It was extremely cold in Canada in December. A firefighter on duty at a fire station in Manitoba suddenly heard a slight noise coming from the glass door. When he looked up, he saw that it was a cat in the snow climbing on the door.
You know, the outdoor temperature reached minus 32 degrees that day. The firefighters quickly opened the door. The cat was shivering from the cold and its bark was weak. He was sent to a pet hospital for emergency treatment. Fortunately, he only suffered minor frostbite and was not seriously injured.
The firefighters posted a message on their official Twitter, hoping to find the cat’s owner, but no one responded. The cat was a stray. They named the cat Ember, which means ashes in English, hoping that it would rise from the ashes like a phoenix rising from the fire.
In the end, a kind-hearted person adopted the kitten, and he became the pet of a little lolita and lived a good life.
Sixty percent of cats die in winter
One statistic shows that after winter, 60% of cats no longer live in this world. In other words, only 4 out of 10 cats will see next spring. Most of the cats that disappear in winter are stray and wild cats.
A cat’s lifespan depends on many factors, one important factor being whether the cat lives indoors or outdoors. Indoor cats generally live longer than their outdoor counterparts, with stray and feral cats having shorter lifespans.
Cats that live exclusively indoors generally live longer because they are less exposed to germs, disease, traffic accidents, or toxic substances. Relevant foreign studies have found that the average life span of indoor cats has now reached between 12 and 15 years, with the highest being more than 36 years old, which is equivalent to more than 100 years of human life!
Outdoor cats live shorter lives because they are easily exposed to viruses, bacteria, accidents, and fights, which can be life-threatening. Overall, pets that spend more time outdoors live an average of 2 to 3 years less than cats that live exclusively indoors. For example, being hit by a car can end a cat’s life at any time.
If they are stray cats and feral cats, their life span will be significantly shortened. Foreign studies have confirmed that if a stray cat lives in a community of cats, the average life span can reach 5 years; but if it lives alone, the average life span is only 2 to 3 years.
Reasons include food scarcity, nutritional imbalances, lack of vaccines and treatments, and feral cats can be killed in fights with other wild animals.
What can you do for cats in winter?
First of all, to summarize, the factors that determine the lifespan of a cat owner at home include:
1. Health status: Sick cats live shorter lives;
2. Home care: A balanced diet and a stress-free and warm environment suitable for cats can help cats live longer;
3. Exercise: Cats that are not usually active have a shorter life span;
4. Hereditary factors, we can only hope for God’s blessing.
But for stray cats outside, the coldest months of winter are the end of the world. In winter, the outdoor temperature is low, and cats in the south can get along just fine. The subzero cold, ice and snow in the north is a fatal environment for many cats.
Some cats can only rely on floor lamps and floor heaters to stay warm, or they can cuddle up together to keep out the cold; if they hide in the corridor, they may be chased away by people. The food for stray cats is also greatly reduced in winter, the small animals do not go out often, and garbage sorting is like a death notice to cats.
So, looking at the cute and pitiful stray kittens on the roadside, what can you do for them? If possible, taking him home and giving him a warm home is of course the best choice. But after all, there are countless stray cats in the world. According to unofficial statistics, the total number of stray cats in China now reaches 50 million.
Many stray cats are abandoned domestic cats. Especially around the upcoming Spring Festival, the number of stray cats and dogs produced is ten times that of usual. News of a large number of abandoned stray cats and dogs freezing to death on the roadside is not uncommon every year.
TNR (capture, neuter, release) is currently the most scientific method to reduce the number of urban stray cats. Only when the number of stray cats is controlled can more scientific and thoughtful management and protection be carried out.
But this is not something that individuals can do. For ordinary cat lovers, there may only be three things they can do:
Make a den for a nearby cat:
In some schools, volunteers will use cardboard boxes to make nests for cats, and pad the cardboard boxes with old clothes, which may help the cats survive the difficult winter; if someone is able, they can also build a hut for them.
Feed your cat some cat food:
Although according to science, ordinary people should not feed stray cats at will. But who can watch them face death and stand idly by? Feeding nearby stray cats does not necessarily require expensive and good food. Even expired or near-expiry cat food can keep the cats full and have the energy to fight the cold.
Remember to honk before driving:
Car hoods and tires are relatively warm, and cats may hide there to keep out the cold. Honking the horn twice before driving to wake up these stray cats can prevent them from getting into car accidents.
If you encounter a stray cat taking shelter from the cold, please do not chase it away. I hope more cats can see spring flowers blooming next year!
Original article author：Shit Shovel Officer，If reprinted, please indicate the source.：https://www.petcatanddog.com/article/10807.html