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So you adopted — or are thinking about adopting — a new kitten. Congrats! These tiny furballs bring so much love and joy to a home, but they also need quite a bit of care! Without proper support from the start, your little one may develop some bad habits that are hard to break as adults.
We all know that kittens bring lots of energy and are oh so cute, but caring for a baby cat goes well beyond just playing with the little fluffy ones. Here’s what you most need to keep in mind when bringing a kitten into your household.
Socializing from a young age helps make everyday items more normal and creates less fear. Less fear in cats creates more confident and comfortable cats who can adapt to change and have fewer behavioral problems later in life. This also helps you create a stronger relationship with your cat!
It’s also a good idea to begin desensitizing them to things like grooming and handling to begin building positive associations. Ask a friend to help feed them while you trim their nails or brush them. Gently look in their ears, eyes and mouth like the vet would do.
Leave a carrier out for them to get used to, and move it around the house. Put treats or feed meals there, and use it for transportation to playtime sessions.
According to Billie Reynolds, owner of Good Kitty Behavior Consulting and Training, a cat’s period of socialization with non-littermates best happens when they are 7-14 weeks old. This is when social and object play increases their coordination and social skills and can happen directly with themselves, with people or with other animals. It can include climbing, hugging, ambushing, licking, pawing, mouthing, holding, chasing, pouncing, leaping and dancing.
We don’t yet want to discourage natural behaviors like rabbit kicking because kittens are practicing, but we can redirect unwanted actions onto appropriate items.
Make a point to offer interactive play on a routine basis with your kitten. It’s best to aim for toys that mimic natural prey or predator interaction (such as a bird, bug or mouse). Fishing poles and Da Bird are two great options. Aim for about 10 minutes per play session. After playtime, offer a high-protein snack, which is what they would enjoy as a reward after hunting in the wild.
If you have multiple kittens, offer each individual, interactive play time.
When kittens reach 3 to 6 months, they begin learning about their environments and other species. This is when they absorb how to live in a home with humans!
From 6 to 18 months old, kittens have become adolescents and have reached their highest need for energy release and mental stimulation. It marks the beginnings of sexual behavior, so we highly recommend they be spayed or neutered well before this time. If there are other cats in the home, watch for territorial behaviors and add new territories like cat trees and towers, water and food bowls, litter stations and sleeping spots as needed.
When cats reach 18-30 months, they’ve become early adults and begin to establish their own territory. Be sure to continue interactive play and provide plenty of territory options for all cats in the home for the rest of their lives.
To maintain interactive play, you can also add enriching experiences like puzzle toys and feeder balls. When picking out toys, consider your cats’ specific behaviors like whether they use their mouth or paws more when playing. You can even make your own toys using common household items (for ideas, check out this post from ASPCA)! To dig deeper into feline enrichment, check out our partnership with KONG!
How do you know if all of this is working? If your cats seem happy and you don’t have conflict, you are on the right track!
One of the best ways to support the behavioral and emotional development of a kitten is to make sure they’ve got a friend. It may be hard to believe, but two kittens are actually half the work of one! Take it from Kitten Lady, who says one kitten is half a kitten, and two kittens are a whole!
Because kittens thrive when they have feline friends, we recommend adopting two at once — or one if you already have a young, playful cat at home. CCS even has ongoing adoption pricing for this! One kitten’s adoption fee is $150 but two are just $200.
Kittens learn by observation and pick up skills like using the litter box when their pals exhibit that behavior. They also are able to channel their playful aggression on each other rather than an unsuspecting human or piece of furniture. For instance, if one kitten wants to use its mouth and bite down on its sibling, the other cat may scram, and that kitten then learns to be gentler when playing.
Not to mention, cats are social and enjoy having other cats nearby. It’s why we have community cat colonies! After all, it’s comforting to have someone their own size to snuggle with and help them feel comfortable in their surroundings.
If you’ve ever heard the term “single kitten syndrome,” it refers to a kitten who didn’t have litter mates or sometimes even a mother around to teach appropriate behavior and boundaries. Like humans who grow up as only children, they tend to miss out on experiences and activities that siblings go through together. In short, everything they learn as a kitten from the cats around them set them up for more success as an adult.
You’ve probably heard the term “kitten season,” but have you ever wondered why kittens are more plentiful during a certain time of year? Just like how humans find certain activities like camping or gardening easier during the warmer months, cats too thrive when the snow starts to melt away.
The days are longer, and there are more resources in the summer (did you know that mice tend to hibernate in the winter?). In climates where there is no winter, places like Florida actually don’t have a kitten season, because it lasts all year there.
Kitten season, or feline breeding season, typically takes place around March through October, and many shelters experience the bulk of their cat and kitten intake during this time. In 2023, Cat Care Society took in 516 kittens!
Momma cats are pregnant for about 60 days. And considering they can have multiple litters a year starting before they even reach 1 year old, it’s no wonder our communities are crawling with cute little kittens. This is why spaying and neutering and TNR work is so important in reducing the stray cat population! If the kittens make it to a shelter or vet, once they reach 2 pounds, they are spayed or neutered and put up for adoption.
Because kitten season is the busiest time of year at the shelter, we rely on our community to help us keep up and save more lives! If you want to get involved, please donate items or funds to support our work, adopt a cat of your own, or consider opening up your home as a foster.
To better understand what to do with a stray, please see our blog post, “So You Found a Stray Cat, Now What?”
To learn more about cat behavior, please consider signing up for an upcoming free educational seminar at the shelter, held on the fourth Saturday of the month at 10 a.m. Find a list of upcoming topics on our website.
With the role of our feline friends evolving over the years, we now have more information at our finger tips to help us make sure our cats are living their best life. Advancements in the treatment of our cats have provided a higher life expectancy for our furry family members. One topic of study that has contributed to these advancements is the benefit of keeping our cats indoors instead of letting them roam free outdoors.
There are three main aspects to consider regarding the benefits of your cats living indoors. These include your cat’s own safety, the safety of the area wildlife, as well as the positive impacts for cat owners themselves.
Our indoor cats are found to live 8-10 years longer than their outdoor counterpart. While many reasons contribute to these numbers, there are some standout threats to cats who are let outdoors. Many outdoor cats, ~5.4 million per year (Global stewards, 2024), are hit by cars. They are also wounded in fights with other animals, and injured or killed by varying birds of prey, dogs or coyotes.
When a cat goes roaming outdoors, they are also at risk of coming into contact with human-made dangers, such as ingesting household chemicals left outdoors, and even poisonous plants. They can get stuck in precarious places and are also known to get stuck up trees, and can even die from exposure or sudden storms.
Some humans present a risk to your cats as well, and while we all like to believe that all people love cats, some who do not may cause harm intentionally to your beloved feline.
“Free-roaming housecats present serious risks to public health and the environment” (Wildlife Center of Virginia, n.d.).
