The key to indoor cat health can be found in the great outdoors. That’s the message behind a new position statement from the Feline Veterinary Medical Association, which is urging caregivers and veterinary professionals to replicate the physical and mental stimulation of outdoor life within the safety of indoor environments.
In “Meeting the Physical and Emotional Needs of Indoor Cats,” the FelineVMA affirms that while indoor-only living reduces the risk of physical danger, it fails to meet critical feline environmental needs related to emotional and behavioral health.
To address the gap, the FelineVMA outlined five pillars of a healthy feline environment. They include:
- Providing a safe place.
- Providing multiple and separate key environmental resources, such as litter boxes, food and water dishes, and beds.
- Providing opportunities for play and predatory behavior.
- Providing positive, consistent and predictable human-cat social interaction.
- Providing an environment that respects the cat’s senses.
This statement updates and replaces the organization’s 2019 position and equips veterinary professionals with a framework for educating clients on species-specific needs.
“Indoor-only cats are often assumed to be the safest, but it is more challenging to meet their needs,” said Dr. Ilona Rodan, who chairs the FelineVMA’s Feline Welfare Committee. “(This impacts) their physical and emotional health and results in more caregiver concerns about behavior. This position statement helps caregivers and veterinary practices recognize the essential daily needs of cats, who are often physically and emotionally underserved.”
In addition to behavior concerns, failing to meet feline environmental needs has negative health effects. Chronic stress, triggered by boredom, lack of autonomy or insufficient resources in a multicat household, is a known contributor to several feline diseases and disorders.
By promoting the five pillars of a healthy feline environment, the FelineVMA emphasizes a proactive approach to minimizing stress at home and in the clinic and improving overall well-being for cats.
To view the complete position statement, visit bit.ly/45TJtGb.