If you’re a cat owner, one of the biggest questions you face is whether your kitty will be allowed to roam outside or kept safely indoors.

This is a debate that has left pet owners divided, with some claiming it is cruel to confine a cat indoors while others worry about an outdoor cat’s safety.

Now, a group of scientists have put this question to the test.

And their findings suggest that letting your cat roam outdoors could help curb some of its more destructive habits. 

In a paper, published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science, researchers discovered that cats who were allowed unsupervised outside time had lower levels of disruptive behaviour.

While the results were modified by other factors, like the presence of other cats in the house, outdoor cats were much less likely to ruin your furniture by scratching.

Lead author Dr Lee Neil, a a behavioural biologist from the University of Guelph, Canada, told the Daily Mail: ‘One possibility is that cats who scratch household items have not been provided with their preferred options for scratching indoors.

‘Cats with outdoor access have more opportunities to find these preferred options when outside which might give them an outlet that prevents the behaviour indoors.’ 

As Dr Neil acknowledges, uncontrolled outdoor access for cats is a ‘controversial topic’.

Recent studies suggest that 31 per cent of cats in the UK are exclusively kept indoors, but owners are divided over whether this is healthy. 

One one hand, many cat owners point out that the life expectancy of indoor cats is significantly higher than for outdoor cats, due to the risk of injury and illness.

The lifespan of an indoor cat is 15 to 17 years, while an outdoor cat’s lifespan is two to five years, according to researchers at the University of California-Davis. 

In a post on TikTok, one user said: ‘I don’t want to answer the door to someone telling me he’s been run over.’

‘My baby has always been indoors as she’s safe and happy. I think people who let their cat free roam unsupervised are the neglectful and irresponsible ones,’ added another commenter.

While one cat owner posted: ‘I can’t help but feel bad for having so much control over him but I’ve taken the responsibility to make sure he is safe.’

However, recent research suggests that exclusive indoor cats have higher rates of bad behaviour.

Recent studies suggest that 31 per cent of cats in the UK are exclusively kept indoors, but owners are divided over whether this is healthy

One Spanish study found that indoor cats had a higher risk for owner-reported aggression and were more likely to go to the bathroom outside of the litter tray.

Likewise, many pet owners on social media complain that it is ‘cruel’ or ‘unnatural’ to keep cats indoors.

In this new study, scientist surveyed 7,793 cat owners in America and Canada about their pets habits and behaviour.

Overall, indoor cats had the highest rates of scratching, with 48.5 per cent of owners  reporting that their cat scratched the furniture.

According to Dr Neil, this is likely because indoor cats aren’t finding the right places to work out their natural scratching behaviours.

Dr Neil says: ‘We know that cats need to scratch to condition their nails, to stretch and to leave markings for communication.’

Cats with uncontrolled outdoor access, by contrast, had the lowest reports of scratching and night-time activity, such as running around, and excessive vocalisations, such as yowling.

However, the researchers caution that outdoor access isn’t a ‘fix-all’ for behaviour issues.

Research found that uncontrolled outdoor access reduced scratching and yowling, but experts warn this is not a ‘fix all’ for bad behaviour 

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Dr Neil says: ‘Our data does not support the idea that cats with outdoor access are necessarily better behaved.’

Some negative behaviours decrease as cats spend more time outdoors but other can increase in some situations.

These effects also usually occur through interactions with other factors, such as type of outdoor access, sex of the cat, number of cats in the home and medical issues.

‘The general consensus among cat behaviour experts is that cats have numerous opportunities for natural behaviours when outdoors – but many of these opportunities can also be offered indoors through appropriate enrichment,’ says Dr Neil.

‘It might be easier to meet cats’ needs through outdoor access, but we can also create appropriate indoor spaces and allow controlled outdoor access to meet their needs.’

The researchers, therefore, advise that cat owners try to understand their pets individual needs and find ways to meet them.

That could be through letting them roam outside, if the area is safe, or by providing play and exploration opportunities indoors.

Dr Neil concludes: ‘Uncontrolled outdoor access for cats is a controversial topic with lots of differing opinions and no clear solution, and this study is just one more part of the puzzle.’ 

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR CAT? THE 13 SECRET SIGNALS FELINES GIVE THEIR OWNERS

Cats are often branded aloof and solitary creatures who spend their days plotting their human owner’s demise, but such characterisations could not be further from the truth.

In fact, our feline friends constantly communicate their feelings of affection to us, whether it be through their whiskers, tail, face or body language.

