The human-cat relationship dates back more than 5000 years. As a result, cats have evolved to live in a variety of environments and situations.
They are incredibly adaptable and have a rich behavioral repertoire that is not all that different from their wild ancestors and relatives (Leyhausen 1979).
Indoor Cats
Cats who are kept indoors live longer and more healthy lives than cats allowed to roam freely outdoors. Outdoor cats are more likely to get hit by a car, contract feline leukemia, fight with other animals, become lost or stolen, pick up parasites or infections, ingest poisoned food or flowers, and be injured by wild animals.
Despite these benefits, some indoor cats can become bored, overweight, and develop health concerns due to their sedentary lifestyle. To help your indoor cat thrive, keep them active and entertained with lots of stimulating toys and activities.
Providing interactive toys, scratching posts and plenty of opportunities for daily exercise can make life exciting for both you and your cat. With the cold weather upon us, take some time to think about how you can create a great indoor environment that meets all of your cat’s needs.
Outdoor Cats
Outdoor cats enjoy spending their days roaming around and exploring, getting a good amount of exercise in the process. They are also less likely to develop weight problems.
However, there are a range of dangers to an outdoor cat’s safety and wellbeing. They are vulnerable to traffic accidents and other animals.
Keeping them indoors also helps to reduce the risk of disease and parasites that may be transferred from the outdoors. This is because indoor cats don’t have to roam in the wild.
While some owners recognise the benefits of allowing their cats outdoor access, others are concerned about safety and mental and physical health issues such as exposure to diseases and parasites. Other concerns include the environmental impact of outdoor cats.
Social Cats
Despite the common misconceptions that cats are solitary hunters, they often form social groups that consist of related females and their offspring. These cat families typically form when resources are plentiful and break up when they are dwindling.
During their normal activities, they travel in a defined area called the home range. Depending on the situation, they use specific distance-maintaining and affiliative behaviors to reduce or avoid conflict with other cats in their territory.
For example, when two cats approach each other, they will often yield to one another rather than fight and take food away from the other. They may also use their tails to signal friendly intentions, which is known as allorubbing.
Special Needs Cats
A special needs cat is a feline with a physical disability or medical issue that may make it difficult for them to live a normal life. These pets are often passed over at shelters, rejected by breeders, or left abandoned by a former family because they require extra care and attention.
While it can be challenging to adopt a special needs cat, there are many reasons to consider doing so. Here are five benefits of opening your heart and home to a special needs feline:
Specially-abled cats are among the most loving and loyal animals. It doesn’t matter if they were born with a physical disability or have met an accident that has left them without a limb, these kitties will show their love and devotion to you every day of their lives.