We’ve all referred to our cats as mini lions, tigers or panthers before, but did you know that our cats are in fact highly skilled predators responsible for the extinction of at least 33 species? Unfortunately, our outdoor cats have killed billions of birds in the U.S. per year alone (Global stewards, 2024).
The reasons that housecats are so skilled at being an outdoor predator vary. Because our cats are introduced to the outdoors by humans, the wildlife around them has not evolved to defend themselves from this particular kind of predator.
They also have large numbers on their side, as well as the physical fitness to overwhelm wildlife that doesn’t benefit from the luxuries of the housecat lifestyle. Even the mere presence of housecats outdoors affects the wildlife in your area due to wildlife not returning to their young to avoid directing the cats to their dens and nests.
Just because you may not see your housecat bringing home dead prey, does not mean they aren’t actively hunting, as the majority of their prey — 77% — is not brought home and is either eaten or left behind (Wildlife Center of Virginia (n.d.).
Your cat is part of your family, and having them live indoors with you allows a stronger bond to form between cat and human. This also provides opportunity for cat owners to identify when their cat may be experiencing illness or injury, whereas if the cat was outside most of the time, owners may miss certain cues that their furry friend requires veterinary attention.
Because outdoor cats are more prone to picking up disease or illness such as feline leukemia virus (FeLV) or feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) among others, having them live indoors will also cut down on expensive and avoidable vet visits. Things like fleas and ticks can also be brought into your home when your cat is let outdoors.
Aside from the points above, cats sent to roam outdoors can routinely be humanely trapped by humans and euthanized or adopted out to a new home. In these cases, unfortunately only “3% of cats turned into shelters make it back to their owners” (Global stewards, 2024).
Many of our cats seem so interested in what’s beyond the walls of our home, and may very well enjoy being out and about in nature. Just because letting them roam outside presents dire risks for them, does not mean there aren’t things you can do to help them lead an enriched life involving the outdoors.
Supervised outdoor visits can allow this type of enrichment, and we have many options today to accomplish this, from pet strollers to pet play pens and even leash training, which can also work for cats. Advancements such as the catio (a word combination of cat and patio) is an outdoor enclosure option for cats. These catios “provide cats with mental stimulation, help combat obesity by encouraging cats to play more often than they would indoors — which also provides you with some peace of mind, and will offer a way for your pets to spend quality time outdoors without the worry of predators and other dangers they might encounter” (thecatiolife.com, 2021).
In lieu of the outdoors, consider things like toys, secured screened windows and resting perches for your cat to allow for stimulation and exercise where you won’t have to worry about their safety. Even the mere sounds and smells of the outdoors are enjoyable for your cat.
Keeping our cats indoors together can contribute to their happiness and yours, along with the overall wildlife benefits. So, the next time your cat gives you the meow that indicates they want to launch out the door to “freedom,” remember you are doing what is best for your cat by denying their request and keeping them safe.
About the Author: E.R. is a Lakewood local who has volunteered for Cat Care Society since 2016. She grew up with cats and has been a friend to them all her life. She has participated in TNR for several years, and greatly enjoys her state’s commitment to preserving nature. E.R. has one fur baby who is obsessed with wand toys and enjoys watching the rabbits in their backyard.
Like some humans are more sensitive to certain stimuli than others, some cats too have limits for how much physical interaction they can handle at any one time. Often perceived as aggression, overstimulation is a common reaction cats have in busy shelter environments, and sometimes in their forever homes even after they’ve adjusted. But what’s behind this behavior and what can you do about it before it escalates? Let’s dive in.
Cats experiencing overstimulation often act out, resulting in a bite, scratch, hiss or attack that may seem unprovoked. However, cats often exhibit warning signs through their body language that some of us may miss. What we think is innocent petting can actually hurt your cat more than you realize.
Overstimulation (sometimes shortened to “overstim”) is when cats experience sensory overload from too much petting, caused by a painful nerve reaction, stress or built-up frustration. It has nothing to do with a cat’s temperament, but an actual physiological response to touch. Basically, their nervous system goes into overdrive and they feel significant discomfort.
Most often, cats become overstim during petting, but it can also occur during play time, when the cat is engaged with another animal or sees another animal outside.
Unfortunately, in many cases, it is the cats who solicit attention who tend to become overstimulated. If you’ve ever had a cat approach you, then gets mad when you give them attention, this was likely the case!
The good news is that you can take steps to work with these cats once you know how to manage and prevent it.
What are the signs you should watch out for, signaling a cat may be overstimulated?
Dig Deeper: Decoding Cat Body Language
Often the first sign is subtle and quick; a small ripple or twitch in their skin. This makes being closely attuned to their physical micromovements so important. All thresholds are different, though, and no two cases are exactly the same.
Cats can also accidentally overstimulate themselves. Watch out that they’re not rubbing extensively.
When touching a cat who becomes overstimulated, try to focus petting on the head and chin, not down the body toward the tail — and never the belly. Pets should be brief. Watch the cat’s body language to see if there are subtle cues that he has had enough.
If the cat is signaling that its limit has been reached, it’s time to back off. Give it some time and space before attempting to touch your cat again later.
The best way to help cats with overstimulation is by providing daily enrichment, scheduled play/hunt sessions, and even trying to clicker train your cat.
A few years ago, a gorgeous orange cat named Hoagie was surrendered to Cat Care Society due to his aggression in the home. Even around experienced shelter staff, Hoagie would lunge when we tried to examine or move him around. He was notoriously hard to handle and eventually bit someone. Eventually, he began to show slow signs of progress with some patience in the shelter and in a foster home. We made sure to explain to potential adopters that they would need to learn his signs of frustration and listen to his forms of communication.
That right owner came along and wasn’t scared of taking his time to make it work with Hoagie.
We were delighted when Jeffrey shared this update: “Here he is. Just over a year later, he is the sweetest lap cat ever and he just is so sweet and gentle. My girlfriend has a 10- and 12-year-old, and he absolutely loves them. Loves to sleep with them and lays on their laps as well.
“I’m glad I saw him isolated in his little room and decided to adopt him. You can see from his expression that he is home, and there is no fear. He never growls anymore, and just follows people around and head butts us when we go to pet him.”
Shelters take in many cats who were brought in by their owners for various reasons, one of those being aggressive behavior in the home (spoiler: most often, it was an overstim cat who was not truly aggressive).
When those cats make it here, we work to learn their unique social cues and make notes in their profiles in our database so that other staff knows how to handle them. This also lets us share important information with their adopter!
Sometimes, a cat’s overstimulation is not actually caused by painful touch, but rather is based in his or her behavior. In those cases, a more escalated behavior and enrichment plan is enacted. Other times, it could be something like underlying arthritis or another medical condition, making it not-so-straightforward to diagnose.
“We’re still learning how behavioral and nerve issues are connected,” said Cat Care Society’s lead veterinarian, Dr. Cecily Palamara. “It’s similar in people with a hypersensitivity to a pain response. The nerves are overreactive. It happens a lot in women, and cats with anxiety.”
