Why do cat stare out of the window?
Why do cat stare out of the window? Are they bored and want to go out and play?
Most domestic cats now live indoors, and their range of activities depends on the size of the house…
All the cat’s activities are carried out in this room. Except for necessary trips such as going to the hospital and moving, the cat has hardly seen the outside world…
Will the cat also want to go out for a walk?
Is it really good to let cats live indoors all their lives?
Will cats want to see the outside world?
1、Do cats need to be exposed to the outside world?
In fact, for cats, being exposed to the outside world has both advantages and disadvantages.
Benefits
① It may increase the activity of cats.
Cats have more space to move around outdoors, and they may spend a lot of time exploring, which includes a lot of running and climbing, which can help them increase their activity level.
② Release your nature
Outdoors, experience new scenery, smells, touches….satisfy the curiosity of cats.
When cats encounter their favorite prey, they can immediately turn on the hunting mode to satisfy their hunting instincts.
Randomly scratching tree trunks can satisfy the cat’s marking and scratching nature, and can also patrol their territory regularly~
Disadvantages
There are many potential dangers outdoors, which may threaten the health and even life of cats…
① Traffic accidents
② Ingestion of toxic substances
③ Fighting with other stray animals
④ Various latent viruses
⑤ Getting lost
⑥ The risk of parasite infection increases by 12 times
…
In modern society, cats go out mostly in urban areas, and the risks often outweigh the benefits, so it is not recommended for parents living in cities to keep their cats free-range or semi-free-range:
According to statistics from the Animal Humane Society, the life span of outdoor cats is much shorter than that of indoor cats.
The average age of indoor cats ranges from 13 to 20 years, while outdoor cats are mostly 3 to 5 years old. (Outdoor cats here tend to refer to stray cats)
ASH’s chief veterinarian believes that cats may get more nutrition when living outdoors, but cats can also live happily indoors without the risks mentioned above.
Since cats can live completely indoors, why do some kittens always act like they want to go out?
2、Why do cats seem to want to go out?
① I don’t really want to go out
For example, cats will stay on the windowsill for a long time, staring blankly outside, as if they are longing for the freedom of the outside world; but when you actually take them out, they show two faces, start to shiver, and want to go home…
In fact, windows are more like a TV for cats. They can see the activities of other creatures, hear the chirping of birds, and smell the fresh smell brought by the wind. But actually going outside is different from the experience of looking out the window.
Some kittens want to go outside both physically and mentally, but there are usually underlying reasons:
② Estrus
When cats are in estrus, driven by instinct, they will have a stronger desire to go out than usual, and their minds will be full of “those things”…
③ Curiosity at work
Some kittens are too curious and regard the front door as the door to the room. Of course, they want to check out places they haven’t been to in their territory…
④ Hunting instinct
When a cat sees a flying bird, a passing mouse or a squirrel, the hunting instinct engraved in its DNA may be awakened, and it may want to rush out to catch its own prey…
In fact, to meet the reasonable needs of cats, there is more than just letting them go outside. Layout the house more reasonably and do a good job of environmental enrichment can also keep the cat’s heart (and body)~
3、How to create an indoor environment that meets the needs of cats
According to the “Guide to Environmental Needs of Cats”, five aspects of cats need to be met:
① Feeling safe
② Have independent key environmental resources, including food, water, scratching area, toilet area, play area, rest and sleep area
③ Satisfy play and predation behaviors
④ Active, stable and regular human-cat interaction
⑤ Respect the cat’s sense of smell
So here are some tips for indoor layout~
Give cats “private space”
Designate a “forbidden area for cats”. Once a cat enters this area, the owner cannot do anything to the cat, giving the cat enough sense of security~
This “forbidden area” can be a cardboard box, a cat climbing frame, a closed cat bed, etc. But the placement must also be particular. It is recommended to place it in a slightly higher place to isolate it from other factors.
Reasonable arrangement of key environmental resources
Each key resource (food, water, scratching area, toilet area, play area, resting and sleeping area) should be placed separately.
This way, when the cat goes to eat, drink water, or pee, it can expand the cat’s range of activities and allow the cat to fulfill its natural needs of exploration and exercise.
PS: When placing key resources, you should also pay attention to staying away from noise and dead ends.
Satisfy cat’s natural behavior
For example, cats scratch, hunt, parkour, and climb.
Placing furniture at different heights can not only meet the cat’s exercise needs, but also give the cat the joy of climbing~
You can also arrange some cat scratching boards at home to meet the cat’s love of sharpening claws and marking territory.
And when you are not at home, it is necessary to leave toys for the cat to consume the cat’s energy!
Respect your cat’s sense of smell
Cats rely heavily on their sense of smell to understand their surroundings, so we should try to avoid disrupting their olfactory cognitive system.
● Cat toys can be replaced regularly, so that cats can regularly receive new smells, which is also more hygienic.
● When replacing cat items, do not replace too many at once. Familiar smells will give cats a sense of security.
● When moving new “big items” into your home, you can wipe them with a towel that smells like a cat.
So as long as you do a good job of enriching the indoor environment, cats can live indoors all their lives happily and fulfilled~
