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Cats accustomed to living outdoors may settle into an indoor lifestyle more easily than many owners expect, according to a new study carried out across New Zealand.
The research surveyed 87 cat owners who were in the process of moving their cats from an outdoor lifestyle to living inside the home, according to The Independent.
Participants generally reported that the transition was ultimately "worth the effort," while many cats appeared to get used to the new arrangement relatively quickly.
Slightly more than 40% of the cats were reported to have adjusted to indoor life "immediately." Another 8% settled in within a few days, while 17% took several weeks to become accustomed to the change.
Lead author Julia Henning said more than two-thirds of owners found keeping their cats indoors "easier than expected," a finding that challenges the widespread assumption that cats accustomed to going outside will struggle to adjust to life inside.
Age also emerged as an important factor in how quickly cats settled into their new surroundings.
Among cats that began living indoors before the age of 2, 75% adjusted within a few days. For cats older than two, that figure fell to 39%.
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