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The good news is that advances in veterinary care and awareness of good cat welfare mean that domestic cats are living longer than they used to. As you will see from the chart, we also recognise six different life stages for cats. These are based on an understanding of how cats mature and age both physically and behaviourally, and allow us to predict when certain changes might be occurring both physically and mentally. These various disease processes require specific lifestyle changes ranging from daily medications to diet changes to routine labs. The earlier these diseases are diagnosed, the faster treatment can be pursued to prevent irreversible organ damage.
How to help your cat live longer
If you do not know the date a cat was born, then it can be difficult to determine their exact age. The Ultimate Guide to Keeping Animals Happy & Healthy.PawTracks brings inspiration, tips, the best products on earth to ensure our readers and their pets are happy and healthy. Even if your cat stays indoors all the time, you'll still need to take extra steps to keep her warm during the cool weather. Some homes are naturally drafty, and with snow and ice accumulating on utility lines, the chance of power outages increases as well. There are many reasons why your feline fur baby should remain exclusively indoors, but it's all the more important to keep your cat inside during the winter months.
Worried about your pet?
Your cat may need medical treatment for their health problems, comfier beds to support their joints, and a specialized diet adjusted to their needs. Senior cats often slow down more than they did as a mature adult, which can be a sign of untreated arthritis pain. Discuss any changes in behavior in your senior cat with your veterinarian. It’s commonly recommended for cats 10 and older to have bloodwork and urine testing done every six months, as organ health can change quickly. Older cats are also prone to blood pressure issues, which can lead to strokes and blindness.
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How to Increase Your Cat’s Life Expectancy
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The first year of a cat’s life is a period of rapid growth and development. Cats reach sexual maturity by 6 months of age and by they’re 1 year old, they’ve entered a life stage that’s similar to 15 human years. Cat insurance can’t stop pet health emergencies from taking place, but the financial safety net it provides can make a big difference when it comes time to administer care. The simplest policies offer coverage against accidents and illnesses alone, while more comprehensive ones cover everything from routine care to end-of-life expenses. The average life expectancy of a cat suggests that many live the equivalent of a full human life.
While there is no guarantee that a cat will live a long and healthy life, there are some breeds that are known to live longer than others. But remember, a healthy diet, good exercise and other external factors are all vital for ensuring a long life for your pet cat. Carefully choosing the food you feed your cat can also promote good health and longevity. Your vet can help you choose the food and feeding plan most appropriate for your cat’s age, breed, lifestyle, and overall health. But it’s also important to be realistic about your cat’s lifespan.
How long do cats live?
She had been living in a colony of cats near a Merseyside hospital, when two workers took pity on them and each homed a cat. They lived together for 10 years until the owner died and Flossie was taken in by her sister. For the next three years, Flossie lived with the woman’s son, until his situation led him to make the difficult decision to relinquish the family cat to Cats Protection. Finally, maintaining a clean litter box can help keep your cat healthy. It will keep your house smelling fresh, help you notice any changes in bowel or urinary habits, and help reduce accidents outside of the litter box. As your cat enters their elderly years, you’ll start to notice changes in their physiology and their behavior.
How long do cats live? The answer may actually depend on their human parent
It’s important to keep this physiological age in mind when caring for cats. Kelly Anne has over six years of experience with reporting and editing in the personal finance space. Her work has been featured in national publications including Reader's Digest, CNBC and Forbes.
Cats need to be able to tap into their natural instincts like hunting, pouncing, and interacting. This myth likely arose from observations of cats’ agility and apparent ability to survive incidents that would seriously injure other creatures. However, cats do not actually possess multiple lives or any kind of supernatural powers. Annual health screenings can help detect these conditions early, which can improve outcomes and help your cat live longer. Though there is no “oldest” Nebelung cat, they do typically live longer than other breeds.
A lot of research has been done to determine the dietary needs of a house cat, so the food options that are available to cat owners are plentiful. Cats who wander outdoors also risk theft or capture by animal control authorities. The chances of returning home increase dramatically when pets are microchipped and registered in the appropriate database.
Cat parents love to celebrate their furry companion’s birthday. After all, your cat is more than just a pet—they’re part of your family. But a yearly celebration doesn’t really match a cat’s aging process, which varies over their lifetime. Ashley Bates is a freelance dog writer and pet enthusiast who is currently studying the art of animal therapy. A mother to four human children— and 23 furry and feathery kids, too – Ashley volunteers at local shelters, advocates for animal well-being, and rescues every creature she finds. Her mission is to create awareness, education, and entertainment about pets to prevent homelessness.
A cat’s life expectancy will depend on many factors, including health, diet and their environment, but the average lifespan for a domestic cat is about years. The breed is also often considered a factor in determining a cat's life expectancy, but this is no guarantee. Even with proper vaccines, outdoor cats are exposed to far more dangers than indoor cats’ lives are. Dangers that vaccines and other medicines cannot protect them from. A few of the lifespan threatening dangers that outdoor cats may encounter include ticks, cars, other animals, and many other stressful encounters that can shorten a cat’s lifespan.
For example, if your cat is diagnosed with a serious health condition, they might need medications or other treatments. The same is true if your cat ever gets seriously sick or injured. Put money into a savings account or consider getting pet health insurance, just in case. Ensuring your cat can promptly get the vet care they need can help keep them healthy and allow them to live as long as possible. While cats are known for being generally healthy pets, some breeds tend to have more health-related issues. Breed and genetic makeup can impact a cat’s lifespan, just like it can influence size, coat, and physical attributes.
The average lifespan of a cat is 13 to 17 years, according to PetMD. That said, it’s not uncommon for cats to live into their late teens or twenties. Some cats even live into their thirties, although this is far less common. Of course, a cat that doesn’t eat a healthy diet may develop health issues, but parasites and diseases can also affect their health.
If your cat does burn a lot of energy and is always in the mood to play, more nutritional snacks are not a bad thing. Creme Puff, a tabby mix out of Austin, Texas, lived to be 38 in a happy, long life! Today, the oldest cat is Flossie, whose 27th birthday was celebrated by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2022. Although it’ll vary for each individual cat, we can make some predictions about how long cats will live on average, according to Callihan. While it’s alright to let your cat out on occasion, there might be cause for concern if your cat is spending days at a time outside. While no cat can live forever, responsible cat guardians can utilize the advice provided in this article to nurture long, healthy lives.
Obesity is the most common disease in cats, though it’s preventable. Adequate exercise is possible to do inside your home — try playing fetch, playing with a laser pointer, and even putting out battery-operated toys that flop around to mimic prey. Keeping your cat fit and healthy will give him a longer and better quality of life. At the lower end of the spectrum, free-roaming outdoor and feral cats have much shorter average lifespans of just 2-5 years.
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