I haven't got an apology yet

Heh. Well I'm sorry I ruffled your sensitive little feathers. I'm used to more robust forums where that sort of thing would class as being friendly.

ahh men...apology accepted and groan removed

In this statistics I am pretty sure they're referring to stray cats or cats that live only outside with very basic care from humans. Many stray cats unfortunately die as kittens, but some cats can live very long even in nature and with very little care. Still, the average is sadly 2-5 years. I heart that before.

I think that here we're talking about cats that live both indoors and outdoors, which are very well cared for and get checked up by vet regularly. This category lives much longer than the figure above states.

The life span of a cat has not only to do with outdoors vs indoors, but food, breed, exercise, neutering and spaying, vaccinations, and so on.

That seems to make some sense. As you say, many feral cats will have a high infant mortality rate, so a five year, or lower, average lifespan could be believable as a result.

Than again, I wonder how they'd collect any accurate data on 'wild' domestic cats?

Thank you, thank you very much

I imagine that data could "easily" (but sadly) acquired via clean up duty. I don't know how that is handled here, but from what I recall, in the US (where some of the references are stemming from anyhow) the clean up of dead animals is handled by Animal Control.

I believe that unless cause of death is obvious (traffic accident), they probably also run some tests, to check for spreading diseases in the area and such, so among the info on the results are probably also at least estimated age.

Huge difference of course between feral cats, and pet cats allowed outdoor access, surely? All our cats have had outdoor access and all have lived to 18+, including our current 'Pudding' - always in at night, and goes out when she wants to. Silly to compare the two.

But we will have to agree to disagree on this one- been there, done that. It is clear however that keeping several cats indoors can lead to huge stress, fighting, soiling and neuroses- which are dissipated as soon as safe outdoor access is provided.

Hope this kitten finds a good home. New statistics show that 5000 cats are taken in refuges in Switzerland alone per year. A disaster.
Please get your cats neutered.

This would give you the number of dead strays (numerator) but not the number of strays there are (denominator) that would need a census...

BACK OT, please let us know if you found a home for kitty he looks adorable

All the cats I've known in UK were allowed out and lived long and happy. There is the British shorthair cat, for example, that is a very healthy and strong breed. They live in average 14-16 years and can live up to 20 years, independently from the fact whether they live only indoors or also outdoors. They alone would overturn any data.

As I have already said, there are many factors to consider when talking of life span of cats. Breed is one of those.

I am not many years in Switzerland, but the trend seems to be very similar here: cats are allowed out and can live very long. This is because they're very often neutered/spayed and vaccinated:
-when neutered or spayed cats won't venture far, they will just have a stroll in the garden, eat some grass and check their territory.
-when vaccinated they won't catch nasty illnesses even when they fight with other cats (which is not a daily activity anyway - once they are settled in a new territory it won't be an issue)

I had both indoors and outdoors cats. My outdoors cats seem to be much happier and healthier than my indoors cats, which died relatively young (6-7 years old) for illnesses. Still I don't think that is the rule. I just think, that's life!

I'm not a cat owner, so I'll stay out of this debate... other than to say:

Yes, there is a fairly large cultural difference when it comes to the question of indoor vs. outdoor cats. But since we are in Switzerland I would advise all cat owners to read the BVet brochure 'Katzen Richtig Halten' in order to understand the Swiss perspective - and to understand your responsibilities under the Swiss animal welfare law (TschV):

http://www.bvet.admin.ch/tsp/02242/index.html?lang=de

Click on the link at the right to download the brochure.



But back to the kitten - hope he finds a loving forever home...

(As soon as the Wartungsfrist expires and he can be legally rehomed. )

Before my wife moved from Zurich to the farm she had a Bengal and a Burmese/Siamese mix living in her flat and they were purrfectly happy. They now live completely outside (sleeping in a barn and stable) with about 8 other cats and for me they have the most natural of lives.

Most of the cats come and go and wander around over 3 or 4 hectares but are always around for food. Adolf below belongs to a a neighbouring farm and they clearly do not look after it or feed it properly as he is always hanging around our place at meal times and it won't be long before he starts sleeping here too.

OP, really hope you find a good home for Kitty before my wife sees his photo

And on the flip side, my two cats became indoor cats at the ages of 9 and 14 respectively having previously been outdoor cats, and seem to be so unbothered I can quite easily leave the front door of my flat open and they aren't even interested in what's on the other side.

Bottom line is it depends on the individual cats. They seem to be highly adaptable critters and tend to know which side their bread is buttered.

And it's a jolly good thing I'm only allowed 2 cats here or I'd be sunk by the pic in the OP

Yes, kitty has found a loving home with a garden - a v caring family drove all the way from the French part to come and get it. They instantly fell in love with it.

I miss it lots but I tell myself I did the right thing. This kitten will have a happy life- people at home all day (he was v social) and access to a garden in a small village. The family has given me news almost daily. HAPPY ENDING!

Really happy for the little thing!

Post some pictures if you ever get any from the new owners.

I wonder why he is called Adolf!??
He obviously knows where he is well off. It's lovely that you are looking after him GG.

That is great news, a very happy ending indeed!