Are Farm Cats Healthy Or Prone To Illness
I was asked by Tim @ Field Day if farm cats are healthy or prone to illness.
Everyone at work tells me off for talking about my cats so much - but it sounds like you’re every bit as much a cat lover as me! I always thought that farm cats tended to be healthy because they were tough - someone recently said they can be more prone to ills, however, because they’re often exposed to all sorts of viruses at a very young age. Any thoughts?
Tim Relf
Tim poses an interesting question which needs some research but my initial thoughts are that farm cats may have weakened immune systems if their parents and themselves have not been properly vaccinated. Farm cats may also be more exposed to a range of illnesses as they are free to roam and therefore may come across more germs and bacteria.
However from my experiences I have found my farm cats to be quite resilient and if they are poorly a bowl of milk or the even more popular, bowl of tuna fish tends to sort them out.
What are your experiences with farm cats?
Cat Behaviour Cat Injuries Cats My cats
Hi Sara, if my memory serves me right, the ferral cats on our farm, were pretty scrawny, although I do remember Mum used to feed them, be it only with cheap cat food, as we weren’t that well off. The cats which became tame, the ones we classed as pets, even though they slept and lived outside, were of course, of a more plump variety! x
Comment by Louise — March 1, 2008 @ 9:37 am
I remember there were always feral cats lurking about on the farm where I grew up. Most of them looked in pretty good nick, all things considered, and in those days country folk were much tougher about cats than I suspect they’d be now; they didn’t get fed or specially looked after.
Comment by Soilman — March 4, 2008 @ 5:50 pm
We had a couple of strays come to live with us, they became properly domesticated, but still had the ‘toughness’ in their skin and coats (although they later became big old softies). I think generally outdoors cats have a bit of a shorter lifespan, especially Toms that haven’t been done, or are neutered later in life. We currently have an ex-stray Tom, he’s fine with me and Rich but far too xenophobic to get near a cat basket. His littermate (or mother, we’re not sure which, we just know they’re incredibly close) may have had babies but neither of them venture outside much anymore, far too enamoured with lazing around in the warmth. We’re working on slowly but surely getting him prepared for a late ’snip’.
Comment by Lucy @ Smallest Smallholding — March 5, 2008 @ 2:12 pm