Research overview: cat containment and keep-cats-indoors policy

Containing pet cats indoors or within enclosures is increasingly promoted to reduce wildlife predation, roaming-related cat mortality and disease, with some jurisdictions enacting curfews or containment requirements. This overview synthesises research on the effectiveness and acceptability of containment, owner attitudes and behaviour change, the welfare considerations of indoor living, and case studies from regions with strong containment policies such as parts of Australia. It examines the evidence that containment substantially reduces local predation and improves cat longevity. The synthesis frames pet-cat containment as a leading, evidence-supported but socially complex lever for reconciling cat ownership with urban biodiversity protection.