Territorial cat

purple.sarah

vl2588 wrote: »

There's no vaccine for FIV, only FeLV. It's a risk you have to take, it isn't very common and the majority of cats avoid actual fighting most of the time, so it isn't anywhere near the biggest risk they will face.

But this cat does not avoid fighting. It's not the biggest risk they face, just one of many.

purple.sarah

vl2588 wrote: »

purple.sarah sorry but keeping a normal cat indoors is not right, it's not allowing the cat its natural behaviour. Yes there are benefits but do they outweigh making the cat miserable its whole life? Some accept it but most will not. Would you keep your kids locked up indoors so they don't get harmed?!

Sorry but the kids analogy just does not stand up to scrutiny, would you let your toddler wander the streets unsupervised? My cats are not miserable at all, they enjoy interacting with us and each other, playing with their toys, lots of attention and being warm, dry and safe. There are busy roads and foxes near our house and I'd rather they weren't a happy meal! And about denying cats their natural behaviour, us humans did that when we domesticated them. We brought them out of the wild and into our homes, bred them selectively, tamed them and toned down a lot of their natural behaviour, I wouldn't recommend trying to hug or housetrain a wild cat! :rotfl:And now it's not fair to expect a domestic cat to be able to do things it would in the wild, like defend itself against predators. If you're going to compare it to parenting, we have a responsibility to protect them. "On average, an indoor cat lives twelve years but some cats can live for as many as twenty years. In comparison, an outdoor cat’s life expectancy is less than five years."- http://murraytails.co.uk/murraytails.aspx

Fridaycat

purple.sarah wrote: »

"On average, an indoor cat lives twelve years but some cats can live for as many as twenty years. In comparison, an outdoor cat’s life expectancy is less than five years."- http://murraytails.co.uk/murraytails.aspx

I agree that there are good reasons to keep cats indoors, but also agree that there are good reasons for letting them outside in a controlled way.

The averages you quote are not a good comparison in my view. In my adult life I have owned a total of 6 cats - 3 have passed on to the Rainbow Bridge and I still have three healthy and happy cats. All 6 have been outdoor cats. Of the three who have passed away, they were aged 14, 17 and 18-20 (exact age unknown). Of the three I currently have, they are aged 2, 7 and 13. So, an average lifespan of 5 years? Mmmmmmm.....

These averages include cats that are killed prematurely on the roads. I am fortunate to live in a rural area with just fields around me, although I still ensure that all my cats are indoors overnight. If I lived near any main road, I would keep them as indoor cats, though when buying houses, one of my main considerations is how suitable it is for cats

I am getting two new Bengal kittens in two days time and CAN'T WAIT! I have thought long and hard about the indoors vs outdoors scenario with these two. I have reached the conclusion that they will be allowed outside and, the same as for our moggies, they will be kept in at night. The only thing I think I am going to do differently is keep them inside if we are out all day. But this is more due to the risk of theft than anything else.

vl2588

purple.sarah wrote: »

"On average, an indoor cat lives twelve years but some cats can live for as many as twenty years. In comparison, an outdoor cat’s life expectancy is less than five years."- http://murraytails.co.uk/murraytails.aspx

Are you kidding me? I used to be a vet nurse for many years and many clients (grand majority of) had cats that lived over 15 years and were outdoor cats - you need to be careful about which sort of average you are using here. I don't think we will ever agree on whether cats should be indoor or outdoor; personally I think they have a right to choose. They are essentially wild so they don't need supervision as children may do. No comparison is perfect; I was just trying to make a point about keeping things locked up.

spike7451

purple.sarah wrote: »

Sorry but the kids analogy just does not stand up to scrutiny, would you let your toddler wander the streets unsupervised? My cats are not miserable at all, they enjoy interacting with us and each other, playing with their toys, lots of attention and being warm, dry and safe. There are busy roads and foxes near our house and I'd rather they weren't a happy meal! And about denying cats their natural behaviour, us humans did that when we domesticated them. We brought them out of the wild and into our homes, bred them selectively, tamed them and toned down a lot of their natural behaviour, I wouldn't recommend trying to hug or housetrain a wild cat! :rotfl:And now it's not fair to expect a domestic cat to be able to do things it would in the wild, like defend itself against predators. If you're going to compare it to parenting, we have a responsibility to protect them. "On average, an indoor cat lives twelve years but some cats can live for as many as twenty years. In comparison, an outdoor cat’s life expectancy is less than five years."- http://murraytails.co.uk/murraytails.aspx

My Daisy is an indoor cat.She's spent most of her short life to date indoors & locked in her pen in the ASSISI.She doesn't get on with other cats & she's quite happy to be indoors.Indeed she got out once,went as far as the open front door to the block (I'm in an upstairs appartment) took one look outside & went scampering back in.

purple.sarah

Fridaycat wrote: »

I agree that there are good reasons to keep cats indoors, but also agree that there are good reasons for letting them outside in a controlled way.

