Why might keeping cats indoors help them live longer? Roaming cats may die as many as 10 years before their indoor peers, the researchers wrote.  This is partly because outdoor cats are exposed to “substantial risks of traumatic injury and infectious disease, plus lesser risks of poisoning and abuse”. They added that the “cohort of outdoor cats has approximately 70-80% of the lifespan of the cohort of indoor cats”, and that chronic conditions created by e.g. injuries sustained outdoors can create expensive vet bills for owners. Additionally, they found that the quality of life of indoor cats was generally better than that of outdoor cats. Even their bond with their owners tended to be more satisfying and fulfilling.  That’s not to say being indoors has no downsides for cats The researchers say this doesn’t mean keeping your cat indoors carries zero risk.  “Containment,” they say, may lead to “obesity, diabetes or behavioural problems...…