Can a Maine Coon Cat survive in cold weather better than any other cat?
J didn't say he would keep the cat outdoors; he simply asked a question about survival in cold weather. the answer is yes, the long thick coat does offer protection. that's the reason for the adaptation. feral cats that had the thickest coats in Maine were the ones that were most likely to survive to mate. i've lived in alaska and took in lots of stray cats. the ones with short hair usually arrived frostbitten, with their parts of their ears and tails missing from previous frostbite. the longhairs were fine. it makes a huge difference.
Any suggestions on helping my stray cats survive the winter?
You can buy heated mats for cats, or even heated rocks (usually for reptiles) that will help them be a little more comfortable. You can also put a light on without it being a fire hazard. Don't put a heater out there though, those ARE a fire hazard. Here's a site that sells them, but they're a little pricey. http://cozywinters.com/pets/?source=go&gclid=CKey4dfQ7ZYCFQNHFQodAzkxrQ That being said, if there's more than one cat they will huddle together and be perfectly happy all winter long with food, water and shelter. Just make sure their water doesn't freeze!
Who can survive better as a stray animal, a dog or a cat?
Cat! Dogs are in far distant second place.Domestic cats are only partly domesticated at best. The qualities that endear them to so many cat lovers, independence, hunting ability, small size, ability to adapt to many environments have made feral cats expand into every environment that is less extreme than polar regions or deserts. Another way to look at them is as the living toxic waste of humanity. They kill everything smaller than themselves, very, very efficiently, with little control or concern coming from the humans who introduced them into such varied environments. Billions of small mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians annually pay for cats omnipresence world wide.In a very few specialized circumstances, dogs can adapt to the wild, but they require larger territories, larger and more plentiful food sources, moderate climates, and more often come in direct conflict with people due to their aggression, or predation of livestock or other pets, so are eliminated.Dogs are much less likely to be “rescued” by well meaning humans when their hunting or the weather becomes unfavourable to independent living. They therefore have less opportunity to go feral and live independently next time conditions are favourable. Cats do that all the time.
How easy is it for a domesticated cat to survive in the wild? Can they adapt?
How easy is it for a domesticated cat to survive in the wild? Can they adapt?It really depends on the cat and how dependent he is on you (aka, his human).Cats have a hunting instinct, but like most instincts it requires practice to do well. Most house cats haven’t ever ‘hunted’ anything more exciting than the occasional fly or beetle. On top of that, they’re now exposed to predators they’ve never seen in a territory that’s unfamiliar to them, and may be already claimed by other cat colonies or larger animals (like coyotes or foxes, etc). Most domestic cats are not going to thrive under those conditions, and it’s pretty cruel to expect them to.That being said - some cats figure it out. They just have more ‘wild instinct’ than others or maybe they spent more time as a youngster with an adult cat who knew how to hunt, and showed them the ropes. And once they do, assuming that they weren’t fixed before they were dropped off, they breed. Copiously. Which we really don’t need, either. (See all the statements about bird and mammal species predation.)Don’t drop off your domestic pet at the nearest state park or wildlife refuge and think that it will just blend in and be fine. And don’t just leave it behind when you move, either. Your indoor cat’s territory is his house, not his neighborhood. If you bring along his old things, he’ll adapt perfectly fine to a new house in a new neighborhood, he doesn’t care where the house is located.
How long can a cat survive without food and water before dying?
Cats can last a short while without food and can potentially survive for weeks without eating. Water is far more necessary to their health and physical well-being however, and a cat that goes more than a few days without anything to drink might not survive. If you're worried that a cat hasn't been eating or drinking, and it's not showing any signs of being starved or dehydrated, then try offering it a can of tuna water - don't buy the tuna in oil - and see if you can encourage them to drink that way. Not only the water will hydrate them, it'll also contain some much-needed nutrients from the fish. Otherwise, you should take the animal to a vet. The consequences of inadequate food and water can be dire.Why? A cat who hasn't eaten for a while is considered to be starving, and starvation may have a damning physical effect on the cat's entire system. The same is true of dehydration, only the onset of dehydration is much quicker - and far more severe - than that of starvation. Every organ in the feline body relies on water and the nutritional content of food to properly function. Every single one. Starved and dehydrated organs will steal energy and water from the rest of the cat's body, a process that slows as the cat's bloodstream becomes less liquid itself. When feline organs lack sufficient food and fluids to function on the most basic level, they dry up and begin to shut down. Not only could this send the body into shock, it might cause irreversible damage to the cat's organs. If a starving and/or dehydrated cat does not receive swift treatment, it may face permanent health issues - if it survives at all. These are uncomfortable thoughts. They're scary. But it's important to state them as blankly as possible because you never want to take chances with a cat's intake of food and water.
My cat had 6 kittens last night, only one survived?
How old is your cat? If she is younger than 2 years, then this is absolutely possible, younger than 1 year, and you are lucky even 1 survived, and that mom survived. I am sorry it happened, but its common with accidental breeding. Please save yourself from this happening again and have her fixed at 6 weeks from now, cats CAN get pregnant again while nursing so make sure she isn't exposed to any unaltered males until she gets spayed. Poor thing, get that girl spayed. I am sure she is hating life getting pregnant over and over again.
My cat has pneumonia what's the chance of surviving?
You are using centigrade, not farenheit... I will take your word re: the fever. I will also assume that there is a good reason why the cat has not been previously vaccinated. I *have* seen pneumonia set in & kill in under 24 hours... cat basically drowns. When my vet posted the kittens she could not believe from their external appearance that they were dead. It was only after she opened them up that she found their lungs full of fluid. This was a very virulent form & the post proved that there was very little I could have done to save them. Mother & 1 kitten never got sick. Cat (once well) needs to be vaccinated & altered - if not already. Vaccinations do *not* prevent pneumonia. I have saved/cured cats w/ URI, pneumonia & even one w/ distemper (failed vaccine). As a breeder, I have found a nebulizer to be worth it's weight in gold. Humidifiers &/or vaporizers are more common in most households. Follow the vet's directions re: antibiotics. Keep the animal hydrated - either via mouth or Sub-Q fluids. Make sure that it is getting nourishment to prevent liver failure - force feed if necessary. Steamed up bathroom or use of humidifier or vaporizer (water only) - nebulizer if you have one (plain saline is helpful, antibiotic "soup" preferred) will help the cat to breath easier Good luck!
Has anyone ever had a cat with FIP and then the cat survived?
How was the cat diagnosed? I have had FIP cats, at least so diagnosed, and only one survived and I believe that cat was misdiagnosed. It's a VERY nasty disease. With the surviving cat, I got a second opinion and the second vet did not believe the cat had it, even though the cat tested positive. The tests are notoriously unreliable and if you read below, you will understand why. But diagnosis is often done from clinical symptoms AND testing. My survivor cat did not have the clinical symptoms, did test positive. Still alive and well 7 years later. Please read here, this is a great read from Cornell Vet School: http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures... Best wishes to you and your cat.