Originally Posted by
zela:
“Hi, Marella! I've heard this from vets and rescue centres and websites. Before I got my cats, I did a lot of research. One website of many is lapcat.co.uk, but I'm sure if you put in 'life-expectancy of cat' into a search engine, you'd find plenty.
ICertainly outdoor cats can be lucky enough to live as long as indoors ones, but I have to say, not a month goes by in my area without a new 'missing cat' poster up. Two of my friends have lost their cats to foxes - they found the bodies, one in their own garden, and there was no doubt - and I couldn't count how many from RTAs.
Loads of rescues will rehome cats in indoor homes. When I was looking for mine, I met a very experienced rescue lady who was very stern about this; she said she would come round and make sure I'd sealed up the former owner's cat-flap in my front door before she agreed to let me have a rescue. When I told her about my friend who'd lost his to a fox and that he still let his new cat out unsupervised, she said, "Vell, he will lose that one as vell!" very crossly (she was German)!
Anyway, each to their own. Some people find an indoor life cruel and I can totally understand that. 
”
I think the claim that cats that are allowed out have, on average, one third the life expectancy of an indoor only cat is skewed by the inclusion of the feral cat community who also succumb to transmittable diseases as well as RTAs etc.
I agree that cats are at risk if they are let out near busy roads, particularly at night when the lights may dazzle and disorientate them so I totally accept that it is probably safer to keep cats indoors in those circumstances (or not have cats at all).
I was brought up in an Irish farm where there was a lot of wildlife including a great many foxes and I never heard of a fox killing a cat
Some cats were caught in fox traps laid by horrible farmers, including one of our own farm cats
Most adult healthy cats are well able to defend themselves against a fox and it is unlikely a fox would attack them anyway - foxes aren't stupid and could sustain serious injury from a cat. However, I accept that there must be
some attacks if you yourself have encountered it - I still think that risk is small.
I agree that rescue centres generally have a selection of cats suitable only for indoor re-homing but these are often quiet, shy, nervous cats who've had a difficult start in life for various reasons or they may be cats who carry a health risk to other cats. Most rescue centres actively encourage access to a garden for the
majority of their cats.
I agree that each owner should make a rational and well judged decision based on what's best for the cat and each case is different. I just don't think we should be promoting an indoor only life as the 'best' option though it may well be the safest. We should also consider the cats' social and behavioural needs.
I don't think it is 'cruel' to keep a cat indoors only and accept it is the only option for some cat owners. As you say, each to their own. I think my Bernard would not be that unhappy at being kept as an indoor cat. He prefers it indoors and doesn't have a hunting or exploratory instinct. However, he has that choice and can go out when he wants. My cat flap allows my 3 cats to decide for themselves when they want to be in or out and, for me, that is my preferred option.
we went through so many including Kitler! 
