As a cat parent, you want what’s best for your feline friend. At the Hawaiian Humane Society, we believe that the healthiest and safest place for owned cats is indoors. By keeping your cat exclusively inside, you can provide them with an enriching, stimulating and protected environment that supports their overall well–being.
The benefits of an indoor-only lifestyle for cats are many. First and foremost, it drastically reduces their risk of danger, such as being hit by a car, attacked by other animals or contracting infectious diseases. The great outdoors may seem enticing, but it’s full of risks that our domesticated companions are simply not equipped to handle. An indoor cat’s life expectancy is typically 10-15 years longer than that of an outdoor or even an indoor/outdoor cat.
In addition to enhancing safety, keeping your cat indoors also promotes their physical and mental health. With a controlled environment, you can ensure your feline friend has access to nutritious food, clean water, comfortable resting areas and ample opportunities for play and exploration. This helps to prevent common outdoor hazards like parasites, injuries and malnutrition. Indoors, cats can also engage in natural behaviors like scratching, climbing and stalking prey (toys!) without the risks associated with roaming outside.
Most importantly, an indoor lifestyle protects wildlife. Our islands are home to a delicate ecosystem, one in which native species have evolved without mammalian predators like outdoor cats. Cats are skilled hunters that can decimate populations of endangered birds. Cats that hunt for food are also vulnerable to contracting Toxoplasmosis. Infected cats shed a parasite that poses a threat to animals that include the Hawaiian monk seal. By keeping your cat inside, you’re doing your part to preserve Hawaiʻi’s natural beauty and biodiversity.
To support the indoor-only approach, the Hawaiian Humane Society has partnered with the Hawaiʻi Veterinary Medical Association (HVMA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to develop the Pono Cat Parent Pledge. This voluntary commitment outlines simple steps cat owners can take to ensure their feline friends live happy, healthy and environmentally-responsible lives. Key elements of the pledge include:
- Keeping your cat indoors at all times
- Providing enrichment through toys, vertical space and regular playtime
- Ensuring your cat is spayed/neutered and up-to-date on vaccinations
- Identifying your cat with a collar, microchip and/or ID tag
- Advocating for cat-friendly policies in your community
By taking the Pono Cat Parent Pledge, you’re not only bettering the life of your own cat, but also contributing to the well–being of Hawaiʻi’s ecosystems and the broader community of feline companions. Together, we can create a safer, healthier and more harmonious environment for all.
To learn more about the benefits of indoor-only cats and to take the Pono Cat Parent Pledge, visit HVMA’s website at HawaiiVetMed.org/pono-pet-parent.