I hear keeping your cat indoors prolongs its lifespan, is that true?

I hear keeping your cat indoors prolongs its lifespan, is that true?

This is a long debate and many people have strong opinions on either side. It is generally true that the life span for indoor-only cats averages slightly longer than indoor/outdoor or outdoor-only cats, barring major medical issues. There are a number of factors that influence life span of outdoor cats: traffic, dogs, trauma, toxins and catfights with risk of infectious disease transmission. As a result, they are likely to live shorter lives and their average lifespan is reduced. That being said, like any statistic, it is an individual decision whether to have cats exclusively indoors or not. As long as you understand the risks and benefits of each, the decision should be yours.