In her eye-opening new book Kitty Language: An Illustrated Guide to Understanding Your Cat, author Lili Chin – with the help of animal behaviourists – explains how to interpret your pet’s movements.

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Below are some of the most common behaviours and what they could signal.

Our feline friends constantly communicate their feelings of affection to us, whether it be through their whiskers, tail, face or body language

Speaking at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event – where the trailer was released, Bettany said: “It’s been an enormous joy playing the Vision as he’s evolved over the years, he’s been an Avenger, a father, a partner to Wanda, and he’s helped turned the tide in some fairly enormous battles.

A yellow heat health alert has been issued for the UK by the government and will now run until Tuesday for parts of the country as extreme temperatures continue

Fresh yellow heat health alerts have been issued for parts of the country as scorching temperatures continue.

The UK has been sweltering under its fifth heatwave of the year with the country seeing its hottest day of the year of 38.1C at Kew Gardens in London on Thursday, while tinder dry vegetation has led to major wildfires.

Now the government has issued a fresh yellow heat alert which running until 9am on Tuesday for the south east and south west of England and London.

Temperatures are becoming more bearable this weekend and it has led to the end of the UKHSA’s amber alerts for healthcare workers today which covered London, South East, South West, East Midlands, West Midlands and East of England.

The amber alerts meant that significant impacts were likely across health and social care services due to high temperatures. But new yellow alerts mean impacts are still likely across health and social care services, states the UKHSA.

These include increased use of healthcare services by vulnerable people, greater risk to life of vulnerable people, increased potential for indoor environments to become very warm and water-related incidents may increase, including risks from cold-water shock and drowning.

With record dry conditions in July and a dry start to August, nearly three-quarters of England and the whole of Wales are in drought, heaping pressure on water resources for households, agriculture and the environment.

Millions of people have been warned not to light anything that could spark a wildfire, including barbecues and garden incinerators, in “the most extensive use” of the UK’s mobile phone alert system.

The Government sent the emergency alert on Friday evening, which began appearing on mobile devices from 7pm.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has told members of the public to take the warning “seriously”, and said it was triggered at the request of firefighters.

Mr Burnham had earlier visited Stourbridge in the West Midlands, where a wildfire destroyed 19 homes on Thursday, the hottest day of the year so far.

The Stourbridge blaze spread across more than 500 acres, with the West Midlands Fire Service summoned to “hundreds and hundreds of incidents” throughout its patch, according to the area’s chief fire officer Simon Tuhill.

Friday is provisionally a record-breaking 10th day in 2026 where temperatures have exceeded 35C or more, according to the Met Office.

Frittenden, near Ashford in Kent, was among the hottest places, where temperatures reached 35.3C. In the West Midlands, Mr Burnham described Britain as “a tinderbox right now” with “37 fires smouldering around the country”.

A rescue mission is currently underway.

At least 38 people have been killed after a massive earthquake struck a popular tourist spot in Indonesia.

The 7.7-magnitude tremor struck off the country’s Flores Island, to the east of Bali and a tourist destination known for its stunning scenery, shortly before 5am local time (11pm UK time) on Saturday. The tremor had a recorded depth of 10 kilometres, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said.

A rescue mission is currently underway. Rescue official Fathur Rahman told AFP the people confirmed dead so far are from four different towns on the island.

As reported by the Mirror, he said: “Our focus will be on locating the victims who are buried under the rubble” said Fathur, adding that the rescue effort had been complicated by landslides cutting off roads.

Following the quake, the country’s Weather, Climate, and Earthquake Information office (BMKG) issued an early tsunami warning which has now been lifted. Local resident of Sikka, Yohanna Embu, said a number of buildings were damaged by the strong shaking and panicked people ran to higher ground.

She said: “Many buildings here were damaged … I saw that the waiting room at the port terminal in Maumere had collapsed.”

Rescue official Fathur Rahman says teams are now desperately working to free those trapped under rubble.

He said: “From the reports we have received, 20 people have died, six are injured, and two are still buried. Our focus will be on locating the victims who are buried under the rubble.”

The nation’s disaster mitigation agency has since said the death toll has risen as search and rescue teams probe rubble.

Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena, governor of East Nusa Tenggara province, told a news conference people were killed in their sleep by collapsing rubble.

Video taken at the port in Maumere showed large chunks of concrete breaking off the terminal building onto passengers waiting to board an inter-island ferry. Some were thrown into the sea when the gangway to a ship collapsed.

Officials have said the death toll is expected to climb as emergency teams work through the aftermath.

The fifth season of Ghosts US has landed on BBC iPlayer, a remake of the original UK version, which faced tough criticism when it first came out in 2021.