The averages you quote are not a good comparison in my view. In my adult life I have owned a total of 6 cats - 3 have passed on to the Rainbow Bridge and I still have three healthy and happy cats. All 6 have been outdoor cats. Of the three who have passed away, they were aged 14, 17 and 18-20 (exact age unknown). Of the three I currently have, they are aged 2, 7 and 13. So, an average lifespan of 5 years? Mmmmmmm.....

These averages include cats that are killed prematurely on the roads. I am fortunate to live in a rural area with just fields around me, although I still ensure that all my cats are indoors overnight. If I lived near any main road, I would keep them as indoor cats, though when buying houses, one of my main considerations is how suitable it is for cats

I am getting two new Bengal kittens in two days time and CAN'T WAIT! I have thought long and hard about the indoors vs outdoors scenario with these two. I have reached the conclusion that they will be allowed outside and, the same as for our moggies, they will be kept in at night. The only thing I think I am going to do differently is keep them inside if we are out all day. But this is more due to the risk of theft than anything else.

I'm glad you've thought things through and can see both sides. I'm so glad your cats were ok but to be fair I think it's a bit like saying 'my uncle harry loved his cigars and he lived till 90' :rotfl:it doesn't mean there's not a risk. I didn't say all outdoor cats die early, just more than indoor. And yes these averages include cats that are killed prematurely on the roads because they wouldn't be if they were indoors.

Good luck with the new kittens, Bengals are awesome! We have Bengal crosses! They will keep you busy because they have unique personalities!

tankgirl1

I just KNEW she'd be a tortie! :rotfl:

I used to have a petite little tortie who would chase entire toms out of the garden! Totally normal behaviour for a naughty tortie

tankgirl1

vl2588 wrote: »

Are you kidding me? I used to be a vet nurse for many years and many clients (grand majority of) had cats that lived over 15 years and were outdoor cats.

I am also a vet nurse, and have also seen hundreds upon hundreds of long lived outdoor kittys..

I'm not against indoor cats if they are given a suitable environment & plenty of stimulation, but please! Those stats you have given are rubbish! (not you vl2588, the person you quoted)

purple.sarah

tankgirl1 wrote: »

I am also a vet nurse, and have also seen hundreds upon hundreds of long lived outdoor kittys..

I'm not against indoor cats if they are given a suitable environment & plenty of stimulation, but please! Those stats you have given are rubbish! (not you vl2588, the person you quoted)

I found another source for the stats. This is in the US but a credible source that shows the risks to outdoor cats. I thought you would be interested in a veterinary perspective.
"Free-ranging cats in the United States have an average lifespan in the general population of only 3 to 5 years; indoor cats have an average lifespan of 12 years and frequently live longer than 20 years. Car accidents are the biggest killers of free-ranging cats"
(Karen L. Overall, M.A., V.M.D., Ph.D., Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Behavior; Department of Clinical Studies School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
http://maxshouse.com/outdoor_risks.htm

However I have no interest in turning this thread into an argument, just supplying info about the stats since you asked. I hope the OP finds a solution to her cat's problem.

sparklysaver

tankgirl1 wrote: »

I just KNEW she'd be a tortie! :rotfl:

I used to have a petite little tortie who would chase entire toms out of the garden! Totally normal behaviour for a naughty tortie

Ah, the things you learn when it's too late and you're already completely besotted with the little horror! :rotfl:

But, rather bizarrely, she's now gone and baffled me by making a friend. The young boy cat from across the back is her new playmate; I did think at first that they were fighting but it appears they're actually having fun chasing each other round the garden, jumping out from behind plant-pots and stopping for a little wrestle every so often. I can't get rid of him now; as soon as I open the back door he's waiting there for her to come out.:rotfl::rotfl:

She's still an aggressive little madam to all the other cats though. Weird!