Is your cat safer being kept inside?

A survey by Companion Animals New Zealand and Adelaide University has found outdoor cats can transition to become indoor cats more easily than expected.

Of the 87 cat owners surveyed, more than 40% said their cat adjusted to the indoors within days, while 25% said it took weeks, and 12.6% said their cat had not adjusted.

Seventy-seven percent of owners cited safety as the biggest cause for change, and 34.5% of respondents listed protecting wildlife and moving house as their main motivations for keeping their cat inside.

Predator Free NZ chief executive Jessi Morgan told 1News that cat owners in Aotearoa were faced with a unique and interesting balance for domestic cats and native wildlife.

"New Zealand does have the highest rate of cat ownership in the world, but we probably have the most highly vulnerable native species to cat predation too," she said.

"Allowing our wildlife and our companion cats to live happily alongside each other... is what we need to learn how to do in New Zealand."

Cat behaviour specialist Molly Kelsey said most of the time a cat will adjust naturally if their needs were being met.

"A lot of people think it's going to be too hard for the cat emotionally and physically, but a lot of cats, if they have their needs met, adjust quite well.

"It's not a blanket rule though. Some cats will struggle, especially older cats and especially cats who have owners who are very time poor," she explained.

Faith-Ashleigh Wong owns the country's longest-running cat café, Purrs and Beans, in Auckland's Birkenhead, which allows diners to enjoy the company of rescue cats as they sip on a brew.

She said it would take time, patience and "a little bit of effort from us humans" to make the transition smooth for the animal.

"So the kind of goal with indoor only lifestyle is we are wanting to mimic the outside indoors. They can still kind of be their 'raw cat self' as we like to say, inside a safe environment."

The survey found that indoor cats had lower vet bills, as cats were not getting injured as much due to fights with other cats, or picking up otherwise preventable diseases.

Owners said they faced challenges such as keeping doors closed, cleaning litter boxes, keeping cats stimulated and feeling guilty about their cat not being able to experience life outside.

Of the surveyed owners, three quarters thought their cat was just as happy with their indoor life, and experienced benefits including better health and stronger relationships with owners.