For overstimulated cats in the shelter, we schedule a play/hunt session with them 2-3 times a day, one on one. They get plenty of surfaces to be scratched and hunting and searching enrichment toys. And if that particular cat’s needs don’t align with the colony room they’re in, we move them to a more conducive environment to support them.
Once a cat with a history of overstimulation goes home, that adopter receives the following disclaimer:
“This cat has shown overstimulation behaviors either in their previous home or while in the shelter. This means the cat became overstimulated by either their environment or handling, usually displayed but hissing, growling, swatting, nipping or biting when handling. Overstimulation is a normal response and can vary widely between cats. This cat will require a patient owner willing to observe and respect your new cat’s communication and boundaries. We recommend an owner willing to provide consistent positive reinforcement training and no small children due risk of cat biting/scratching during petting/play.”
Now, when you see “overstim release” listed on select cats’ bios on our website, you know what it means!
Welcoming a new cat into your home is an exciting and happy time, but it’s also normal for the cat to have an adjustment period as they get used to their new surroundings. One aspect that can significantly impact a cat’s well-being is their relationship with the litter box. Fortunately, there are many simple steps cat owners can take to set their cat up for success.
Cat Care Society talked with Ursa Acree, a certified dog behavior consultant, certified professional dog trainer, and Fear Free Certified Trainer for Behavior Vets Colorado. We explore the best practices every cat owner should follow to create an environment where their favorite felines feel comfortable using the litter box. From choosing the right location and litter type to understanding the unique needs of a multi-cat household, we’ll even discuss what it can mean if a cat that previously used the litter box suddenly stops.
To help your new cat feel comfortable using a litter box in their new home, it’s important to follow some best practices:
Litter box refusal in a recently adopted cat can result from a variety of factors. Adoption, while ultimately positive, can be a very stressful and volatile period for a cat, which can lead to challenges with consistent litter box use. Some cats can take weeks or even months to settle into their new home and routine. The best thing to do is be proactive with the above tips and introduce your new cat to your household gradually. Provide them with a “safe zone” like a spare room or part of the house where the litter box is easily accessible and in a low-traffic area. As they become proficient in using the litter box, you can gradually expand their access to other parts of the house.
While you don’t want to make too many changes too quickly, if you find your new cat is having trouble using the litter box regularly, changing the style of the litter or the box, or the location of the box can help determine if there’s an external factor discouraging your cat. Also, remember that many cats coming from a shelter or rescue are used to a very small space, so if you have a large house, many rooms or multiple floors, it may help to limit your cat’s access, or provide litter boxes on each floor or in several locations.
If changes in the litter box type, location or number don’t help, a more complex behavioral or medical issue may be at play. Consulting a professional cat behavior specialist, a veterinary behaviorist or a vet can provide guidance in addressing the problem. Overall, patience, consistency and positive reinforcement are essential in helping a newly adopted cat adapt to their new environment and litter box.
We always recommend ruling out medical reasons first for a cat’s issues using the litter box appropriately before pursuing behavioral help.
Some symptoms that indicate a medical concern include, but are not limited to:
Other symptoms of a health issue could be straining to defecate, bloody stool, diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, hiding, change in appetite, and any other signs that concern you or seem “off!” Cats are known for hiding pain and discomfort, so you should see your veterinarian right away if you notice worrisome symptoms.
In a multi-cat household, effective litter box management is crucial to prevent cat stress and soiling outside of the box. First and foremost, ensure there are enough litter boxes, typically, one for each cat, plus one extra. These boxes should be placed in separate, quiet and easily accessible areas to provide privacy and reduce competition. Another helpful strategy to reduce stress is to establish separate feeding and resting areas so that your cats are not forced to interact in areas that may be sensitive.
Environmental enrichment through toys and play can also help reduce stress in a multi-cat household. Set aside a bit of time each day to play with and give attention to each cat separately. This allows you to meet each individual’s specific enrichment and social needs, which will support them in feeling less stressed and lower the likelihood of conflict with the other cats. With patience and consistent implementation of these strategies, you can create a harmonious environment for your multi-cat household.
The primary behavioral reasons a cat might stop using a litter box are due to stress, which could be caused by a sudden change in the household, routine or environment. One of the first things we always look at is whether there have been any changes in the cat’s life. Even things as seemingly innocent as a new piece of furniture or a change in scented laundry detergent can cause sensitive cats to feel disrupted!
Sometimes, a cat just needs to be supported through the change with additional management around the litter box, e.g., going back to the “safe zone” setup where they have limited access to the whole house, increased supervision, and possibly additional litter boxes. Sometimes though, the cat really struggles with the change and may need behavioral intervention if they are not improving over time.
You can also purchase litter attract and mix it in with the cat’s preferred litter, or try adding a Feliway diffuser or spray to the area where the litterbox is located.
There are many physical and medical conditions that can affect a cat’s use of their litter box. For this reason, we always encourage cat guardians to see their veterinarian anytime there is a sudden change in litter box habits, or if a new cat is struggling to develop a litter box routine. Ruling out or treating a medical complication allows us to focus on an appropriate behavioral intervention to help the cat establish good habits.
After addressing the above tips, if it is suspected that a more complex behavior issue might be at play, contacting a cat behavior specialist would be a great next step. Certified Cat Behavior Consultants, found through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, are trainers who have specialized education and experience in dealing with cats. Most of them are available for online consultation from anywhere in the world. The online format is especially great for working with cats who are often sensitive to new people coming into their home. Not always the most affordable options if you’re budget-strapped, but if you have the means, a CCBC will work with you to gather information, troubleshoot the cause of the litter box issue, and implement an appropriate treatment plan to help get your cat back on track.
A good treatment plan will look at the whole picture of the cat’s health, environment, daily routine, etc. To determine what can be adjusted externally before embarking on approaches that involve the cat. This will set them up to be more successful in any training or enrichment strategies that are implemented. Often, we see a lot of improvement with a combination of some environmental changes and an individually developed training and enrichment plan.
Get more tips from Jackson Galaxy in this video:
Distinguishing between cat spraying and urination is important as it helps in understanding your cat’s behavior and subsequently addressing any issues. Here’s how cat owners can differentiate between the two:
Spraying serves various purposes in cat communication. Firstly, it’s a way for cats to mark their territory, a fundamental instinct in feline behavior. By spraying, they signal to other cats that a particular area is already claimed. Spraying can also serve as a form of social signaling among cats, helping establish social dynamics within a group of felines. Additionally, cats may spray in response to stress or anxiety, often triggered by changes in their environment or routines. For cats who are not spayed or neutered, spraying can signal their readiness for mating. Finally, medical issues can also lead to spraying.
Understanding the underlying reason for your cat’s spraying behavior is essential for addressing it effectively and providing the appropriate solutions. If you’re concerned about your cat’s spraying or urination, consulting with a veterinarian can help identify the cause and determine appropriate next steps.
Effectively cleaning up cat urine is essential to prevent lingering odors and discourage repeated incidents. Start by acting promptly; the sooner you address the stain, the better!
