• Your pet’s medications and your veterinarian’s phone number.

For Added Comfort and Safety

• Research a list of veterinarians in your destination in case of emergency.
• Offer your pet water frequently, and take time for exercise and bathroom breaks.
• Never, ever leave your pet alone in a parked car.
• If you plan to stay in a hotel, motel, park, or campground, ask if there are any breed or size restrictions; if any paperwork is required; and what features they may offer to meet your pet’s needs.

For more information, visit www.avma.org.

Asthma is the most common chronic disease and one of the main causes of hospitalization among children. The Global Asthma Network has estimated that its global prevalence is 9.1% for children and 11.0% for adolescents, but this percentage varies greatly between countries, regions, and environments. Worldwide, the highest prevalence of pediatric asthma (above 20%) occurs in the British Isles and in parts of Oceania and the Middle East. Known risk factors for developing asthma include exposure to air pollution and smoking, childhood viral infections, obesity, and pre-existing allergies like eczema or hay fever.

Patients anecdotally self-report that exposure to animal dander appears to trigger asthma attacks. However, clinical and epidemiological data on this is so far contradictory, coming mostly from small studies on subgroups that aren’t necessarily representative of the wider population. Now, researchers have demonstrated in Frontiers in Allergy that sharing a home with cats may not worsen the outcomes of children with asthma and allergies.

“Here we show in a… cohort of children in Sweden with asthma and allergies, that children living with a cat had similar asthma severity, exacerbation, asthma control, and lung function to children living without cats in the short term,” said corresponding author Dr Resthie R Putri, a postdoctoral fellow at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm.

“We also did not see any differences in asthma outcomes related to the number of cats, the cat’s sex, or the cat’s age.”

Large pediatric sample

In 2023, Putri and colleagues began a study on a cohort of 30,277 children – between four and 17 years old at the time – born between 2006 and 2020 and diagnosed with asthma or an airway allergy. They followed these over 24 months until 2024 to track asthma outcomes, drawing records on diagnoses, emergency visits, prescribed medications, and asthma control test and spirometry tests from linked data in the Swedish National Patient Register, Prescribed Drug Register, and National Airway Register.

In Sweden, registration in the National Cat Register has been mandatory since 2023 for all pet cats born after 2008. For each child, the authors noted whether the parental household had at least one cat in 2023, as was true for 9.4% of the children.

Cats don’t worsen asthma in kids

The results showed that there was no significant association between exposure to pet cats and asthma outcomes. For example, moderate-to-severe asthma – based on prescribed asthma medications – occurred in 9.6% of the cat-exposed children and 10.1% of the non-exposed children. Asthma ‘exacerbation’ (also known as an attack or flare-up) occurred in 3.3% of the cat-exposed children and 3.5% of the non-exposed children.

Among a subset of 1,428 children for whom asthma control and lung spirometry data were available, 97 (6.8%) lived with cats. There were no significant differences between the two groups in two common measures of lung function.

“One possible explanation is that cat allergen exposure is very common, even outside the home. Children who do not have cats at home may still be exposed in shared environments such as schools or public transportation, which could explain why we didn’t see a difference,” said Putri.

“While these large-scale findings provide valuable insight, we lacked data on which allergens the children were sensitized to, and because the National Cat Register is relatively new, some children living with cats may have been misclassified as unexposed,” she cautioned.