3 ms·

Why is this getting downvoted? Indoor cats always have a longer lifespan than outdoors. It is the right thing to keep cats indoors but provide plenty of indoor

Why is this getting downvoted? Indoor cats always have a longer lifespan than outdoors. It is the right thing to keep cats indoors but provide plenty of indoor play & stimulation to keep them active.

ajb 3y ago
It's getting downvoted because this varies hugely by location. In the UK, the life expectancy is not that different, there are no large predators, so the consensus of cat owners is that cats life richer lives if let out. If you live in the US your cat could be eaten by a mountain lion or coyote.
- FridayNightTV 3y ago
  > In the UK, the life expectancy is not that different, there are no large predators No, but there is traffic and plenty of people who take objection to cats fouling their gardens and will happily leave out a saucer of antifreeze. If you live in an urban area, the kindest thing to do is keep you cat indoors.
  - IneffablePigeon 3y ago
    This is pretty much the same attitude which leads to kids being wrapped in cotton wool, ferried everywhere in giant SUVs and never let outside to play. I find it a bit sad.
    - FridayNightTV 3y ago
      Not really. We teach children how to cross the road and children don't generally take a dump in the neighbours flower beds.
    - nerb 3y ago
      dude, it isn't a giant SUV divers that are advocating for indoor cats. they are the same people that hold onto the whimsy that "cats a natural and belong outdoors! :)"
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
- pazimzadeh 3y ago
  The UK is one of the only places I've seen someone walking their cat without a leash
elefanten 3y ago
It’s not as “simple” as gp suggests, nor is it “the right thing”. We really don’t know what psychological and qol differences there are between the two… we’ve never been able to ask the cats. There are trade-offs, life expectancy being only one dimension of it. And in both cases (like the play you mention) there are mitigations to the downsides. Source: I’ve had both indoor and outdoor cats, including cats that transitioned to outdoor after being raised indoor. Lost one outdoor cat tragically in middle of his lifespan. But his equally-outdoor brother lived to 19, and all the outdoor cats hands down seemed happier on average (less lethargic, less neurotic, less obsessive, less overeating).

Why is this getting downvoted? Indoor cats always have a longer lifespan than outdoors. It is the right thing to keep cats indoors but provide plenty of indoor play & stimulation to keep them active.

ajb 3y ago

It's getting downvoted because this varies hugely by location. In the UK, the life expectancy is not that different, there are no large predators, so the consensus of cat owners is that cats life richer lives if let out. If you live in the US your cat could be eaten by a mountain lion or coyote.

FridayNightTV 3y ago
> In the UK, the life expectancy is not that different, there are no large predators No, but there is traffic and plenty of people who take objection to cats fouling their gardens and will happily leave out a saucer of antifreeze. If you live in an urban area, the kindest thing to do is keep you cat indoors.
- IneffablePigeon 3y ago
  This is pretty much the same attitude which leads to kids being wrapped in cotton wool, ferried everywhere in giant SUVs and never let outside to play. I find it a bit sad.
  - FridayNightTV 3y ago
    Not really. We teach children how to cross the road and children don't generally take a dump in the neighbours flower beds.
  - nerb 3y ago
    dude, it isn't a giant SUV divers that are advocating for indoor cats. they are the same people that hold onto the whimsy that "cats a natural and belong outdoors! :)"
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
pazimzadeh 3y ago
The UK is one of the only places I've seen someone walking their cat without a leash

elefanten 3y ago

It’s not as “simple” as gp suggests, nor is it “the right thing”. We really don’t know what psychological and qol differences there are between the two… we’ve never been able to ask the cats. There are trade-offs, life expectancy being only one dimension of it. And in both cases (like the play you mention) there are mitigations to the downsides. Source: I’ve had both indoor and outdoor cats, including cats that transitioned to outdoor after being raised indoor. Lost one outdoor cat tragically in middle of his lifespan. But his equally-outdoor brother lived to 19, and all the outdoor cats hands down seemed happier on average (less lethargic, less neurotic, less obsessive, less overeating).