Imperilled paws: How conservation biologists can use pet cats’ health and welfare rather than their impacts on wildlife to argue for their containment

Abstract

Debating impacts of owned cats Felis catus on wildlife diverts attention from improving cat health and welfare, which may also protect wildlife. We present a narrative review of the health and welfare consequences of indoor or outdoor cat husbandry. Roaming cats, especially young males, face substantial risks of traumatic injury and infectious disease, plus lesser risks of poisoning and abuse. A cat may die 10 or more years prematurely, while the cohort of outdoor cats has approximately 70–80 % of the lifespan of the cohort of indoor cats. Owners also incur veterinary expenses for injuries to roaming pets, which sometimes cause lifelong, chronic conditions. There are also data-based claims for greater quality of life for contained cats, plus more satisfying bonds between cats and owners. Containment, however, may cause obesity, diabetes or behavioural problems, while solutions including environmental enrichment, exercise, and correct feeding, plus containment logistics, may strain owners’ time and finances. Contained cats are also unlikely to express all cat behaviour. We conclude that, based on health and welfare, the advantages of containment are considerable and the disadvantages often remediable. This conclusion supports existing arguments that including health and welfare in husbandry decisions benefits cats and wildlife conservation.