Outdoor cats? ?

Question

my cats go out during the day because we believe that fresh air is good for them and there coats.

they are neutered, vaccinated, micro chipped on the best diet , wear a safety collar with bells to stop them catching birds and have ID tags.

they are always brought in at night or if we go out and come when there called.

they have all lived to 20,21,22 and 19

we have a road to the front of our house but because of the way my house and garden if built they have no access to it .

so where on earth do they get the statistics that cats that go outside only live to 5??????

i accept the riskes but where i live the reward of a happy cat just out weigh the risk.

Answer 1

I agree. Cats are hunters and should be allowed to come and go as they please. The 5 year myth is beginning to get to me a bit on this site. Where on earth do these people live? In a war zone?

people get run over too but we don't stay indoors all day

Going to let my new cat out for the first time today. He has been pining at the front door since I got him 2 weeks ago. It would be cruel to keep him locked in the house all day.

Answer 2

I don't believe that statistic either. I live in central London and although my cats do not have easy access to the road (busy, bus route), there are reports that the big one at least has been seen out there. My cats are about 9 years old. I deliberately bought a flat that would have a safe garden for cats. However in the UK nearly all cats go out, housecats are a rare thing here. If cats could speak, and could choose between a long dull life indoors, and a risky catty life outdoors, I know which they'd choose.  

Answer 3

Some of us are fortunate enough to live in areas where it is safe for cats to go outside, and I know my cats enjoy having freedom to come and go as they please.  However some people who live in areas that are not safe for cats seem to have a hard time accepting that other locations & continents may be totally different from where they live.

I think the "statistics" that say outdoor cats have an average lifespan of 5 years refer to North America and probably include stray and feral cats.   With the majority of cats in the UK and Europe living an indoor/outdoor lifestyle, I'm sure there are literally millions of owners whose cats lived well into their teens or early twenties.  My last cat was 19 when she died and the oldest feral cat on record in the UK was 28.  

My cats are spayed/neutered, vaccinated and microchipped, with regular access to a vet, so I get offended when people assume that anyone who allows their cats outside is irresponsible.  Yes there are locations where it isn't safe to let a cat outside, and if I lived somewhere like that., then I would keep them indoors.

Answer 4

It sounds lke you are a very responsible cat owners.  I don't know where the statistic comes from.  My guess is that Vets report animal death numbers and how the animal died to the American Vet Association.

But- I don't think this number is unreasonable, but I don't have any statistics to back it up - cats who go outside, at least in the US, have to face cars, dogs, coyotes, guns, good samaritans, cat hating people.  But, if these factors are controlled for, like in your situation, cats should be let outside.  My cats are indoors because they will become squished kitties if out of doors.  

But you are right - indoor only cat advocates need to understand that cats are healthier if they get to go outside, and an outdoor cat does not always mean an outdoor death, but outdoor cat advocates need to understand that it is dangerous, and in many places, cats are just not safe outside by themselves.

Answer 5

go to WWW. CATAGE.COM and take the test, thats where i found the information, sorry if u were offended..

Answer 6

Some people live on busy streets and where cats have access to things that can make them sick and die. Not all people live places where there is no harm to there cats.