Instead of rubbing, blot the area with paper towels or a cloth to absorb as much urine as possible. Enzymatic cleaners work best for eliminating cat urine odor, as they break down uric acid. After using the cleaner, rinse the area with water and blot it dry.
To further neutralize odors, you can sprinkle baking soda or use a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water. If the urine has penetrated into carpets or upholstery, consider steam cleaning with an enzymatic cleaner, and be sure to wash any bedding or fabrics affected by urine. Finally, block your cat’s access to any soiled areas that are a repeated problem, and identify the cause of the inappropriate urination to prevent future incidents.
We are so appreciative of Ursa sharing her time and expertise! Most of the time, resolving litter box issues can be as simple as moving the box to a more private location, adding a box, switching up litter or just giving the cat time to adjust to new surroundings. Check out other blog posts for additional information and attend our free monthly seminars that cover all kinds of cat-related topics. However, if these solutions aren’t working, or for more information on conquering litter box issues in your home, check out our Resources page, which contains links to local certified behaviorists and expert articles. Additionally, if the cat’s behavior has recently changed, it may be a sign to schedule a visit with the cat’s veterinarian.
More About Ursa: Ursa Acree is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, Certified Professional Dog Trainer, and Fear Free Certified Trainer. She is the director of behavior services for Behavior Vets. Ursa founded Canis Major Training in 2016, which operated as the premier training, board and train, and daycare facility of Denver through 2021. In addition to her experience working with private clients, Ursa has extensive experience working with cats and dogs in need. She was the behavior manager for the Kentucky Humane Society from 2007 to 2010 and the behavior manager at the Dumb Friends League from 2010 to 2013, where she worked with clients to prevent relinquishments due to behavior issues, implemented changes to reduce stress and improve animal adoptability, and trained shelter staff and volunteers in enrichment, body language, humane handling, husbandry and training. From 2013 to 2015, she conducted behavior and nutrition research with Hill’s Pet Nutrition. As a behavior technician, she was responsible for animal husbandry and handling in addition to training animals to participate in preference assessments of new foods. Ursa co-hosted the Canine Conversations podcast from 2018-2021 and has been featured in the Mile High Dog Magazine, Dumb Friend’s League “Pet Tales” and Kentucky Humane Society’s “Paw Street Journal.” When not immersed in animal behavior, she spends every possible moment hiking, kayaking, biking, storm chasing, and camping with her husband Andy, son Fox, and dog Lenore.
More on Behavior Vets: The Behavior Vets team is led by our board-certified veterinary behaviorist, and rounded out by veterinary behavior residents, veterinarians with a special interest in behavior, and the best behavior consultants and animal trainers to be found. There are less than 150 veterinary behaviorists world-wide. It takes an average of 12 years of schooling to become a veterinary behaviorist — a veterinary doctor specially trained to work with behavior problems. Veterinary behaviorists can legally diagnose behavior issues, assess and treat the medical components of behavior problems, and prescribe diets, supplements and medications when needed to support behavior modification and training.
About the Author: Beth Dokolasa is a volunteer for Cat Care Society and served on the organization’s junior board. She is an instructional developer for Natural Grocers and lives in Indian Hills, Colo., with her husband, young daughter, and two cats, Techno and Digit.
Enrichment is an important element in caring for cats, especially in the often-stressful shelter environment. CCS has always had a dedicated team of volunteer socializers and animal care technicians to support cats. But when two current staff members started, they saw an opportunity to increase the impact.
One animal care tech took an interest in feline enrichment and laid the groundwork. Kelly Cunningham, now our lead enrichment specialist, created an “enrichment calendar” to use with the cats. However, with few supplies, she had to get creative, collecting paper towel rolls, crinkly paper and pipe cleaners to provide enrichment on a shoestring budget.
Once Sonia Holmstrom, CCS’ foster & behavior supervisor, joined the team last year, things took off. With a background in animal behavior and experience in zoos, she has been hard at work creating our own behavior & enrichment program. Thanks to our recent partnership, we’ve implemented KONG’s toys in the shelter to create specialized enrichment experiences for the cats.
“Since the enrichment program found funding, we were able to get more supplies, treats and toys to stock the shelf,” Kelly shared. “The kitties are spoiled with the coolest and newest cat toys on the market! Everything we use for enrichment now benefits the cats by allowing them to feel safe, comfortable and confident enough to express their natural behaviors. We’ve already seen such an improvement in the overall happiness of our cats.”
“It has been fun to build a program that targets improved mental stimulation, exercise and socialization for cats in the shelter, as well as for adopted cats,” Sonia said. “We want to see cats expressing their natural behaviors while also strengthening a bond with humans. The enrichment program has also supported our efforts with cats who need behavior modification.”
“Our shy kitties come around at a much quicker pace than before,” Kelly added. “Many of the anxious and fearful cats come out of their shell faster, and it’s because we have a dedicated team of staff and volunteers who make sure these cats are enriched and happy. Before the program, it would take some cats months to show any behavioral improvement. Now, most of them improve in weeks! This can drastically reduce the length of time they spend in the shelter. Confident cats are adoptable cats!”
What’s the difference? Cat enrichment enhances overall well-being, while behavior modification targets specific behaviors for improvement.
A cat’s enrichment is tailored to their needs based on factors like age, diet, medical needs, behavior and personal preference. A successful tailored enrichment program provides:
“First, I consider the environmental enrichment,” Kelly said. “The rooms are set up to fit the individual needs of the cats to reduce stress and anxiety: Where do they like to hang out? Do they like vertical space? Do they prefer to have their own ‘corner’? In a multi-cat room, this is accomplished by splitting the room into smaller areas, each spot with its own bed, food/water and litter box so each cat can claim their own space and reduce tension over territory. The furniture is strategically placed to maximize the ‘cat superhighway’ space and allow for more vertical movement. I also consider what kind of bedding they prefer, if they sleep up high or down low, if they hide/play in tunnels or use them to cross the room unseen. Many cats prefer water fountains, which are great for environmental enrichment. A variety of scratchers are also a necessity for scent-marking. I make sure to include several different kinds of toys; I put battable toys of different textures, (crinkly, soft, jingle bell) on the floor and on high surfaces. I also set out solo play toys, such as the ball & track type or interactive/motion toys. Finally, I leave out treat puzzles for cognitive stimulation. Before I leave the room, I engage in hunt and play sessions with the kitties. Our enrichment charts have a spot for comments where we write the cat’s preferences or favorite toys, which has been helpful in deciding what to use each day.”
Kelly’s favorite recent success story is Holly and Chloe, a pair who came to CCS extremely fearful and reactive. Because of their age and some medical issues, at first we did not believe they would have a successful outcome. Kelly began to visit them several times a day, playing David Teie’s cat frequency music while sitting on the floor, offering a Churu treat and some calming words and pets with a telescoping brush.
