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What Inside and Outside Cats Have in Common and What They Don’t

July 1, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

When it comes to the issue of whether cats belong inside or outside, people have different opinions. In America most cats are kept indoors but in other countries, most people think that cats should be kept outside. If you are thinking of owning a cat you will also face the decision as to whether your cat should remain indoors or stay outdoors. Should cats be in their natural habitat, the outdoors, roaming and chasing prey? Or, should they be kept indoors, with their only outdoor contact being a look through the window?

If it had to do with the life expectancy of a cat alone, then keeping your cat indoors would be the smartest option. Indoor cats have an average life expectancy of around fourteen years in sharp contrast to outdoor cats that have a life expectancy of about four years. A number of factors are responsible for this; one of such factors is the fact that outdoor cats are more susceptible to life-threatening illnesses. Outdoor cats can suffer from abscesses, bite wounds from fights, which if untreated, infections and complications. In addition, an outdoor cat could pick up feline AIDS, rabies, and feline leukemia.

Such diseases are transmitted from one cat to the other and some of these diseases can result in death. Outdoor cats can also be run down by cars, attacked by predators or even humans, weather conditions also have to be considered as well as they can easily contribute to the shortening of a cats life. Outdoor cats are also one reason for the outdoor population problem which results in a lot of cats being put down every year.

Indoor cats are like part of the family, they are usually kept indoors and receive the kind of medical attention that helps them cope with ailments and increases their life span. Cats are rather independent creatures and they can cope with being alone for a long while. Predators do not attack indoor cats and they remain free from diseases which are transmitted from one cat to another. They also aren’t prone to the risk of being run over.

People who believe in the theory that outdoor cats fare better in their natural environment also believe in the theory that cats which are confined indoors aren’t allowed to chase prey, exercise or have freedom to roam their environment. Indoor cat lover believe that such cats can usually get the required amount of exercise from play with their owners and that they do not need to chase prey as they kill for fun and not food. Such people think that since the cat has been domesticated for millennia, its new natural environment is in the home.

Some people believe that indoor cats easily become bored and depressed. If you show your cat attention and provide the right toys, treats or a companion pet, you can easily keep your cat occupied. The fact is that by keeping your cat indoors, you can easily increase its life, protect its health and keep it safe.

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: aren, cat, cats life, exercise, independent creatures, Indoor, indoor cats, issue, life expectancy of a cat, outdoor cats

Cat and their Different Health Issues

July 1, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Cats aren’t unable to speak to us to let us know when they are ill. It is usually the responsibility of concerned owners to look at their pets and determine whether they are ill or not. While cats may suffer from a different number of health issues, some of these health issues are more common than others.

The major health problem that cats suffer from would be hairballs. Cats usually clean themselves by licking their coats, such cleaning usually results in hair that clings to their tongues and is usually swallowed. The hair may usually end up forming a ball and in certain instances the cat can pass it out. On the other hand if the hairball makes it into the cat’s intestines, then this may result in serious complications which may require medical attention. One symptom of this is usually constipation.
Urinary Tract Infections or UTI’s are a health problem that cats tend to easily suffer from as well. While it is most common with males, it also tends to affect female cats as well. If a cat stops using his litter of if his urine emits a strong odor, there is a probability that he may be suffering from a UTI. Cats may also develop stones in their urinary tracts.

Worms also affect cats as well. You have different worms that affect cats and these include tapeworms, round worms as well as hook worms. Outdoor cats are usually those who regularly suffer from problems related to worms. Symptoms of worms usually include diarrhea and an inability of the cat to gain weight. Owners of cats can easily get worms from their pets. Outdoor cats may also get infected by fleas, parasites or ticks. Ticks are sometimes responsible for giving a cat Lyme disease. If you have a cat which is lethargic or which has a fever as well as a loss of appetite, the cat may need antibiotic treatment so his coat should be checked regularly.

Digestive problems like vomiting and diarrhea are part of the health problems that usually manifest in cats. If your cat vomits for more than a day then you should visit a vet and discuss the problem. Before then you should withhold food for a number of hours and start-off by reintroducing water in small quantities to see how well the cat can tolerate it. One of the most frequent reasons why cats vomit is hairballs so you should ensure that your cat has its coat brushed on a regular basis.

Cats also tend to suffer from some dangerous diseases and one of these dangerous diseases is feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) and it is a virus which is somewhat difficult to diagnose. No known treatment exists for this disease. There is no known treatment for this disease. Another is feline immunodeficiency virus, which is “cat aids.” This virus targets white blood cells. The last is feline leukemia virus (FLV), which can be avoided if the cat is immunized before contact with it. These diseases are more likely to be seen in outdoor cats.

Cats also tend to suffer from eye related problems and this is usually because their eyes get scratched easily during fights. They can also suffer from abscesses as well and these abscesses come from bite wounds. Other problems that they suffer from are anal gland problems as well as cat allergies. The occasional cold and respiratory infections may also affect cats as well.