New Study Shows No Negative Effects of Electronic Containment for Cats

Research study conducted by the University of Lincoln and Feline Friends in the United Kingdom confirms that the use of electronic boundary fences on cats do not impair the quality of life. 

Knoxville, TN – A new research study conducted by the University of Lincoln in the United Kingdom has found that electronic boundary fences with clear pre-warning cues do not impair the welfare or long-term quality of life for cats.

The study, published in September 2016 in PLOS One, was underwritten by the University of Lincoln and Feline Friends, an animal welfare non-profit based in the UK. The study compared 46 owned domestic cats, including 23 that had been contained by an electronic fence system and 23 with no containment system that were able to roam more widely. The felines in both groups showed no significant differences in general affective state after 12 months. The findings also indicated that the cats that had been contained by electronic systems demonstrated less irritable behavior and less irrational fear overall than cats that had been given more freedom to roam.

“We’ve helped a lot of families find their sweet spot with their cats over the past 25 years,” said Georgia Welch, National Pet Trainer Manager at Invisible Fence Brand. “It’s a good feeling knowing that our experiences are being validated in peer-reviewed studies like the recent study in the UK.”

Dr. Christine Wilford, a veterinarian and cat medicine expert in the Pacific Northwest, added, “For many years, we’ve recognized that some cats enjoy a better quality of life when they have outdoor access. This study confirms what I’ve experienced: electronic containment provides a safe, humane option for domestic cats that need time outside. Over fifteen years, many of my clients enriched their cats’ lives when I recommended quality electronic systems for containment. Some had even considered rehoming their cats because of damage inside their homes from frustrated indoor-only cats. This study from the UK, known for higher animal welfare standards than the U.S., achieved positive results on a mid-grade fence with minimal training. I believe the observations would be as good or better with the individualized training and digital report card monitoring that Invisible Fence Brand provides.”

Cats allowed to roam freely outside are at greater risk of being injured or killed by vehicular traffic. In fact, in the United States, more than 6 million dogs and cats are killed on U.S. roads annually according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Of that number, 5.4 million of those hit by cars are cats, pets that have traditionally have been given more freedom outdoors than dogs, but who face the same grave dangers on the roads.

One way to reduce the risk to pets is the use of outdoor electronic boundary systems. For more than 40 years, Invisible Fence® Brand has pioneered the most advanced electronic fence technologies on the market that have saved millions of pets’ lives. The company’s patented family of containment and avoidance solutions give cats and dogs the freedom to roam safely and provide their owners’ with peace of mind knowing their pets are safe at home, indoors and out. For more information, visit http://www.invisiblefence.com/solutions/outdoor.

For more information on the cat study findings, visit the PLOS One website.

About Invisible Fence^® Brand

Invisible Fence pioneered the pet containment industry in 1973, making it their mission to provide safe boundaries inside and outside of the home. The Radio Systems Corporation® owned company predominantly sells pet containment, avoidance and access solutions across the U.S. and Canada. In addition to offering award-winning products like Boundary Plus® Technology, Authorized Dealers provide professional installation, Perfect Start™ Plus Training and integrated solutions that have protected more than three million pets to date. Invisible Fence also founded the Project Breathe™ Program in 2006, donating more than 32,000 pet oxygen masks to fire departments and first responders. For more information on Invisible Fence or to find a local dealer, visit InvisibleFence.com or follow the company on Facebook.