“Chloe seemed to be a bit more social and less reactive than Holly, but I was still determined to help these two feel safe and happy,” she explained. “Holly moved into her own room and relaxed only a tiny bit, so she went to a lovely behavior foster who put in so much time and effort helping her come out of her shell. Truly, Holly’s behavior would not have improved without the help of our foster. In the meantime, Chloe was moved into the shy cat room. I visited her several times a day and gave her lots of treats and attention. For a while she would remain in the hidey cube and let me pet/talk to her, but after two weeks, she would come out of the cube to greet me and solicit pets. Then I began short play sessions and offered treat puzzles (which I discovered she absolutely loved). A month or so later, Chloe had improved remarkably and was greeting most people who entered the room and showed her some attention. Holly came back from foster and joined her sibling in the room. I used the same methods on Holly then; consistently going in to sit with her, establish trust and build confidence. About a week before she got adopted, she was also coming out of the hidey bed to greet me when I approached. I truly believe these two became so confident and happy because of the dedication of our love, attention, time and enrichment we provided for them during their stay. I’m so happy they both found their forever homes. I’m so proud of how far they came!”
There can be misconceptions about what enrichment for cats. Though cats can be independent or aloof, that doesn’t mean they don’t need interaction. “Enrichment is necessary for the physical and emotional well-being of cats, which is more than just playing with them,” Kelly said. “Enrichment provides an environment that is comfortable, safe and stimulating. Enrichment gives cats the confidence to be their best selves. Imagine if you lived in a house with nothing to entertain you or make you feel at home! No comfy beds or couches, no TV, no video games, no snacks or hobbies. Life would be pretty boring. Cats are no different, and it’s our responsibility as pet owners to give our animals a fulfilling, happy life.”
To learn more, visit our Behavior & Enrichment program page!
It’s another busy summer season here at Cat Care Society. As is typical for this time of year, we are seeing a rise in requests to take in cats as we — and many other shelters — navigate the influx of kittens. As we head toward the final peak of the season around October, we also have several irons in the fire for CCS’ future. You may have noticed some construction recently as we install a new elevator. More special projects are in the works to ensure our building can best serve the cats in our care.
In our summer 2024 Cat Care Quarterly, you will find several articles about cat behavior and enrichment — two topics that we’ve been focusing on lately that you will hear more about! It’s so important to us to offer experiences that help build the minds and bodies of our feline friends so that they are happier, healthier and more adoptable.
But there are actually some common misconceptions about why exactly enrichment matters. In fact, research about cats has been significantly behind what has been done for behavior modification in dogs. Why is this? While there is a long and varied list that has brought about this lag, much of it is related to the idea that cats are more independent and not as social as dogs.
Posing a potential risk to the public, animal welfare policy has been directed at statutes focusing on dogs as well as the creation of animal shelters to house them. This focus is partially why they’ve received the bulk of behavioral research! Unfortunately for cats, they haven’t received the same level of support until recent years.
Throughout my time working in shelters, I’ve seen a few trends play out. Dog owners experiencing unwanted behaviors often think about working with a professional to resolve an issue. Plus, it’s easier to find a dog trainer than a cat behaviorist. Cat owners are more likely to view a problem as unfixable (or too hard to fix) and rehome or surrender them.
Some shelters don’t take in cats in the first place, and even more aren’t able to offer formalized enrichment to the cats in their care due to capacity. The flip side of this is that cats are more at risk for health issues in shelters because they don’t handle stress well. Additionally, behavior exhibited by cats is often labeled incorrectly, limiting our ability to create possible interventions and support plans.
That’s what we’re trying to change. By building a comprehensive cat enrichment and behavior program, we hope to begin slowly changing the narrative and evening out these trends. Cat Care Society has long been dedicated to supporting cats and their owners through adopter education and seminars. But now, we’re ready to take it a step further. We want to up our game and offer better avenues for cats in our care to exhibit normal behaviors. The opportunity to learn to trust humans, to play with toys, stimulate their senses and increase their physical and mental development, is something we are so passionate about and excited for.
When we take in unsocialized or fearful cats, we’ll now have a system for them to gain confidence faster, to address their needs in meaningful ways and create opportunities for those who have a need that has gone unfilled.
We couldn’t do this work without the support of our partners, though. We are so thankful for the other shelters in our area who trust us to take in their animals and work with them successfully. Because other rescue groups — especially those in rural areas — don’t have the same resources, we welcome their animals to our facility to work with our medical and behavioral team and have a real chance.
We have seen countless animals who weren’t thriving in other shelters or a prior home come out of their shells and completely transform once they’re in an environment that offers them the space and support to blossom. No shelter is the same as a home, but the closer we can get to that, the better a cat will do. Our free-roaming spaces and enrichment opportunities means that these kitties can become their true selves, find their natural behaviors and let their personalities shine. This makes adopters be able to envision that cat in their home easier and have a more successful adoption story. And every adoption — and foster home — means that we are able to help one more cat have that same opportunity.
If you’re looking for more information on cat enrichment or need help finding a behaviorist, please visit our website’s Resources, Enrichment and Blog pages, or reach out to talk to us about how we can help!
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A woman full of life, love and light, another Cat Care Society supporter, Leanne Emm passed away this past March.
A fourth generation Colorado native, Leanne was known for her sense of adventure, intellect and devotion. With decades of public service, she held roles in city and county government, going on to lead as the deputy commissioner of the Colorado Department of Education. When she wasn’t working, Leanne loved fitness, river rafting, watercolor paintings and napping in the sun with her cats (four of them adopted from CCS!).
Leanne served on CCS’ board of directors in 2017, and after retiring from her career in 2018, stepped into a larger, critical role as interim executive director. “It had been a turbulent couple of years for CCS, and Leanne was such a positive, steadying influence,” remembers Clyde Dawson, another long-time board member. “And what a sense of humor! As it turned out, one of the most important contributions she made to CCS was organizing and conducting the search for a permanent ED. She was an avid whitewater rafter and had been looking forward to river-running nearly full time in retirement. She also remained a strong supporter of the organization.”
Clyde recalls Leanne as a tremendous asset to CCS — “exceptionally intelligent, with a keen grasp of finances and management issues of all sorts, as well as warm and engaging,” he said. “I think she won us all over when she wrote in her board application that one reason she was interested in board service was that it would give her an excuse to come into the shelter more often and play with the cats!”
Leanne’s daughter Charlotte says that her mother loved cats her whole life, that they were a really grounding thing for her. “She just loved all animals, and cats were her favorites — that and baby goats and horses!” she said. “She loved CCS and seeing how happy people were when they got to bring a cat home.”
Leanne’s last update in the summer 2018 Cat Care Quarterly oozed her warm, bright personality and gratitude. For everything that she brought to our organization and the world, we’re grateful for her, too.
A long-time Cat Care Society supporter and leader, Gail Tinianow, passed away this spring, leaving behind a commitment to cats and a love for travel.
A child of Air Force parents, Gail was born in New York and lived in various parts of the U.S. and Spain. Early in her career, Gail worked for the federal government in Washington, D.C., and eventually earned a degree in business administration from Arapahoe Community College. She and her husband Marty married in 1985; she retired in 2006. Marty shared that Gail’s love of cats was extensive.
