I'm a vet and here are the pros and cons of having an indoor or outdoor cat

A vet has has revealed whether people should keep their cats indoors or let them roam outside.

Ben the Vet, who is from the UK,  makes videos on TikTok, where he has more than 200,000 followers.

His videos tend to focus on animal welfare topics, as well as his experiences working as a vet.

A recent clip, titled Indoor vs. Outdoor cats? was accompanied by a caption which read: 'Do cats need outdoor access to be happy? Or should all cats be kept indoors?

'This is a more controversial topic than I expected and there are a lot of strong views on both sides. What do you think?'

Speaking during the clip, the veterinarian said: 'Indoor versus outdoor cat, which is the right choice? Here are the pros and cons.'

Speaking first about the benefits of having an outdoor cats, he said: 'Life for an outdoor cat allows them to express the full range of their natural behaviours, and is probably more fulfilling for a cat.'

However, he also pointed out that 'there are a lot of hazards [outdoor cats] have to contend with'. 

Ben explained: 'There's the risk of being hit by a car and killed or seriously injured. 

'There's the risk of being attacked and injured by other animals, usually other cats, and usually fights over territory. 

'Outdoor cats are also much more likely to be exposed to toxic substances and infections such as FIV - which is the cat equivalent of HIV - cat flue, and parasitic infections like fleas.'

He noted that that there are also environmental considerations.

Ben explained: 'Outdoor cats can hunt and kill vulnerable species of wildlife, such as song birds. 

'Having an indoor cat means you don't have to worry about this.'

Moving onto indoor cats, he said their lives are 'probably a lot safer'. 

'However,' Ben the Vet said in the video, 'it can be very boring, and as much as you can try to keep them mentally stimulated with games and toys and scratching posts, which is all brilliant, it's hard to fully replicate the variety of outdoor life.  

'Boredom and frustration can lead to a higher risk of problem behaviours in indoor cats like destroying furniture, urine marking and sometimes even aggression. '

The vet noted that there can be a greater risk of specific health issues when it comes to indoor cats, citing obesity as one of them.

He added: 'Indoor cats, especially those in multi cat households, have also been shown to be at higher risk of urinary tract problems, which are linked to stress and these can be life threatening in male cats. '

Closing the video, Ben concluded: 'So there's no right or wrong way to keep a cat.

'It depends on your cat's personality, where you live and your own views and priorities ultimately.'

Views among the video's commentators were mixed, with some saying they kept their cats inside to keep them safe, and others saying they let theirs' out. 

A number of described the steps they'd taken to try and keep their outdoor cats safe.

One wrote: 'We ended up spending a small fortune on a pet protect fence so they get to go out but can't wander. the peace of mind it gives me is worth every penny.'

In a similar vein, another wrote: 'We've created a safe outdoor space for ours, a full gym inside and walkways into an outdoor enclosure I'm hoping it's the best of both worlds.' 

There were some viewers who had very strong feelings that cats should be kept inside for their own safety.

A further viewer added: 'I see missing cat posts all the time, that and cats being hit by cars. I've had outdoor cats myself and 1 was killed by a car. If I have another cat in the future, it will be an indoor cat.' 

Meanwhile, another advocate for keeping felines inside wrote: 'Every outdoor cat I had growing up died a horrible death. I've only had indoor cats as an adult and they've had long happy lives.' 

And another said: 'If you let your cat free roam outdoors with no supervision, you do not own a cat. You surrender ownership as soon as you let it out.'