Is it okay to keep my cat at home all of the time?

Yes, there are many benefits to keeping your cat safe at home (contained within your property boundaries). Contained cats are less likely to become lost or injured (e.g., hit by a car or attacked by a dog). They are also less likely to get into cat fights and have cat fight-related injuries (e.g., abscesses) or catch infectious diseases such as FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus). Containment also minimises the risk they will harm other animals or cause disturbance to neighbours.

Where cats are contained, steps must be taken by owners to ensure that adequate exercise and environmental enrichment are available. Contained cats do not have to live totally indoors – access to an outdoor escape-proof enclosure is highly recommended as this greatly increases the opportunity for activity and stimulation for contained cats allowing them to experience the benefits of outdoors in a safe way. There are also specialised backyard fences that can help stop cats escaping (e.g., fences that have rotating tops or lean inward), and if you have a balcony or verandah this can be cat-proofed through the use of netting. These can be a great way to allow contained cats to still have access to the outdoors without being able to go beyond their home property boundaries.

Cat containment tips

Here are some measures you can take to ensure that your home is a feline-friendly, stimulating environment where your cat is unlikely to get bored.

• Provide plenty of horizontal and vertical climbing space. Cats generally like to gain vertical height to view scenes from above and they also tend to feel safer that way. Cat ladders/trees, window hammocks, cat condos and cat castles are just some of the products available to help provide an enriched environment.
• Provide plenty of safe toys to keep your cat amused – it is a good idea to have a variety of toys hidden away so you can give your cat different Cat Toys to play with on different days. Ensure all cat toys are safe for them; for example, avoid string toys or smaller objects that may be swallowed as these can become an intestinal obstruction, which can be fatal.
• Provide hiding areas. Cardboard boxes with holes cut into them are great for hide and seek games. Your cat may love games that involve you and you can help ensure they have opportunities to perform normal behaviours such as climbing, scratching, pouncing, chasing, stalking and exploring.
• Provide opportunities through environmental enrichment for your cat to scratch, run, jump, hide, play, smell, taste and see different things, interact with people they like and other compatible animals! You are only limited by your imagination, but some examples include tall multi-level cat scratch towers, shelving to make platforms and high walkways for your cat, purpose built tall multi-level Cat Furniture (and using steps or ramps to allow your cat to access tops of cupboards, and making these places comfortable for them with a bed or box to hide in!).
• Provide several Cat Scratching Posts as cats love to scratch to keep their nails in good condition and to scent mark (providing scratching posts also helps to direct the scratching behaviour away from places you’d prefer they did not scratch). If you have any plants make sure they are safe for cats (check with your vet first if you’re unsure) and be aware that certain common plants, such as lilies, are fatally toxic to cats, so make sure these are not present anywhere in your home or on your property.
• Ensure that you spend enough quality time with your cat, including playing with them, grooming them, giving them cuddles, and even training them! Try hiding their favourite treats in different locations around the house for them to find, or use a food ball or puzzle feeder where your cat plays with the ball/puzzle to obtain the treat!
• Cats love to bask in the sun; make sure your cat has a nice sunny spot to lie in and window sills to sit on so they can keep an eye on the outside world and watch scenes outside which provides entertainment for them.Maybe wall mounted cat shelves are good choice.
• Cats can be social animals so we recommend considering having two cats that get along well with each other and can keep each other company while their human owners are out. 
• Contained cats should have at least one litter tray available for each cat plus a spare. These should be kept away from eating and sleeping areas and in different areas around the house. Litter trays must be cleaned regularly to ensure they are not smelly or dirty which could be off-putting for your cat. This could potentially result in cats avoiding using the litter tray and urination problems.
• Provide separate food, water bowls and sleeping areas for each cat – following the same rule of thumb as for litter trays – at least one of each of these resources should be available for each cat plus a spare). Ensure clean fresh water is available at all times.