Her retirement marked the start of a 10-year dedication to Cat Care Society, when she began looking for volunteer opportunities. Jane Dorsey interviewed Gail to work in Cajun’s Closet, Cat Care’s thrift shop, in 2008. In 2011, she joined the board of directors to help ensure the financial success of CCS. Over the next several years, she would go on to hold roles of secretary, vice president, and president. In those days, CCS had a working board, recalled Ken Dobrovolny, so Gail was hands-on in the day-to-day operations of the shelter “and ran a tight ship.”
Jane Dorsey recalls Gail’s enjoyment of the Santa Paws Festival and the role she played in the planning committee. “I remember her bringing detailed records of everything from the prior year and challenged us to make it even better,” she said. “She was so enthusiastic about everything she took on, and that made it fun to work with her.”
Gail also generously donated a trip to her timeshare in Hawaii for the Tails of the Painted Cats auction more than once. “She was so excited when she came up with the idea of pairing a trip with a Hawaiian-themed sculpture,” Jane said. “Artist and volunteer Pat Lickly created the Hawaiian cat, and we had fresh flower leis made for Gail and the high bidder that night. She loved that event and whole-heartedly supported it.”
In the winter 2016 Cat Care Quarterly as board president, Gail wrote: “Our first order of business in the new year entails recruitment of an executive director. Your board has been running the Society since 2011, and I’m happy to report that we are now financially strong enough to fill this position. I’m simply honored to be at the helm of this great organization and cannot express enough appreciation for our amazing donors, volunteers and staff.”
Gail eventually stepped back from the board in 2018, but we will remember her for many, many more years to come.
Abandoned, neglected and wounded after surviving a house fire, Fish Stick was found by a kind neighbor just in the nick of time. Little did anyone know, he was already up against more struggles than met the eye.
Believed to be the only surviving pet, this senior Siamese mix was down to 6 pounds and in dire need of medical attention. Realizing the level of care he needed, the neighbor reached out to our friends at Cooper’s Companions Animal Rescue for help. They brought him to Cat Care Society, knowing our specialty in helping cats that others would give up on.
Fish Stick had severe lesions on his face, neck, back and paw pads. He immediately received antibiotics, fluids and pain medication. He needed a cone to stop scratching at the sites.
Without veterinary treatment for so long, Fish Stick’s wounds were infected and bleeding.
“His teeth were horrific, his skin was falling off, and he was just a complete mess,” our lead veterinarian Dr. Cecily Palamara, recalled.
Further exams revealed he also had a heart murmur, severe periodontal disease, conjunctivitis, upper respiratory infection, anemia and about 8 more underlying conditions. Not to mention a positive ringworm test. Add to that, he was blind in one eye from a previous trauma. We called it his wizard eye.
Considering his multitude of issues, a successful long-term outcome was unclear. Our goal shifted to maintain his quality of life while treating what we could.
From the start, Fish Stick was a total lovebug. Regardless of any pain he felt, he maintained the sweetest disposition, purring constantly and rubbing affectionately on staff during every treatment. It seemed he was up for the fight.
After addressing his most urgent needs, we slowly started ticking concerns off the list. Within a couple weeks, we saw significant improvement. He was gaining weight, hydrated again, his conjunctivitis was resolved, and his skin was looking better. Test results showed that some of his skin issues were not burn related, but were actually allergies. A month in, his liver values were completely resolved, anemia was on the right track, but his lymphocytosis was worsened.
Just when he took one step forward, there were another two steps back.
One employee stepped up to foster Fish Stick for close monitoring and an aggressive medication regimen.
After numerous medical setbacks, Fish Stick turned the corner in his foster home.
In foster, Fish Stick began to thrive. Just weeks in, he was markedly improved on nearly all accounts and finally clear of ringworm. His fur grew back in and he was at an ideal weight.
“He kind of became a celebrity,” Dr. Palamara recalled. “The whole team would come down for his rechecks. Every time we saw him, he looked better and better. He just needed some time and TLC, and he got that here.”
About 100 days after he came through our doors, Fish Stick was ready to become a candidate for adoption — with no less than 14 medical disclaimers. To make sure his adopter knew the extent of his conditions, a consult with our vet was required.
A host of medical issues was no concern for his adopter ready to open his heart and home.
Michael came to the shelter looking for a Siamese cat after losing his own. He learned about Fish Stick’s history and ongoing concerns but was unfazed, willing to take on whatever came with this friendly boy.
After going home with Michael, Fish Stick settled right in. He even gained a new friend, as Michael adopted another CCS cat, Jack, from us the same day.
“Every day, both cats are getting more comfortable, and I’ve spent a lot of time playing with them,” Michael updated. “Jack is renamed Taz after the Tasmanian devil since he runs around like a tornado. Both cats are super smart and such a joy.”
Looking at him now, you’d never suspect Fish Stick made it through such a horrific event. The time and energy we put into this cat was significant, and his glow-up is a perfect example of who we are and what we do best. All in all, the cost of Fish Stick’s medical care alone was near $3,000. This does not include everyday expenses of living in a shelter, such as his food, litter, supplies or staff time.
Fish Stick pioneers a way for so many other cats who deserve a second chance after a bleak outlook.
We simply wouldn’t be able to take care of cats like Fish Stick if it weren’t for your support. Your tax-deductible donation ensures that more cats facing the worst have a chance at finding health and happiness in a new loving home.
With hope and gratitude,
EC Michaels
Executive Director
Cat Care Society
P.S. Thanks to you, Cat Care Society was able to help over 1,000 cats last year! Because we rely 100% on donations to keep up, we need your help to find loving homes for cats in need.
Jump to: Why 2 Kittens Are Better Than 1 | What’s the Deal with “Kitten Season?”
So you adopted — or are thinking about adopting — a new kitten. Congrats! These tiny furballs bring so much love and joy to a home, but they also need quite a bit of care! Without proper support from the start, your little one may develop some bad habits that are hard to break as adults.
We all know that kittens bring lots of energy and are oh so cute, but caring for a baby cat goes well beyond just playing with the little fluffy ones. Here’s what you most need to keep in mind when bringing a kitten into your household.
Socializing from a young age helps make everyday items more normal and creates less fear. Less fear in cats creates more confident and comfortable cats who can adapt to change and have fewer behavioral problems later in life. This also helps you create a stronger relationship with your cat!
It’s also a good idea to begin desensitizing them to things like grooming and handling to begin building positive associations. Ask a friend to help feed them while you trim their nails or brush them. Gently look in their ears, eyes and mouth like the vet would do.
Leave a carrier out for them to get used to, and move it around the house. Put treats or feed meals there, and use it for transportation to playtime sessions.
