Keeping Your Cat Safe Indoors (Without Them Missing Out)

Keeping a cat indoors is the single biggest thing you can do to lengthen their life. Indoor cats avoid vehicles, predators, fights, infectious disease and poisons. The trade-off is that you have to bring the outdoors in.

Secure the exits

Windows. Standard insect screens will not hold a cat’s weight — they push out and the cat falls. Falls from height are a common and serious injury in Australia, particularly in apartments. Fit robust, pet-rated screens, install window restrictors, or keep windows closed in rooms your cat accesses alone.

Balconies and verandas. These need proper enclosing mesh or netting. Cats will jump for birds and misjudge distances even from low balconies.

Doors. Fit a screen door with a secure latch, and be careful about doors propped open — a curious cat can be gone in seconds.

Fireplaces, dryers and dishwashers. Always check inside before closing. Cats seek out warm, enclosed spaces and it is a genuinely common accident.

Remove household hazards

• Toxic plants: lilies are extremely dangerous — even pollen or vase water can cause kidney failure. Also avoid tulips, azaleas, oleander, sago palm and dieffenbachia.
• Toxic foods: onions, garlic, chives, chocolate, grapes and raisins, alcohol, xylitol, raw dough and cooked bones.
• Human medications: paracetamol is highly toxic to cats, even in very small doses. Keep all medicines closed away.
• String, ribbon and dental floss: if swallowed, these can cause life-threatening intestinal damage. Put them away.
• Blind cords and cables: tie cords up and cover cables.
• Essential oils and some household cleaners: many are toxic to cats. Ask your vet before using oils around them.

Identification

Even indoor cats escape. Our kittens are microchipped before they go home — make sure the chip is registered in your name with your current contact details, since a microchip is only useful if the details are up to date. A breakaway collar with an ID tag adds a second layer.

Bring the outdoors in

• A window perch or hammock with a view
• Cat grass or catnip to nibble
• Daily play — see our exercise guide
• Puzzle feeders and rotating toys
• Climbing shelves and a tall cat tree
• A secure outdoor enclosure or harness training if they want more

Our apartment guide and home preparation checklist cover this in more detail.