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May
An all-indoor cat lives an average of 13 to 17 years whereas a cat whos allowed to roam is likely to survive just two to five years. Whether youre attempting to rescue a neighborhood stray or youve decided to keep your indooroutdoor cat indoors for good the change wont be easy.
However an outdoor cat could be as low as 2 to 3 years.
How long do cats live if they are indoor and outdoor cats. To put this into context the average lifespan of an indoor cat could be anywhere from 15 to 17 years. However an outdoor cat could be as low as 2 to 3 years. So as you can see it is quite a big difference.
Should an indoor cat even be allowed outside. Cats can live a very long time indoors. Statistically cats can live between the ages of 12 - 18 years of age.
An outdoor cat unfortunately lives to about 7 years old. Outdoor cats live less as they are exposed to viruses bacteria accidents and fights which can endanger their health. A pet that spends more time outdoors may live on average 2 to 3 years less than a cat that lives exclusively indoors.
In addition unexpected accidents may end an outdoor cats life at. 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.
The more comfortable life of an indoor cat significantly increases his lifespan. An indoor cat may live 15-17 years while the life expectancy for outdoor cats is only 2-5 years according to researchers at University of California-Davis. Can indoor cats really survive outside and if so for how long.
While ideally it would not happen with cats its always possible that they might end up outside and need to survive to at some point. I dont think its very likely that my indoor cat Boo would survive outside for very long. However it would be wrong to say that no cats can.
On average indoor cats live almost three times as long as outdoor cats. According to this study the average age of an indoor cat is about 14 years old while the average age of an outdoor cat is just under 6 years old. Because of this an outdoor cat can successfully become an indoor cat and the reverse can happen as well.
That being said there are many risks to allowing your cat regardless of their history outside. Outdoor cats often have a shorter lifespan and for a variety of reasons. Indeed outdoor cats who live beyond 1 year have a life expectancy into the high teens just like indoor cats.
And if you thought being an indoor cat removes all risk think again. They are more exposed to harmful substances such as tobacco smoke and household chemicals. Loose cats are estimated to kill hundreds of millions of birds each year yet birds are believed to be only 20 percent of the wildlife stray cats kill.
1 Birds are especially at risk around homes with feeders and birdbaths. Keeping Indoor Cats Happy. Here are some great ways to ensure that your cat enjoys a happy healthy life inside your home.
A much longer life span. An all-indoor cat lives an average of 13 to 17 years whereas a cat whos allowed to roam is likely to survive just two to five years. That said they may live longer depending on a few factors like where they live.
The one absolute rule when making the indoor-outdoor decision. Declawed kitties should be kept inside. In some book it said the average lifespan of an outdoor cat was 3 years and its 11 years for an indoor cat.
I have two beloved outdoor cats out back who were euthanized at 17 and 15. I have one on my bed who is 15. The two out back are my ex wife.
Indoor life Ideally all cats would be allowed access to the outdoors to express their natural behaviour. However cats can adapt to living indoors particularly if they are used to it from a young age. Some cats need to be confined indoors due to medical conditions and others prefer an indoor life.
In fact some cats may live as long as between 23 and 36 years if theyre healthy and strong. Remember these numbers are average which means your cat. Cats who live indoors live longer and healthier lives since theyre exposed to less threats like aggressive animals cruel humans toxic or poisonous substances and diseases.
Whether youre attempting to rescue a neighborhood stray or youve decided to keep your indooroutdoor cat indoors for good the change wont be easy. Statistics show that indoor cats lead longer healthier lives than outdoor cats. Indoor cats live on average 10-15 years while outdoor cats live on average 2-5 years This handout is.
This is especially pertinent now with roughly 20 percent of cats in the US estimated to be 11 years or older. Anyone with a cat in their life will know that theyre probably going to stick around for a while with the average lifespan of indoor house cats these days hitting an impressive 12 to 15 years.