According to Billie Reynolds, owner of Good Kitty Behavior Consulting and Training, a cat’s period of socialization with non-littermates best happens when they are 7-14 weeks old. This is when social and object play increases their coordination and social skills and can happen directly with themselves, with people or with other animals. It can include climbing, hugging, ambushing, licking, pawing, mouthing, holding, chasing, pouncing, leaping and dancing.
We don’t yet want to discourage natural behaviors like rabbit kicking because kittens are practicing, but we can redirect unwanted actions onto appropriate items.
Make a point to offer interactive play on a routine basis with your kitten. It’s best to aim for toys that mimic natural prey or predator interaction (such as a bird, bug or mouse). Fishing poles and Da Bird are two great options. Aim for about 10 minutes per play session. After playtime, offer a high-protein snack, which is what they would enjoy as a reward after hunting in the wild.
If you have multiple kittens, offer each individual, interactive play time.
When kittens reach 3 to 6 months, they begin learning about their environments and other species. This is when they absorb how to live in a home with humans!
From 6 to 18 months old, kittens have become adolescents and have reached their highest need for energy release and mental stimulation. It marks the beginnings of sexual behavior, so we highly recommend they be spayed or neutered well before this time. If there are other cats in the home, watch for territorial behaviors and add new territories like cat trees and towers, water and food bowls, litter stations and sleeping spots as needed.
When cats reach 18-30 months, they’ve become early adults and begin to establish their own territory. Be sure to continue interactive play and provide plenty of territory options for all cats in the home for the rest of their lives.
To maintain interactive play, you can also add enriching experiences like puzzle toys and feeder balls. When picking out toys, consider your cats’ specific behaviors like whether they use their mouth or paws more when playing. You can even make your own toys using common household items (for ideas, check out this post from ASPCA)! To dig deeper into feline enrichment, check out our partnership with KONG!
How do you know if all of this is working? If your cats seem happy and you don’t have conflict, you are on the right track!
One of the best ways to support the behavioral and emotional development of a kitten is to make sure they’ve got a friend. It may be hard to believe, but two kittens are actually half the work of one! Take it from Kitten Lady, who says one kitten is half a kitten, and two kittens are a whole!
Because kittens thrive when they have feline friends, we recommend adopting two at once — or one if you already have a young, playful cat at home. CCS even has ongoing adoption pricing for this! One kitten’s adoption fee is $150 but two are just $200.
Kittens learn by observation and pick up skills like using the litter box when their pals exhibit that behavior. They also are able to channel their playful aggression on each other rather than an unsuspecting human or piece of furniture. For instance, if one kitten wants to use its mouth and bite down on its sibling, the other cat may scram, and that kitten then learns to be gentler when playing.
Not to mention, cats are social and enjoy having other cats nearby. It’s why we have community cat colonies! After all, it’s comforting to have someone their own size to snuggle with and help them feel comfortable in their surroundings.
If you’ve ever heard the term “single kitten syndrome,” it refers to a kitten who didn’t have litter mates or sometimes even a mother around to teach appropriate behavior and boundaries. Like humans who grow up as only children, they tend to miss out on experiences and activities that siblings go through together. In short, everything they learn as a kitten from the cats around them set them up for more success as an adult.
You’ve probably heard the term “kitten season,” but have you ever wondered why kittens are more plentiful during a certain time of year? Just like how humans find certain activities like camping or gardening easier during the warmer months, cats too thrive when the snow starts to melt away.
The days are longer, and there are more resources in the summer (did you know that mice tend to hibernate in the winter?). In climates where there is no winter, places like Florida actually don’t have a kitten season, because it lasts all year there.
Kitten season, or feline breeding season, typically takes place around March through October, and many shelters experience the bulk of their cat and kitten intake during this time. In 2023, Cat Care Society took in 516 kittens!
Momma cats are pregnant for about 60 days. And considering they can have multiple litters a year starting before they even reach 1 year old, it’s no wonder our communities are crawling with cute little kittens. This is why spaying and neutering and TNR work is so important in reducing the stray cat population! If the kittens make it to a shelter or vet, once they reach 2 pounds, they are spayed or neutered and put up for adoption.
Because kitten season is the busiest time of year at the shelter, we rely on our community to help us keep up and save more lives! If you want to get involved, please donate items or funds to support our work, adopt a cat of your own, or consider opening up your home as a foster.
To better understand what to do with a stray, please see our blog post, “So You Found a Stray Cat, Now What?”
To learn more about cat behavior, please consider signing up for an upcoming free educational seminar at the shelter, held on the fourth Saturday of the month at 10 a.m. Find a list of upcoming topics on our website.
Kidney disease, also known as chronic kidney disease (CKD), affects a significant portion of aging cats. It’s estimated that CKD impacts 30-40% of cats over the age of 10 and 81% of cats over 15. While there is no cure for it, fortunately, early detection and proper management can significantly improve their quality of life. Here, we will explore the prevalence of kidney disease in cats, why it’s so common and ways it can be managed.
First, let’s distinguish between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and acute kidney injury (AKI). CKD develops gradually over time, and is a degenerative, progressive condition. AKI is a sudden and severe decline in kidney function, often triggered by specific events like toxins or infections. AKI requires immediate veterinary attention and involves a different treatment plan compared to cats with CKD.
Just like a water filter keeps your home’s water clean, healthy kidneys act as your cat’s internal filtration system. As they age, these filters can become less efficient, leading to a buildup of waste products in the bloodstream. Kidney disease progresses through four stages, each indicating the level of kidney function remaining. Early detection and proactive care are essential for supporting kidney health and preserving function for as long as possible.
While the exact reasons behind the high prevalence of CKD in cats are still being explored, here are some contributing factors:
Purebred cats tend to be more susceptible to CKD because of genetic components, but most all cats over the age of 10 will develop some extent of CKD.
The good news is that with early detection, managing kidney disease becomes significantly easier.
What signs should you watch for that may indicate kidney disease?
Having just one of the symptoms listed above doesn’t necessarily mean your cat has CKD. Your veterinarian will perform a comprehensive physical examination and run blood and urine tests to rule out other issues such as UTI, diabetes and crystalluria (crystals in urine made up of minerals and other substances that join together rather than staying dissolved). In some cases, an X-ray or ultrasound might also be necessary for a definitive diagnosis.
If your cat is diagnosed with CKD, your vet will be able to tell you how far along the condition has progressed within four stages:
“Usually, two-thirds of kidney function is gone by the time it shows up on bloodwork,” CCS’ Lead Vet Dr. Cecily Palamara said. “If we’re not seeing it, we know it doesn’t necessarily mean a cat doesn’t have it. Cats can compensate for it for a long time.”
You can learn more about the stages of CKD from the International Renal Interest Society. Blood work analysis is a crucial part of diagnosing kidney disease and tracking its progression. If you’d like more information on what blood work is necessary and what it means, check out the Cat Manny’s page on CKD.
While there’s no cure for kidney disease, there are several things you can do to help manage it and improve your cat’s quality of life:
Managing chronic kidney disease in shelter cats presents unique challenges compared to home settings, such as providing special diets and working with limited space and resources.