The British comedy, helmed by the Horrible Histories and Yonderland stars, landed in 2019, about a gaggle of eccentric ghosts haunting a large manor inherited by unassuming couple Alison and Mike, ran for five seasons and will return for a feature-length movie.

It was met with widespread praise during its run on TV, but there was far more scepticism when its American counterpart (starring Rose McIver and Utkarsh Ambudkar as our central couple) aired.

It was dubbed everything from a ‘poor copy of the original’ to a ‘cheap knockoff’ to a ‘flawed remake’.

But it seems to have proved the haters wrong and, with 22-episode-long seasons to tuck into – considerably more than the British show’s modest six-episode stints – it’s comfortably hit its stride, already eyeing up a sixth season which will land in the US this autumn.

The show is not a beat-for-beat rehash of the original, with its own unique ghosts and storylines, and by season five, we’ve long strayed from any recognisable plotlines as it goes totally in its own direction.

In fact, the new series seems to have impressed fans who have already watched it.

‘The American version is consistent, pretty good with some bright moments,’ Blanca M praised on Rotten Tomatoes, averaging an impressive 87% audience score for the show as a whole.

‘Well if the last season was the best yet then this is better. It’s also the funniest season in the entire show. There are episodes in this season that will keep you laughing throughout,’ Zane T hailed.

‘First half of this season has the old magic back,’ Jen N reflected.

Metro TV writer Asyia Iftikhar on what she loves about Ghosts US

Like many other Ghosts UK fans I originally groaned at the idea of a US version of the show, and was sure it was a mistake.

Nevertheless, as someone who loves the premise of a household of kooky ghosts (and Rose McIver) I decided to give the show a chance and I’m glad I did.

Yes, there were times where the American humour didn’t quite land for me, but more often than not, the show has made me laugh out loud and I have grown quite fond of the eccentric band of spirits conjured up in this new version.

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There’s a gay Revolutionary War veteran, Isaac, a forever high 60s hippie called Flower and a self-obsessed jazz singer, Alberta. What’s not to love?

The fact that there are so many episodes in every season is the cherry on top, and it fills a void left by the UK version of giving us even more time with our resident ghosts.

For fellow sceptics, take the new season landing as your sign to give the show a try.

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‘The series manages to keep itself fresh with new situations, ghosts and stunts. The feel of an old sitcom is to be cherished. There aren’t many shows that manage to accomplish what Ghosts does in this day and age,’ Cin C echoed.

Phillip A agreed that it was ‘such a fun show’ and ‘binge-worthy’.

‘Ghosts Season 5 continues to ensure that the series remains the best sitcom on TV.’ Fangirlish declared.

‘From new ghost powers to saving Jay from a Hell-ish fate, it’s always fun to see what shenanigans this found family gets up to. A top-tier cast that continues to deliver!’ Pop Culture Planet teased.

In fact, Ghosts US has paved the way for more remakes to be made, and Australia just launched their own spin-off, following the UK with a traditional six-episode format.

The Australian version is also a bucket of fun with its own culturally and historically specific ghosts roaming the halls of the Aussie couple’s home.

But if you’ve already binged the new remake and are getting withdrawals, then look no further. This is your sign to binge-watch Ghosts US.

Ghosts US seasons one to five are now streaming on BBC iPlayer.

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Officers were first called to the street on Thursday evening

A man on the roof of a building in Salford has now been in a stand-off with police for more than 36 hours.

Local residents reported that the man has been on the roof of a terraced property in Ash Street near the town centre since Thursday evening (August 13). A huge emergency response descended on the area including police officers, firefighters and paramedics.

A local resident told the M.E.N on Friday that the incident was ‘getting worse’ with the man allegedly ‘throwing people’s tiles off their roofs at the police’. This morning (Saturday), the man remained on the roof of the building with the stand-off ongoing.

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Pictures showed riot police on the scene wearing protective gear. They appeared to enter the property but as of 11am, the man was still on the roof.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said officers are working to get the man down ‘as soon as possible’. A cordon remains in place as crews work in the area.

The spokesperson said the incident is ‘in relation to an arrest attempt’ for the man from another police force. “Specialist officers and partners remain on scene, with a cordon in place,” the force spokesperson added.

It has not yet been confirmed which force the arrest attempt relates to, or what the man is due to be arrested for.

Tributes have been paid to Jason Arday, the former Cambridge professor, after he was found dead at an address in Battersea, south London, on Friday afternoon.

In a statement issued by his publisher Simon & Schuster UK, Prof Arday’s family said they were “in shock to have lost this amazing father, partner, brother, uncle and son”.

