Whilst they may be protected from cars, fights, and disease, we have to recognise that living an indoor lifestyle certainly deprives our cats of many natural experiences.
The inability to express natural behaviours such as hunting, dust bathing and scent marking can be tough on our cats, and we often see cats expressing physical or behavioural stress as a result.
At Lilydale Vet Centre, we see hundreds of indoor-only cats every year. Here’s what we learned from treating indoor kitties—in health, and in their struggles.
Indoor cats are renowned for being extremely sedentary. That lack of activity leads to poor muscle tone and a slow metabolism—this fuels the obesity fire.
Many indoor cats develop “hunger boredom,” begging or pestering for food because, well… there’s not much else to do!
Anyone with cats knows they can be quite pesky and persistent, and often get their way! Overfeeding can quickly turn into something more serious: diabetes, arthritis, or both, especially without muscular workouts, like climbing trees and fences.
Without outlets for natural behaviours like hunting, climbing, scratching, or patrolling, many indoor cats become frustrated and anxious.
This stress often shows up as:
These behaviours can be subtle and even interpreted as ‘normal for a cat’. But they’re your cat’s way of saying they’re not coping.
Once stress takes hold, it can even lead to physical health crises, most commonly a condition called feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC).
FIC is a common, painful urinary condition almost exclusively seen in indoor cats. This bladder inflammation is strongly linked to stress.
This often shows up as inappropriate urination—like weeing in shoes or on beds. You might also see straining or even bloody urine.
In male cats, FIC can even become life-threatening by causing dangerous urethral blockages. This isn’t bad behaviour—it’s a medical emergency.
And it’s preventable with early emotional support and a more enriched environment.
Cats can also suffer from environmental allergies, just like us. Being indoors 24/7 means constant exposure to dust mites, cleaning chemicals, air fresheners, mould, and synthetic materials.
The result?
A high incidence of itching, overgrooming, hair loss, ear infections, and irritated skin.
We know the outdoors isn’t always safe. Cars, predators, parasites, as well as your cat’s risk to local wildlife, make free-roaming too dangerous. But that doesn’t mean your cat can’t go outside.
With cat-proofed yards, catios, or secure balcony enclosures, your cat can enjoy fresh air, sunbathing, and exploration safely.
Small changes at home can prevent boredom, stress, and even medical issues:
These simple enrichments give your cat something to “do,” helping them feel like a cat again, not just a housemate.
Keeping cats indoors keeps them safe—but it also comes with emotional, physical, and behavioural challenges that many pet parents aren’t aware of.
And unfortunately, we often only see these cats after things have gone wrong.
We love seeing your indoor bestie come in for their yearly check-ups—it’s the best way to keep them happy, healthy, and thriving all year round.
Your cat might live indoors, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need help.
