Except for Antarctica, every continent has cats, which are typically found in locations where people live. Additionally, a great number of islands host this species. Their practically universal distribution can be traced to human domestication, but there is also a sizable feral population on the planet. Domestic cats are primarily restricted to developed areas and areas where people dwell. The majority of feral populations are found close to existing or former human habitations.
Where Cats Came From
Small cats called wildcats (Felis sylvestris) are indigenous to Europe, Asia, and Africa. They can live in savannah, open forest, scrubland, swamps, and farms, among other environments. Wildcat adaptability and proximity to people have grown over time. It is believed that the domestication of the wildcat and the growth of farming settlements occurred at the same time. This is an illustration of how humans and cats have coevolved. Rodent populations increased along with grain harvests.
The wildcat’s diet then shifted even more toward rodents. Between 9,000 and 10,000 years ago, these causes may have caused wildcats to diverge into a distinct domesticated species (Felis catus) or subspecies (Felis sylvestris lybica). Over 600 million domestic cats are kept as pets in homes on six different continents today.
Here is a more in-depth article on the origins of the house cat.
Indoor vs. Outdoor Cat
Cats can live indoors or outdoors. Most cats can live outside because they still possess many of their instincts for collecting prey and avoiding predators. However, a cat’s health and lifespan will be significantly impacted by where it lives. According to Dr. Kimberly Simmons, a veterinarian and the CEO of Simmons Consulting Group, “having your cat indoors gives a safe environment for them and peace of mind for the owner.” According to Dr. Travis Arndt, Director of the Animal Medical Center of Mid-America, cats that spend all of their time indoors live substantially longer than cats that spend a lot of time outdoors.
According to UC Davis Veterinary Medicine, outdoor cats only live an average of two to five years while indoor cats are thought to live ten to fifteen years.
The risks that outdoor cats encounter, like the following, account for the significant variation in lifespan:
- Being hit by a car
- Encounters with wildlife like feral cats, dogs, or coyotes
- Infectious diseases like feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) or feline leukemia virus (FeLV)
- Ingesting toxic plants
- Fleas and ticks
- Heartworm disease from mosquito bites
- Human cruelty
- Exposure to toxins such as rodenticide
