Earlier, a question of neutering cats was answered that neutering is healthier with longer lives a result ...?

Question

but are the 15, 17, & 18 year old cats strictly indoor cats as opposed to outdoor cats?

Answer 1

This I find contradictory. They say an indoor cat lives about 15 years, an outdoor 3. They are confusing feral with indoor/outdoor cats there, as millions of us know from expereience.
They go on to then say that a intact cat only lives three years..? Wrong, since the cancers take up to five years to develop in most cases, I've checked this with quite a few vets. That also does not happen to all feral cats, or to all cats in general, but to those who are not fixed mostly. Although, that I can see as a cause for a shorter lifespan (the cancers are a well-known fact).
If it's the cancers, then have the indoor/outdoor cat fixed and all should be fine, then indoor or outdoors lifespan is simply a matter of educating the animal about dangers of cars, and getitng their shots done and stuff.
All my cats are always fixed, they all come from the SPCA.

Answer 2

Neuterong or spaying your cat is always the best way to go, if you do not plan to breed or show them.
Things such as enlarged prostates effect animals just as much as humans. Female cats are more sucseptible to pyometria, where the uterus fills with puss and eventually without surgery they become toxic and die.

The other plus to neutering your indoor cat is he will not feel the need to spray and mark his territory. This occurs in un-neutered cats whether there a re other cats in the house or not, and it smells horrible. It will take a lot of stress off of you and him to have him neutered.

It is best to do at an early age, such as 6 months, but it is an easy and quick procedure, so it may be done later on in his life.
Hope I could help.

Answer 3

When it is said that outdoor cats live on "average" for three years that is a statistical average and therefore meaningless in regard to an individual cat.

I do keep my cats confined to my property by cat fence-in. I "rescued" a 15 year old cat and brought her to my home. Though she had owners who fed her she lived "outside" for all of those first 15 years, never allowed to stay in the house at night or when it was raining, etc. She was spayed though the vet had no record of her ever having shots. She lived to be 22 and 1/2 years old.

In arriving at averages for outdoor cats it is because many cats are killed by cars (or vicious dogs or people) in their first year of life which lowers the average for all outdoor cats. Unneutered males are also high in the number of deaths by cars particularly because they will go fearlessly outside their familiar or safe territory seeking to breed.

Answer 4

Being from the UK, my previous cat was allowed outside into the garden whenever she wanted during the daytime, but was kept inside overnight. She was spayed as a kitten and lived to be 19.

Whilst accidents can happen when cats are allowed outside, most cats die of natural causes whether they are kept indoors or allowed outside.

Un-neutered cats who live outside all the time are strays and they don't generally live as long as other cats because no-one takes care of their health problems. Being outside all the time, they are more at risk of injuries from fighting, cars and disease.

Answer 5

I have had two cats that have lived very long and happy years. They were kept inside. I had one who was killed bay a cat killer, she was spayed but that didn't stop that hateful man from driving up off of the high way and running over her. In my case After I started keeping my cats inside they started living 16 and 17 years. I have a friend who's cat lived to be 23 years old.