How long do cats live indoors

Even though cats are independent, they still crave the attention and interaction of their pooper scooper. When you're away from home, cables, toxic plants, chemicals, and plastic bags in your home pose a huge threat to kitty explorers. Find out how long your cat can be left alone in the house and what you need to do to make sure they are safe, healthy and happy.

Can cats get lonely?

Yes, cats do get lonely when left unattended for long periods of time. They are also social creatures and form strong bonds with their owners. When their need for companionship is not met, cats can become depressed and they can develop separation anxiety. Unfortunately, cat separation anxiety often goes unnoticed until it becomes severe.

How long can you leave your cat alone?

How long you can leave your cat depends on your pet's personality and habits; other factors include environment, health, and age. Here's a rough estimate of how long you can leave your kitten alone, based on age.



Leaving your cat alone overnight

If your cat is healthy and you can be sure to give it a safe environment, it is not difficult to leave it home alone overnight. Food, water and at least a few litter boxes are a must. However, if your cat has health issues or separation anxiety, try to find other options to help her, or you can install a monitor to keep an eye on her at all times.

Leave your cat alone for the weekend

When you need to leave your cat alone for more than 24 hours, you should notify a friend in advance and ask them to help come over and take a look, as several problems may arise from being left alone.

Water will be unavailable

Food will be unavailable

The litter box will need to be scooped

The cat needs interaction and entertainment time

The cat will feel lonely or bored

Cats can get sick or injured

Changes in weather can have serious consequences for your cat

Leaving a cat alone for three days

Leaving a cat alone for three days with no visitors is not a good thing. If you have no other options, consider boarding it at a pet store or veterinary hospital.

Leaving a cat alone for a week

Leaving a cat alone for a week can lead to a disaster. If you are going to be away for a whole week, either call a friend to come over and help or send it to a pet store or hospital for boarding. If you leave it alone at home, the following may happen.

The cat will run out of food and water Food and water can spoil and cause health problems

Changes in the weather can affect the cat's health
Your cat will get sick or injured
The litter box will be full and the cat will start to urinate and defecate anywhere
Loneliness, depression, or anxiety

Cats can stay home by themselves for a few days

Cats can stay at home by themselves for about 10 days, as long as the owner prepares enough food, water and litter box.
At the same time, the owner had better install a monitor at home to always observe the cat's situation and come home to deal with it in time if an accident happens. The indoor plug board and valuables on the table and chairs should also be put away, and it is best to also leave some slits in one window to keep the air circulating in the room.
Cats can be left alone at home, the exact time depends on the owner. If the owner needs to keep the cat at home for less than three days, prepare enough water and food, and clean the cat litter before leaving. And if the owner prepares an automatic feeder and automatic water dispenser, as well as multiple litter boxes, the cat can be home alone for 3 to 10 days, or even longer.
Precautions for leaving cats at home
1. Install a monitor
Although the cat can be left alone for a long time, the owner had better install a monitor at home so that he or she can always observe the cat's situation. If the cat has an accident, the owner will be able to return home at the first time or immediately notify a friend to help deal with it.
2銆丆lose the doors and windows
Before leaving the cat home alone, the owner should unplug and put away all the indoor plug boards, and put away some valuable items on the table and chairs to prevent the cat from getting electrocuted and doing damage. And the owner should also close the indoor doors and windows to prevent the cat from running out and losing them, but it is also appropriate to leave a window open some gaps to keep the indoor air circulation.

Is the cat suitable to be kept indoors or outdoors

Those who prefer indoor living believe that not only do indoor cats live longer, 12 years on average, compared to 5 years for outdoor cats, but also that indoor cats are very happy to live inside.

銆€銆€Do you understand whether cats are suitable to be kept indoors or outdoors?

銆€銆€So what do the experts say? Let's look at some facts. Hundreds of years ago, Europeans brought domestic cats to North America. Their numbers increased rapidly, causing overpopulation and a devastating impact on local wildlife. Cats prey on small rodents and birds, and while you may be happy to have fewer chipmunks in your yard, the environment will suffer from a declining chipmunk population. Every creature has a place in the food chain, and the introduction of a new predator can throw it out of its delicate balance.


銆€銆€Over the past 50 years, more than two-thirds of the U.S. bird population has declined. Birds play an important role in our ecosystem, helping to pollinate crops, control pests and, perhaps most importantly, warn us of impending environmental dangers. In addition to their impact on the ecosystem, outdoor cats face many dangers. The number one killer of outdoor cats is the automobile, especially at night when car headlights allow cats to hide in the street. Outdoor cats also have a greater risk of contracting feline leukemia or feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), a disease comparable to HIV in humans. All it takes is an encounter with a cat bully to get it infected if your cat is not vaccinated. Cats are also at risk of encountering large animals like coyotes and dogs. The result is that most veterinarians and members of animal protection agencies believe cats should stay indoors.

銆€銆€How to Keep Cats Happy Indoors

銆€銆€So, how do you keep a cat that lives indoors happy? Most people say that if your cat has never been outside, he should live inside. Keeping an outdoor cat indoors can be a bit tricky, but it can be done with some determination on your part. Although you may be verbally abused, the first order of business is to refuse to let her go. You can at least allow the cat access to your screened-in porch, if you have one. If not, and you are willing to invest a little money to help your cat adjust to indoor living, you may want to consider a cat enclosure. This is a small structure that lives outside and is attached to your house by a cat gate, allowing your cat to spend time outside. You can purchase a pre-made enclosure or make your own out of chicken wire or nylon mesh; try to make sure it's a material your cat can't tear apart.

銆€銆€You can also try leash training your cat and taking them for a walk. This is easier to get into when they're younger, but if they really complain about being trapped inside, it's worth a try. If outdoor time really isn't an option, then make sure they have access to a sunny window. Giving them a spot near a window will make them very happy.