You are thinking about getting a little kitten for your home? But now you want to know whether the breed you have in mind is suitable for outdoor use. We will tell you which cat breeds are predestined for this and offer you a lot of additional information.
The Norwegian Forest Cat, the Maine Coon and the Bengal belong to the freedom-loving breeds. European shorthair breeds are also well off with outdoor access. In addition to the breed, the environment matters, which can be non-hazardous and therefore safe for your cat, especially in rural areas.
Are all cats suitable for outdoor access?
No, not all cats are suitable for outdoor access. It has a lot to do with the breed, because depending on the breed of cat, the furry noses have certain characteristics that are useful or less useful for outdoor access. In addition, cats can also have certain handicaps.
For example, if a kitten is physically impaired, it is better to keep it indoors or in the apartment. Again, opportunities for play can be created with appropriate toys and scratching posts.
Outdoor cats also need opportunities indoors to sharpen their claws and retreat.
The same goes for cats that are blind or deaf, they should also stay indoors. The risk of an accident would simply be too great, since it lacks the important orientation.
What are the characteristics of cats for outdoor use
As already mentioned, it depends primarily on the breed of cat, whether it will become a free walker. There are very nature-loving cat breeds, which are also very robust and active. These absolutely want to go outside and would not feel comfortable alone in the apartment.
In addition, there are also very active breeds that absolutely need to exercise outside. They would be unhappy otherwise. However, there are also calmer cats that feel very comfortable indoors.
Furthermore, there are breeds that lack fur almost completely. It would burn the skin in summer and freeze in winter.
Cat breeds that need outdoor access in any case
All breeds that are very close to nature should not be confined indoors. These include:
The two cat breeds Norwegian Forest Cat and Maine Coon are very similar in appearance. They are large animals with a longer coat of fur that protectively surrounds the skin. The active Bengal is also perfectly happy to let off steam outside and roam around entirely at its whim.
To keep these cat breeds as purely indoor cats would not suit their nature. They need the free passage, in order to be able to lead a kind-fair life as possible.
The Norwegian Forest Cat feels very comfortable outdoors, so a place with outdoor access is ideal for them.
Cat breeds that are suitable for outdoor use
In addition to the above cats, the European Shorthair breeds also like to go outside. They are also robust and insensitive animals. Of course, the prerequisite is always that your cat is completely healthy and does not suffer from any impairments.
If your cat has already reached an advanced age and its senses and abilities are diminishing, you should not let it outside. Even if she used to be an outdoor cat. You may be able to offer her a place in the secured garden where she can relax and sunbathe.
In case of temporary house arrest, you can help your velvet paw yourself by taking appropriate precautions within your own four walls. What you can do so that your cat is also temporarily well at home, for example, in case of illness or after a move, then be sure to check out these articles:
Safety for outdoor cats is important
Are you one of those cat owners who wonder how safe it is outside for your pet? Let’s not hide the fact that there are risks of injury. It all depends on the environment.
If you live on a busy street, there’s a chance your cat could get hit or run over by a car. Even in the countryside, there are risks. Therefore, you should be aware of where your cat is moving.
There may be larger animals such as foxes in the hunting area. Furthermore, poison baits can be placed, which are very dangerous not only for dogs, but also for cats.
However, if the complete free run is too dangerous, you can always build an outdoor enclosure. Alternatively, you can cat-proof your balcony. This is also suitable for city cats or rather calmer animals.
Exercising on a secured balcony or fenced terrace is one way to keep your house cat happy. Watch out for poisonous plants for your cat: hyacinths are one of them!
There are also cat owners who accompany their pelt nose on a leash when going outdoors. But even this is not necessarily safer. Cats can get tangled and hurt themselves.
In addition, cats are not necessarily suited for leash walking. Many animals then want to free themselves from this unnatural position. However, if you do not want to do without a leash, you should not put a collar on your kitten.
Much better suited are harnesses, which distribute your pull much better over the entire body of the animal. A collar, on the other hand, can cut into the flesh.
So, the truth is that free running is more risky than keeping your cat indoors. But if you trust your cat to hold its own outside, there is nothing wrong with it.
Coat care for outdoor cats
If your cat is allowed outside, you have to pay more attention to the coat care. Especially if their coat is thick and long. Outside, the fur can tend to mat.
You can prevent this by brushing or combing your cat regularly with a suitable utensil. When grooming, you can also check the body for bugs at the same time. Ticks can be removed with special pliers.
Longhaired cats like the Persian cat need regular grooming to keep a clean and beautiful coat. The Persian cat is said to have a low degree of freedom, which is why it also feels comfortable as a pure house cat.
In the case of other parasites, a medication is usually necessary. Here the visit to the veterinarian is recommended. In the Reghel, however, outdoor cats always look a bit more frantic than cats that are kept in the apartment.
Proper nutrition for outdoor cats
The energy requirements of outdoor cats are higher than those of animals kept indoors. Furthermore, there are a variety of pathogens outside that can affect the cat. Therefore, it must receive the right nutrition.
In addition, outdoor cats should only be allowed outside with all important vaccinations. Often cats are fed outside by loving neighbors who mean well. And you as the owner then wonder why your cat does not touch the food at home.
This is stupid only if your cat needs a special food that is important for its health. Find out if there are neighbors who feed your cat. Then ask them nicely to refrain from doing so and of course explain to them why.
Summary: these cats need outdoor access
When distinguishing which cat should rather be indoors and which should rather be outdoors, we can tell you the following breeds that are total outdoor breeds:
European shorthair breeds also like to be outdoors
The other cat breeds can be happy both with outdoor access, and as a house cat. For indoor-only living, you should focus on cat breeds that have a calm and even temperament. These cats bring the right mixture to the house cat by their less pronounced joy of discovery. In general, pedigreed cats are said to be calmer and therefore better suited for apartment-only keeping than mixed breeds.