26
Apr
Arguments For Outdoor Cats. Indoor life Ideally all cats would be allowed access to the outdoors to express their natural behaviour.
You should always be aware of the potential risks cats may encounter outdoors including traffic.
Should cats live indoors or outdoors. 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. Indoor cats tend to live much longer lives than outdoor catsabout 10 to 15 years instead of just two to five years according to UC Davis Veterinary Medicine.
Thats because there are a lot of outdoor hazards that cats can be exposed to ranging from parasites and disease to. 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. 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. Deciding whether or not a cat should be an indoors or outdoors animal is up to individual owners but the pros and cons provide substantial evidence toward indoor cats. Statistics show the lifespan of an indoor cat is much longer than an outdoor cat.
On average an indoor cat lives 10-15 but some cats can live for as many as twenty years. Cats who live outdoors share their bodies with lots of other little creatures. Endoparasites live inside the body invading the GI tract the lungs and the heart.
Ectoparasites live on the outer body invading the skin and the ears. Some people believe that cats are natural outdoor pets and will be happier outside but according to the Humane Society of the United States cats will stay healthier as indoor pets. 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.
Jeff Levy DVM CVA owner of House Call Vet NYC also discourages owners from keeping cats outdoors. He adds that the extreme climates of the outdoors can be very hard on a cat. Cats can be happy and healthy whether they live indoors or outdoors as long as you pay close attention to meeting the full range of their physical psychological and emotional needs and take the necessary precautionary measures to keep them safe and.
Studies prove that indoor cats live longer than outdoor cats due to the safety risks outdoor cats face. However indoor cats are at increased risk of illness such as obesity FLUTD DM OCD and toxin exposure to household cleaning products essential oils etc. Keep electric cords secured and out of the way so they will be less tempting for your cat to play with and chew.
Indoor cats on the other hand are more reliant on you for social interaction so find a few minutes to play with them several times a day. Outdoor cats face greater dangers. You should always be aware of the potential risks cats may encounter outdoors including traffic.
The major benefit of allowing a cat outdoors is they will develop natural feline behaviours such as socialising territory patrolling marking scratching and to some degree the acts of hunting although hunting is obviously not something we encourage. At the same time they will enjoy a very active lifestyle with regular daily exercise. AHS veterinarians recommend keeping your cat indoors.
But the decision is yours. If you choose to allow your cats outside take the proper precautions to keep your kitty healthy and safe. Learn more about your kitty and their lovable quirky behaviors in our Pet Behavior Library.
Arguments For Outdoor Cats. The cat will be more stimulated and exercise itself - indoor only cats will need more toys cat trees and play sessions in order to maintain their fitness and weight. If the cat has been let outside its whole life it may find it distressing to no longer be allowed this freedom.
No need for smelly litter trays in your. It can only be prevented by keeping cats indoors. It is one of several deadly diseases that cats who roam outdoors can catch.
Unattended cats also face dangers posed by dogs wildlife and the scariest predator of all humans. Many cat owners wonder if they should let their cat outside to roam free and explore. There are some concerns that cats may be bored indoors or arent getting enough sun exposure or maybe they arent making any friends.
It can be particularly hard for cats to cope with living indoors if they have lots of energy love to explore and have previously been allowed time outdoors. However for some cats for example those with a disability or medical problem living indoors could be a better option and they may feel more comfortable.