Comment on Adopting a stray cat
Veneroso@lemmy.world 5 months agoWhen we had cats, I made sure that they were spayed and neutered. But they’re not good for the bird population. They should be kept indoors, not to mention how easily they catch fleas. It has gotten to the point that none of the over the counter solutions worked, and you need to take out a small loan to afford to properly treat them.
iAmTheTot@sh.itjust.works 5 months ago
They’re not good for the birds, but perhaps even more importantly, the outdoors isn’t good for them. The life expectancy of an indoor cat versus an outdoor cat can be 10+ years longer.
Worstdriver@lemmy.world 5 months ago
Growing up, (I’m in my 50s) we had an orange tabby that went indoors and outdoors as much as he wanted. The cat supplemented his kibble by killing and eating (confirmed by observation) birds and rodents in the area. He lived to be 23. Most cats like him that I’ve known all had lifespans into the high teens.
I think you mean feral, as opposed to outdoor. In which case I would agree with your statement.
iAmTheTot@sh.itjust.works 5 months ago
No, I don’t mean feral. I said what I meant.
Worstdriver@lemmy.world 5 months ago
Then can you quote your source for your statement? My experiential information is counter to your claim, so I would like to see your data so I can improve my understanding.
datelmd5sum@lemmy.world 5 months ago
What counts as an outdoor cat? Ours spends her days in the backyard on a leash.
iAmTheTot@sh.itjust.works 5 months ago
Backyard on a leash and monitored is very responsible! When people say outdoor cat, they are typically referring to cats that are allowed outdoors with no leash and no supervision.