Outdoor cats live less as they are exposed to viruses bacteria accidents and fights which can endanger their health. 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.
Indoor Vs Outdoor Cats Should You Let Your Kitty Roam Daily Paws
Studies show that indoor cats live on average 15-17 years while the life proximity of street cats is around 3-4 years.

Does indoor cats live longer than outdoor cats. Indeed outdoor cats who live beyond 1 year have a life expectancy into the high teens just like indoor cats. Thats because there are a lot of outdoor hazards that cats can be exposed to ranging from parasites and disease to cars toxins and other animals. In fact the record for the oldest house cat is over thirty years.
This is mainly because of all the potential hazards available to an outdoor cat such as cars other animals etc. 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. 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.
My cats are all in perfect health and dont go wandering in other peoples gardens I know since I am at home the whole time. This is a natural instinct that goes back thousands of years. In her article Should You Let Your Cat Go Outdoors.
Because of this an outdoor cat can successfully become an indoor cat and the reverse can happen as well. Cats like most creatures can adapt to almost any situation over time. That being said there are many risks to allowing your cat regardless of their history outside.
On average female cats live one to two years longer than male cats. Whether your cat is outdoor or indoor if you want a healthy cat you need to make sure that it has all the necessary vaccines. In addition unexpected accidents may end an outdoor cats life at any time.
Because the cats brain detects some kind of imbalance it sheds constantly. Inside cats are not threatened by natural predators such as dogs coyotes and in the case of some US states alligators. Apart from not being prey indoor cats are also safe from getting into fights with other cats who might be more experienced fighters than.
The average life span of indoor cats is about 14 years though this is reduced to 4 years in cats that are allowed to roam free exposing themselves to the hazards of outdoor life. On average indoor cats live longer than outdoor cats. On average indoor cats live almost three times as long as outdoor cats.
The more comfortable life of an indoor cat significantly increases his lifespan. When you keep your cat indoors. Defenders maintain that theres a tradeoff but studies report that indoor-only cats live several years longer than cats who sometimes navigate life outside.
In fact the average lifespan of an indoor cat ranges from 10 to 15 years whereas the lifespan of outdoor cats are way shorter averaging just 2. Of course youll want to procure other preventatives from your vet as well. Cats who spend their lives exclusively outdoors live an average of just 2 to 5 years.
Cats are actually pretty tough animals when you get right down to it. Cats who stay indoors have longer lifespans than those who are left to roam outdoors. The main reason that a lot of cats want to go outside is because they want to hunt for mice and other animals.
So now you know. A pet that spends more time outdoors may live on average 2 to 3 years less than a cat that lives exclusively indoors. Your estimation is out.
This is very different from being kept indoors. Indooroutdoor cats have a far longer lifespan than you have stated as millions of us know since we have taught our animals about cars and dogs and people. One of the facts often quoted in favor of indoor cats is they live longer than outdoor cats.
ALL my indooroutdoor cats have lived beyond 15 years and I am no exception. But this argument is flawed because once young cats who die in traffic accidents are taken out of the equation the statistics level out. Jacque Lynn Shultz from the ASPCA notes that indoor-only cats live an average of 10-12 years while outdoor-only cats survive only an average of 2 years.
This instinct is stronger in some cats than others though. Indoor cats tend to live longer than their outdoor counterparts typically reaching 10 to 15 years of age. Fleas are not only annoying.
Indoor cats are known to survive outside from 2 to 5 years. For example an indoor cat can expect to live up to 17 years. Heres more on the case for indoor.
One of the main reasons for this difference is the physical safety of homes. On average wild homeless and feral cats live dramatically shorter. Because of this and because they are fed better cats now live longer healthier lives than ever before.
Furthermore its easier to keep your cat on a flea preventative than to keep applying multiple. Indoor cats also live much longer than outdoor cats. They can also potentially lead to your cat growing seriously ill.
Indoor cats often live to be about 14 years old while those that spend time outside only live 2 to 5 years. The expected life span of an indoor-outdoor cat will depend on several factors including the type of neighborhood you live in and sheer luck.
How Long Do Cats Live Facts About The Average Cat Lifespan
However most experts rate feral cat lives at 2-5 years.

