Ideal indoor cat for myself and my 4yr old daughter

[scottishheather86]

I would like to get a family cat, for myself and my just turned four year old daughter. I live in a spacious two bedroom flat, but the cat would need to be an indoor cat. I wanted recommendations of breeds of cats that are more used to living inside and that are affectionate. Also, any tips of choosing the right kitten (how to know if they have a nice temperament)! Many years ago I had a rescue cat as a kitten. She had to be indoors, but hated it and I felt bad for not allowing her outside.

Go for a rescue cat that has to be kept inside - don't get a kitten as there's absolutely no guarantee that it will be happy inside and you may end up with behavioural problems down the line.

I personally think it's fair to deliberately get a cat knowing you can't let it fulfil its' natural instincts. You wouldn't get a dog and never walk it, after all.

I used to be a huge supporter of inside cats until mine developed serious stress-related health issues that could have killed him - he now has the freedom to roam and has never had any issues since.

*personally don't think it's fair - the app really needs an edit function!

Don't get a kitten then keep them indoors. Get a cat from a rescue that is suitable for living indoors.

Definitely go to a rescue - they can match you with the right cat and sometimes the cat even chooses you. My rescue climbed right into my lap and fell asleep when I went to see her!

Persians are ideal indoor cats. And very sweet and affectionate. I agree about getting a slightly older cat, rather than a kitten. My two year old, still thinks he's a kitten though.

Another good indoor breed is Burmese - my brother & his wife have had 4 over the years and all have been happy indoors. In fact, they did try to offer their fiorst two the chance to go out in the garden with a harness on & they both refused to go through the door.

Adding to the others saying get a rescue and not a kitten. If you find a smaller local rescue that uses fostering then that is even better as they will have been indoors already in a home environment so they can really tell you what the personality is like.

What I would say is that compared to outdoor cat, indoor cats need more attention,physical exercise & mental stimulation, cat toys/cat trees/scratchers and often don't like being left alone as much. TempCat now gets separation anxiety as he is so used to having me around he doesn't like it if I am gone for a long period of time (I WFH 3-4 days a week & live alone so its just me & him) If you go ahead look at Jackson Galaxy on YouTube about 'catifying' your flat.

Cats can live 15-20 years. That is a very long time to be confined indoors in a flat, even a big flat. Personally I think it is unfair on the cat and that indoor cats should have access to a catio or enclosed garden. It’s the same as keeping a zoo animal, essentially - you’ll need to provide it with as much enrichment and stimulation as zookeepers do, and they’re working with purpose-built enclosures designed to give the animals as much freedom as possible.

My cats have free access to a catio. One has refused to go in it.....we occasionally put her in through the gate and she races for the cat flap and straight back inside. The other spends a max of 10 mins a day out there. It has all nice climbing shelves and hidey holes, big waste of 1k! 😆

But your example of two cats not liking a catio doesn’t mean that they are universally pointless for all cats.

My adult daughter lives in a flat near a busy road and wanted an indoor cat. She contacted the cat rescue centre after seeing a cat on their website, but that cat had already been rehomed. They recommended another cat who now lives with my daughter and they are both happy. Contact your local rescue centre there will be lots of cats/kittens looking for a home

Sure, but it demonstrates it’s possible for cats to be happy without going outside or even having a catio. I’m on a lot of indoor cat groups and having a catio is unusual most don’t even have that. The majority of cats in the USA i believe are house cats. Its more unusual in the uk and there seems to be this image of desperate, unhappy cats who would escape outside at any opportunity and just wanted to point out its not always the case.

There's a difference between cats choosing to stay indoors, and cats being forced to stay indoors, though. If your cat has the choice but prefers indoor life, that's fine.

And yes, indoor cats may be common in the US but unfortunately so are behavioural issues. Cats are not designed to live confined within four walls - they are hunters and roamers. If you look at Jackson Galaxy, he often deals with cats who want to be "out" - and who spray, mark, over-groom and fight because they've got to spend their lives stuck in a house.

You wouldn't get a dog and keep it inside 24-7 so I'm not sure why it's acceptable to do the same to a cat.

The US still allows declawing of cats in most states, and many owners there see it as a routine procedure to be done alongside neutering. You really cannot hold them up as the epitome of responsible cat ownership.

I’ve had cats my whole life, all allowed access to outdoors once old enough and every single one has been miserable if they’ve had to be confined indoors (eg because we’ve got a vet appointment so I need them to be inside so I can catch them and take them). They would categorically not have as good a quality of life if they were indoor cats. I don’t know why we think it is acceptable when we wouldn’t dream of getting a dog and never walking it outside.

Any cat can be an indoor cat. I got a rescue and she hates going outside.

oh and @usernother its certainly not cruel to have an indoor cat - in fact there are humane cat society’s that campaign for it. Average life span of an outdoor cat is 5 yrs vs 15 for an indoor.

Where are those statistics from?

I've had over a dozen cats in my life time, most rescues, all with free outside access and they've all lived until 16-21.

The stats you quote sound like by outdoor cat they mean feral /cats which live solely outdoors.

We got a ginger tom when I was 4. Similar set up to you, was just me and my mum. Fabulous lad, he lived until almost 18. He taught me how to care for and be gentle and kind to animals, and no doubt boosted my immune system!

https://www.thinkingoutsidethecage.org/pet-resources/behavior-help/cat-behavior-solutions/cats-live-longer-healthier-lives-indoors/

there’s a few sources. Might be exaggerating but either way indoor cats live longer which is why insurance is cheaper

When we got our rescue, they had lots of cats who had only ever been indoor cats, where the owner had died/gone into care.

Sadly I got zero discount on my insurance for mine being indoor only cats, and that was after getting quotes from a number of insurers when I first got them.

They all, however, quoted more for Boycat as he is male and "more likely to get into fights & be injured". Exactly how he was supposed to get into fights with other male cats when he was indoor only (for his own safety, poor dafty) they couldn't say, just "computer say no".

Well yes, any cat can be an indoor cat in the sense that anyone can get a cat and force it to live inside.

But whether that's actually the right or kind thing to do is another matter. I own a cat who became so stressed indoors he made himself sick - he over-groomed to the point that he was bald and had regular issues with cystitis. Since letting him out, both issues have completely resolved and he's come off all his medication.

In terms of lifespan - of course it's true that indoor cats are less at risk of fights or dying in the road, but many end up with behavioural issues because they're never allowed to fulfil their natural instincts - to roam, to hunt, to explore.

Even Jackson Galaxy (who is a huge supporter of indoor cats) acknowledges that you need to make massive modifications to your environment to keep them happy - and that often includes catios or taking them out on harnesses.

Yes, indoor cats may live longer than some outdoor cats. But what a miserable life they have.

Maine Coons are fabulous. We have two who are now 7 months old. One is currently lying on me being hugged like a baby. They are so docile and loving and almost like a dog in personality. My children have taught one to play fetch!