There are pros and cons to keeping a cat indoors at all times. Let’s take a look at them before listing the four best indoor cat breeds on the market.
Indoor cat breeds: why?
In the UK, the majority of domesticated cats have some degree of freedom between lolling about at home and going for a wander outside. But lots of people still choose to keep moggy indoors permanently.
That’s because the world outside the window is actually a dangerous place for a domesticated cat.
Our species rather foolishly invited the wild moggy into our homes many centuries ago to help us get rid of mice and vermin. Today, while those cats are still vicious enough to eat innocent birds and insects, they’re hardly equipped to deal with the harsh reality of street life: speeding cars, cat AIDS, and predators.
On the other hand, a cat who is kept inside the whole time does not get to exercise its natural instinct to hunt and kill. It will likely get less exercise than a free cat. An outdoor cat might even be kind enough to wait until it goes outside before pooping.
If you do decide on an indoor cat, it’s important to note that some cat breeds are indoorsier than others. Let’s take a look at some of the housiest of housecats.
Best indoor cat breed #4: The Russian Blue
The Russian Blue cat is an intelligent and independent cat. It takes a while to get to know one. So it will be friendlier (or less unfriendly) with its roomies (i.e. you and your family) than with strangers. They’re also relatively cool about hanging out near other pets.
The Blue is quiet and keeps itself to itself, so keeping it indoors won’t mean you have a full time job keeping it entertained. And it’s generally a slim and graceful cat, so hopefully you won’t end up with too many overturned houseplants.
Best indoor cat breed #3: The Ragdoll
The Ragdoll is so called because it goes kind of limp when you pick it up. This is a better reaction than swiping at you or attempting to perform a star-jump, as many cats will.
Ragdolls are highly suited to the lounge life since they don’t really care much for adventure. This, paired with the fact that this breed doesn’t have much in the way of street smarts, makes it an ideal critter to keep indoors. You might just need to give the lazy beast a nudge now and then to make sure it’s still functioning.
Best indoor cat breed #2: The Sphynx
No hair! No hair! The bald Sphynx is unlikely to thank you for kicking it to the garden on a frosty January evening without a coat. And in the summer, the little blighter will burn like magnesium if you pop him out in the sun for a moment too long.
The Sphynx is a high-maintenance cat. But it’ll also give you a lot of entertainment in return. Maybe not as much as a dog. But you’ll have a giggle together.
Best indoor cat breed #1: The Cornish Rex
The Rex is a mutant breed of the 1950s, and another one from the ‘odd hair’ category. The thing just has a kind of downy fluff. It’s a very soft cat that loves the warmth and will get pretty fed up if you expect it to spend time outdoors in the colder months.
This need for warmth also makes the Rex relatively sociable. It will come and sit on you, not because it loves you but because you are warm. But that doesn’t mean the creature is serene: it’s an explorer, and will spend a lot of time climbing around your house looking for adventure. You need to encourage this, since the cat will eat a lot if allowed. Without outdoor exercise, it’s liable to become a bit of a fatso.
Last thoughts on indoor cats
Although some modern breeds of cat might be better off kept indoors than allowed out, this is against a cat’s basic instincts. An indoor cat will always sense something is missing from its life.
If you’re thinking of getting an indoor cat for the company, you might be better off getting a dog. Your dog will follow you everywhere indoors and out, and offer you a more generous form of love than the cat. And he will be quite content to spend long winter evenings at your feet, as long as he gets some garden time and daily walk.