Dr. Palamara shared the approach she and her team take to support these cats. “We really have kind of a breadth of treatment and a very wide approach,” she said. “The main goal with the approach to our kidney cats is, how do we maintain and lengthen their quality of life for the time that they’re with us? How do we decrease the amount of time that they’re with us? And what’s their fastest path to adoption? That can mean different things for different cats.”
The shelter medical team focuses on addressing side effects, maximizing hydration, keeping the cats on canned food because it has a higher water content, and providing individualized treatment plans while working within the limits of the shelter environment. For cats who struggle to get enough water, they provide subcutaneous fluids. They put cats on special renal diets when needed, but they have to be mindful of space, because those cats need to live in a separate room away from the rest of the cats on a regular diet.
Mineral management in kidney cats is also important. If phosphorus gets too high, it can be very toxic to the kidneys. There is a special medication that can be added to food to help lower phosphorus, but many cats don’t like it. Kidney cats are also prone to low potassium, which can cause weakness, but supplementation can help.
The team uses a unique approach for cats with anemia associated with CKD. They administer a newer FDA-approved medication for anemia secondary to kidney disease in cats, and it has been very successful. It’s a more expensive treatment and is reserved for when anemia is affecting the cat’s quality of life.
Tailoring treatment to each cat’s individual needs helps them feel their best and thrive in their new homes after adoption.
Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), also known as acute renal failure, occurs when a cat’s kidneys abruptly lose their ability to function. This is a life-threatening condition that can lead to severe dehydration, rapid accumulation of waste products in the bloodstream, electrolyte imbalances and changes in blood acidity levels.
Common causes include:
The symptoms of AKI are similar to CKD and can also include vision loss, drooling and seizures. If your cat exhibits any of these signs, take them to the vet immediately.
Although CKD is a serious condition, with proper home management and veterinary care, many cats with CKD can lead happy and fulfilling lives for years. Numerous resources are available to support you in navigating your cat’s CKD journey. We recommend exploring VCA Animal Hospitals’ extensive articles on kidney health and cats for additional information. If you have any concerns about your cat’s health, including potential AKI, do not hesitate to discuss them with your veterinarian. You can find low-cost and emergency care options on our Resources page. Remember, early detection and consistent management can help your cat feel their best!
About the Author: Beth Dokolasa is a volunteer for Cat Care Society and served on the organization’s junior board. She is an instructional developer for Natural Grocers and lives in Indian Hills, Colo., with her husband, young daughter, and two cats, Techno and Digit.
With the role of our feline friends evolving over the years, we now have more information at our finger tips to help us make sure our cats are living their best life. Advancements in the treatment of our cats have provided a higher life expectancy for our furry family members. One topic of study that has contributed to these advancements is the benefit of keeping our cats indoors instead of letting them roam free outdoors.
There are three main aspects to consider regarding the benefits of your cats living indoors. These include your cat’s own safety, the safety of the area wildlife, as well as the positive impacts for cat owners themselves.
Our indoor cats are found to live 8-10 years longer than their outdoor counterpart. While many reasons contribute to these numbers, there are some standout threats to cats who are let outdoors. Many outdoor cats, ~5.4 million per year (Global stewards, 2024), are hit by cars. They are also wounded in fights with other animals, and injured or killed by varying birds of prey, dogs or coyotes.
When a cat goes roaming outdoors, they are also at risk of coming into contact with human-made dangers, such as ingesting household chemicals left outdoors, and even poisonous plants. They can get stuck in precarious places and are also known to get stuck up trees, and can even die from exposure or sudden storms.
Some humans present a risk to your cats as well, and while we all like to believe that all people love cats, some who do not may cause harm intentionally to your beloved feline.
“Free-roaming housecats present serious risks to public health and the environment” (Wildlife Center of Virginia, n.d.).
We’ve all referred to our cats as mini lions, tigers or panthers before, but did you know that our cats are in fact highly skilled predators responsible for the extinction of at least 33 species? Unfortunately, our outdoor cats have killed billions of birds in the U.S. per year alone (Global stewards, 2024).
The reasons that housecats are so skilled at being an outdoor predator vary. Because our cats are introduced to the outdoors by humans, the wildlife around them has not evolved to defend themselves from this particular kind of predator.
They also have large numbers on their side, as well as the physical fitness to overwhelm wildlife that doesn’t benefit from the luxuries of the housecat lifestyle. Even the mere presence of housecats outdoors affects the wildlife in your area due to wildlife not returning to their young to avoid directing the cats to their dens and nests.
Just because you may not see your housecat bringing home dead prey, does not mean they aren’t actively hunting, as the majority of their prey — 77% — is not brought home and is either eaten or left behind (Wildlife Center of Virginia (n.d.).
Your cat is part of your family, and having them live indoors with you allows a stronger bond to form between cat and human. This also provides opportunity for cat owners to identify when their cat may be experiencing illness or injury, whereas if the cat was outside most of the time, owners may miss certain cues that their furry friend requires veterinary attention.
Because outdoor cats are more prone to picking up disease or illness such as feline leukemia virus (FeLV) or feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) among others, having them live indoors will also cut down on expensive and avoidable vet visits. Things like fleas and ticks can also be brought into your home when your cat is let outdoors.
Aside from the points above, cats sent to roam outdoors can routinely be humanely trapped by humans and euthanized or adopted out to a new home. In these cases, unfortunately only “3% of cats turned into shelters make it back to their owners” (Global stewards, 2024).
Many of our cats seem so interested in what’s beyond the walls of our home, and may very well enjoy being out and about in nature. Just because letting them roam outside presents dire risks for them, does not mean there aren’t things you can do to help them lead an enriched life involving the outdoors.
Supervised outdoor visits can allow this type of enrichment, and we have many options today to accomplish this, from pet strollers to pet play pens and even leash training, which can also work for cats. Advancements such as the catio (a word combination of cat and patio) is an outdoor enclosure option for cats. These catios “provide cats with mental stimulation, help combat obesity by encouraging cats to play more often than they would indoors — which also provides you with some peace of mind, and will offer a way for your pets to spend quality time outdoors without the worry of predators and other dangers they might encounter” (thecatiolife.com, 2021).
In lieu of the outdoors, consider things like toys, secured screened windows and resting perches for your cat to allow for stimulation and exercise where you won’t have to worry about their safety. Even the mere sounds and smells of the outdoors are enjoyable for your cat.
Keeping our cats indoors together can contribute to their happiness and yours, along with the overall wildlife benefits. So, the next time your cat gives you the meow that indicates they want to launch out the door to “freedom,” remember you are doing what is best for your cat by denying their request and keeping them safe.
About the Author: E.R. is a Lakewood local who has volunteered for Cat Care Society since 2016. She grew up with cats and has been a friend to them all her life. She has participated in TNR for several years, and greatly enjoys her state’s commitment to preserving nature. E.R. has one fur baby who is obsessed with wand toys and enjoys watching the rabbits in their backyard.
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