30
May
Find out more about preventing cat conflict. Living in an area with a high cat population.
Moving an outdoor cat to a new home offers the complication of convincing a free spirit to stay in an enclosed space for several days but your cat will be safer and happier in the long run if you keep it in the one designated cat room for 3 days.
How long can house cats survive outside. Outdoor cats generally live at least 10 years less than indoor house cats - and thats a conservative number. The outside life of a cat is a cruel one - - the vast majority dont survive long - particularly during winter. First cats are territorial animals who can survive for weeks without food and will not easily or quickly abandon their territory.
As they grow hungrier and more desperate they tend to venture closer to homes and businesses in search of food. Read our feature from Cats Protections behaviourist on how to prevent cat conflict. Find out more about preventing cat conflict.
Letting your cat outside for the first time. You should usually wait three to four weeks for your cat to adjust to your home before letting them outside. There is a difference between indoor and outdoor cat life expectancy so unless you really need to allow your cat to go outdoors it might be best not to.
The life expectancy of an indoor cat is typically at least 12 years although they can live up to 20 years. Predators cars diseases poisons and the bully cat who already possesses the territory your sweet kitty has just been let into are only a few of the reasons that indoor cats live significantly longer on average than cats that venture outside says Chris Miller DVM veterinarian and co-owner of Atlas District Veterinary Hospital in Washington DC. A study of 10 house cats and seven farm cats published in the European ecology journal Ecography found that on average the house cats covered more ground than the farm cats at night the house cats moved within an average area of nearly 20 acres compared to just over 6 acres for the farm cats.
A lot can happen even within a small radius of your home so if you really want to let your cat outside. The best moving house with cats advice agrees that the cat needs to get used to a new home a little bit at a time. Moving an outdoor cat to a new home offers the complication of convincing a free spirit to stay in an enclosed space for several days but your cat will be safer and happier in the long run if you keep it in the one designated cat room for 3 days.
Indoor cats tend to live longer than their outdoor counterparts typically reaching 10 to 15 years of age. Cats who spend their lives exclusively outdoors live an average of just 2 to 5 years. Bottom line if the weather dips below freezing 32 degrees Fahrenheit all cats are susceptible to hypothermia or frostbite says Dr.
When should you start to think about bringing. Without a safe haven of warmth cats will go looking for other warm covered places such as under the hoods of cars. Here they are protected from the elements and the engine can put off heat hours after it has been turned off but if the car is started while they are hidden away they can be severely injured or even killed.
How long you leave it before letting your cat outside depends on the cats personality and how quickly they settle. You may be tempted to let your cat outside as soon as possible but generally its best to allow at least 2-3 weeks and up to 4-6 weeks after you first take them home. Cats with outdoor access benefit from more opportunities to exhibit natural behaviours like climbing exploring roaming their territory and communicating with other cats in the area.
Keeping your cat as a house cat will help keep them away from busy roads but some indoor environments can become predictable and boring leading to stress inactivity and obesity. Owned cats who are let outdoors may become sources of nuisance complaints and neighborhood disputes. While approximately 85 of owned cats are sterilized the remaining 15 can have kittens who may or may not find homes.
Community cats are the most significant source of cat overpopulation because only approximately 2 have been sterilized. On average cats who are kept inside do live longer than cats who go outside and this is largely due to the number of cats killed in road accidents. Common reasons why people choose to keep their cat indoors include.
Living near a busy road. Living in an area with a high cat population. Many people believe that cats can be left alone for long hours every day and can even safely be left alone for days or even weeks as long as food and freshwater.
Preventative measures can help make sure that your cat never escapes or never escapes again like checking all screens and discouraging them from going near the front door.