They said a “campaign of misinformation” had been too much for him.

Arday, 41, resigned as a Cambridge professor of sociology of education last week after allegations of plagiarism and questions about some of his achievements. He had denied the claims.

The University of Cambridge vice-chancellor Prof Deborah Prentice led the tributes, saying the faculty was “desperately saddened” to learn of his death.

“Our heartfelt sympathies go to Jason Arday’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.”

Education Secretary Lucy Powell said she was “deeply shocked and saddened” to hear about the death and she urged people to “remember there are real people with loved ones involved”.

Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan is among those who have said Arday was subjected to unrelenting media scrutiny.

He said Arday had faced “an unacceptable public hounding and campaign of abuse”, adding that he was a victim of “a pernicious public shaming that other people in his position simply wouldn’t have faced”.

“His death was a tragedy, but once again it should be a wake up call for all of us,” he posted on X.

Director of the Autism Research Centre at the University of Cambridge, Prof Simon Baron-Cohen said he spoke to Arday the morning of his death, and said the academic had felt unable to leave the house.

“He has experienced what he described as a campaign against him, for the last three years,” he told BBC News.

“What he was saying to me was ‘they’ve destroyed my life’ – it’s not clear who they were but I think he was referring to the media.”

“The personal attacks on him have been so immense.

“This isn’t to point fingers, and its not a single media outlet, but in the last few weeks since he resigned, I must have received a hundred new requests – to comment on his life.”

The officers had been on Hall Lane in Farnworth on the morning of Friday, August 14, as part of the operation.

They say that as well as stopping drivers, this also gave them the chance to talk to people about road traffic safety.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: “This operation was aimed to reduce the level of traffic offences and provide a policing presence to roads along with ensuring serious road traffic collisions are prevented.

Officers had been on Hall Lane in Farnworth (Image: GMP)

“We engaged and conducted multiple road traffic stops and spoke with drivers by giving advice and answering any questions in relation to traffic offences.

“We will continue to educate drivers and conduct proactive operations to tackle driving offences.”

Anyone with any further information or concerns about road safety or possible dangerous driving can call police on 101 or 999 in the event of an emergency.

Alternatively, members of the public can call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service faced a huge surge of incidents during the heatwave this week, including a “significant increase” in outdoor fires. 

Many of these were classified as wildfires due to their sheer size – with one ordeal last Saturday seeing 999 crews battling to save homes at Northbridge Park in St Helen Auckland. 

Crews also had to tackle a combine harvester blaze in Tudhoe on Wednesday, which sparked a wildfire across more than 10,000 square metres of County Durham farmland.

As well as fighting fires at home, crews were also sent to support colleagues tackling huge wildfires in Derbyshire and Cambridgeshire and have also had to deal with a range of other emergencies including serious crashes. 

Chief Fire Officer Steve Helps has praised the efforts of his firefighters, control operators and support staff who went “above and beyond” and thanked the public for their support. 

A wildfire in Tudhoe (Image: PAUL WILLIS)

He said: “I want to thank all our amazing staff for their dedication to protecting the communities during this incredibly busy time and in such challenging circumstances.

“I also want to thank the public, who have reported incidents and taken on board our safety messages during the hot weather, such as packing a picnic, not a BBQ, to help reduce the risk of a wildfire from starting.

“We are so grateful for all the kind words and support offered to our crews as they continue to protect County Durham and Darlington. It means so much.”  

Residents in St Helen Auckland described how they tried to douse the flames as a fire that was like “something out of a movie” ripped through gardens earlier this week. 

Six homes were affected after a 200 square metre field fire spread to fences, sheds and garden furniture behind properties in West Auckland. (Image: ANDY FUTERS)

The gardens were scorched after a field set ablaze behind their homes, with residents stepping in with buckets and hoses in a race against time. 

Philip Rolfe was enjoying a gin and tonic and nibbles when the fire started, saying the 200 square meter blaze came “dangerously close” to the houses.

“It has taken our garden completely out and five others were damaged. 

“We are lucky that our garden is a bit longer or it would have hit our homes, the way the fire was tracking on the grass, fences and bamboo lining.”

Philip added: “The heat was so intense, the gutters have partly melted with the heat, and some other homes have had their window frames melt and windows crack.”

Meanwhile, in Tudhoe, the mechanical fault of a combine harvester in a field is believed to have been the cause of another dramatic wildfire. 

Five fire engines were sent to the scene, with dramatic pictures showing the charred remains of a combine harvester surrounded by scorched fields.