What Affects How Long My Pet Lives
How Long Do Cats Live?
One of the main things that will affect how long your pet lives is their health. The wrong diet or not enough exercise can sadly trim years off your pets life expectancy, which is why its so important to do everything you can to keep them happy and healthy. You can read more about caring for your pet in our free pet care guides. Diseases and other illnesses can also reduce your pets life expectancy. Just like us, our pets can get poorly at any time. Some breeds of dog and cat will have a higher chance of getting certain life-limiting conditions , so its important to research thoroughly before choosing the pet for you. You can find out more on our breed pages. Another thing that could affect how long your pet lives is simple chance. If you have an outdoor-roaming cat, for example, they could get into a road traffic accident. Were not saying you should wrap your pet in cotton wool and never let them leave the house, but make the most of all the time you get to spend with them because you never know what may happen next. Early Detection Is Key To Survival When It Comes To Cancer In CatsThe earlier cancer is discovered, the better your cats treatment options are. Check your cat monthly for lumps and bumps, feeling all over her body for anything out of the ordinary. If you find a lump the size of a pea or larger, and its still there a month later, its time for an immediate vet visit. Since mammary cancer is common in cats, dont forget to feel the mammary glands on your cats tummy . Cats have eight mammary glands, so theres a lot to feel, Dr. Ettinger says. Youre basically going to be feeling the entire belly area from their armpit area back to the leg area. On Average How Long Do Cats LiveIn our recent article, Whats the Average Life of a Dog, we found out that our canine companions live an average of 10 to 13 years. So how do our kitty companions compare? If youre a Cat Owner, youll be glad to know that our feline friends have a pretty long life expectancy. Specifically, the average kitty can live to between 13 and 17 years. In fact, many cats live to be around 20 years old, with some of the oldest cats on record living into their early 30s! But, for a kitty to live beyond the average cat lifespan, there are a few factors to consider. Lifestyle, genetics, diet, and past experiences can all affect how long a cat will live. Lets explore a few of the most influential factors in a cats expected lifespan. Don’t Miss: Little Alchemy How To Make Cat Are American Shorthair Cats Outdoor CatsDue to their history, American Shorthair cats are considered great outdoor cats. However, they are perfectly fine with staying indoors. Generally, they adapt well to indoor life. To learn more about how to take care of an indoor cat, check out this other post: How Often Should You Wash Your Indoor Cat? What Age What StageCats can live for an amazingly long time considering their small size. In general, smaller mammals have shorter lifespans, but cats are a little different. For example, although cats are smaller than most dogs, they generally live longer. Also, they are only slightly larger than rabbits, yet again live a great deal longer. The average lifespan for a pet cat is probably around 13 to 14 years. However, although their lifespan varies, a well cared for cat may commonly live to 15 or beyond, some make it to 18 or 20 and a few extraordinary felines even pass 25 or 30 years of age. You May Like: Are Croton Plants Toxic To Cats What Is The Average Life Expectancy For An Outdoor CatThe average outdoor cat lives between two and seven years old, according to WebMD. The reason outdoor cats face shorter lifespans is that they face greater challenges. As Rover previously reported, outdoor cats can be attacked, leaving them with scrapes and scars, and theyre more likely to contract viruses like the feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia virus. What Is The Difference Between A Sick Cat And An Old CatAs your cat ages it will experience changes in behaviour, appearance and in its physical health. Cats should retain their ability play and jump when they age even if it is slightly reduced. Cats should also be able to maintain a healthy weight as they age. There should be no significant changes to muscle mass or body fat. From a behavioural point of view your cats sleep patterns may change, their meows and other vocalisations may change and they may become less tolerant. In terms of appearance their nails may thicken, pupils can become cloudy and teeth may become slightly yellow or off white due to the thickening of dental walls. There may be changes in your cats daily routines, a decline in vision and mobility and declines in their sense of smell and hearing. A good way to keep an eye on your older cats health is by using the acronym DISHA to watch our for signs of cognitive decline:
The most common causes of death in cats overall are:
Most common causes of death in cats under 5 years:
Most common causes of death in cats over 5 years:
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History Of Domesticated Cats
How long do cats live, exactly?
Cats have been kept as pets for thousands of years. They originate from the Near East countries where they were domesticated from wild cats to help control rodent populations. These cats spread throughout the world as pets, and we eventually started selectively breeding them for specific traits, thus creating different breeds. The primary cat breeds were originally bred using cats from four major regions the Arabian Sea, the Eastern Mediterranean, South Asia, and Western Europe. These four regions have produced cats that have different genetic markers based on what region, or race, they are from. Read Also: What Is The Cat Name In The Smurfs How Old Should My Cat Be When She DiesFew people want to admit that their beloved kitten is approaching her twilight years. While it is possible for cats to live into their 30s, like Crème Puff, who died at age 38, a more likely estimate of your felines life span is about 16 years. Here are some changes to expect as your cat enters her golden years. 1. More Talkative How Long Do Cats Live Plus Five Tips To Give Them A Long LifeByDr Joanna Woodnutt MRCVS27 May 2021 If youve ever wondered how long do cats live for?, you might be surprised to hear the answer! How long do cats live for? Well, thanks to advances in medical treatment and proper nutrition, our domestic cats are living for longer than ever. In the 1990s, several studies suggested that average life span was increasing rapidly, and whilst this has now slowed, our cats are still living for far longer than they used to. Whilst studies have shown the average life expectancy of a crossbreed cat to be around 14 years, its not unusual to hear of cats reaching 18-20 years old. Purebred cats, according to the study, have shorter lives, with an average of 12.5 years. However, this varies wildly depending on breed. The longest-lived cat, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, was Crème Puff, who lived to an incredible 38 years and 3 days!
Also Check: Are Cat And Dog Nail Clippers The Same Chemotherapy Usually Wont Make Your Cat SickBecause chemotherapy is associated with really bad side effects in humans, many pet owners hesitate to try it for their cats. But the reality is, cancer treatment is easier on pets than it is on people. One of the things that really surprises people when I talk about chemo because a lot of people are scared of chemo for obvious reasons but 80 percent of dogs and cats have no side effects from chemotherapy, which is pretty amazing, Dr. Ettinger says. Cats have less side effects than dogs and people. Of all the species, cats tolerate chemotherapy the best. How Long Will My Dog Cat Or Rabbits LiveThere’s no way to know for sure how long a pet might live it’s a bit like asking ‘how long is a piece of string’. We can make estimates based on studies that have been done previously, but every pet is different and these ages should only be taken as a rough guide. Assuming that your pet leads a healthy, active life that isnt cut short because of disease or trauma, they could live a very long time indeed:
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