Cat life expectancy outdoor. According to one study the highest cause of mortality in over 4000 cats was trauma from outdoor activity. Indoor cats get bowls of food. If the average age of a domestic cat is about 14 years then at a guesstimate we might say that the outdoor cat life expectancy on average might be about half that but it is.
Although the impact made by one cat might not seem like a big deal it is important to think about the total impact of all the cats who are allowed outside. Some of the most common causes of death in cats in the UK include trauma particularly road traffic accidents kidney disease and cancer. On the other hand outdoor cats typically live for only 2 to 5 years.
Unfortunately the numbers arent great when it comes to outdoor cats. Cats that are always kept safely confined. Why Do Outdoor Cats Live Shorter Lives.
An outdoor cat has an average lifespan ranging from as low as 2 years to 16 years. On average an indoor cat lives 10-15 but some cats can live for as many as twenty years. As outdoor cats are exposed to more dangers than indoor cats their life expectancy is greatly reduced.
A number of challenges tend to limit the average cat. Thats why its important to do 2 check ups a year for geriatric cats. The cat did die from something usually kidney disease or cancer but just wasnt treated in time.
Cats with access to. From being hit by a car or injured by another animal and certain infectious diseases. Cats have six key life stages which can help to understand certain healthbehavioural problems.
But on average cats who are allowed to roam outdoors often dont live to see age five. Domestic cats can live for up to 20 years. Your cat being overweight can also dramatically reduce their life expectancy with some estimates as high as a 6-month.
In contrast an outdoor cats life expectancy is significantly shorter. Cats who spend significant unsupervised time outdoors tend to survive to be about 7 years old while indoor-only cats can be expected to live to around 14 years of age. Outdoor cats live less as they are exposed to viruses bacteria accidents and fights which can endanger their health.
Neutered cats tend to live longer. They do age 3 years. Youre putting him at risk for a shortened life span.
Based on the numbers we chronicled the average lifespan of an indoor cat is 16875 years. On average outdoor cats have a life expectancy into their high teens similar to that of indoor cats. According to an estimate indoor cats live an average of 13 to 17 years.
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. The average lifespan of a cat is 14 years but outdoor cats are less likely to survive as long as indoor cats due to the dangers theyre exposed to What do cats usually die from. Factors that influence life span.
Cats living in cities and rural areas live for only 3-5 years. Outdoor Cats Life Span. The average tends to be 12 years but given outdoor cats have a life expectancy of 2 to 6 years I still think its pretty high.
Outdoor felines face a range of potentially life-threatening. The University of California Davis Clinical Animal Behavior Service reports that the average life expectancy of an outdoor cat is just two to five years. A cats prey drive is so strong that even well-fed cats may naturally enjoy hunting birds or other small animals.
A pet that spends more time outdoors may live on average 2 to 3 years less than a cat that lives exclusively indoors. Factors such as diet healthcare and environment can have an impact. Cat fights are also an issue for outdoor cats and can cause an increased risk of injury.
How long do cats live if theyre outdoor cats. This is the official record cat age that appears in the Guinness book of records however unofficially some say that the record age is close to 36 years. They eat wash and are then left feeling bored and listless unless you provide mental stimulation and entertainment.
The life expectancy of a cat is typically 12-15 years with indoor cats usually living longer than outdoor cats. Cats living in cities and rural areas live for only 3-5 years. They have a life expectancy of three to ten years with an average lifespan of 6 years.
Then there are the risks of a cat being hit by a vehicle or falling prey to a wild animal. Your cat may enjoy being outdoors but by allowing him to go outside unsupervised. Boredom may cause indoor cats to overeat and face an increased risk of diabetes.
I do always question the whole my cat died of old age thing as most times. The simple fact is that outdoor cats dont live nearly as long as indoor ones in fact they live half as long on average. All we can say is that an outdoor cat is likely to live a shorter life than a full-time indoor cat on average.
Lifestyle Indoors vs outdoors Keeping a cat indoors only decreases the risk of trauma eg. In general indoor cats can live up to 20 years or more in some cases while an outdoor cats life expectancy may be less than 10 due to the environmental risks.
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