How long
will my cat live?
by
Larry Chamberlain
The answer to
that depends upon several factors.
The care that
you give your cat, the quality of the food
that your cat eats the kind of lifestyle
that your cat lives. All these things play
their part in the chances of your cat
enjoying a long life.
Veterinary
medicine has made some great advances in
recent years, and this is one of the reasons
the average age of domestic cats is
increasing. A well cared for cat that is
kept indoors and is fed a good nutritional
diet, would be expected to live for about 15
years.
Some cats do
live to 20 plus years and there are records
of a few cats reaching over 30 years. These
sort of ages for a cat are very much the
exception however.
The genetic
make up of a cat can be a factor in
determining its life span. Some breeds of
cat appear to be more resilient than others.
Selective breeding can have the effect that
some breeds are genetically prone to
ailments which shorten their life
expectancy. Mixed breeds, the typical moggie
or mouser, is usually more vigorous in its
genetic make up and may expect to live
slightly longer than a pure breed cat.
Cats that are
kept strictly as indoor only cats stand a
better chance of living to a ripe old age
than cats that are allowed outside. The
reasons for this are many. Outdoor cats face
danger from traffic, from being attacked by
other cats or by other animals. They run
increased risk of being accidentally
poisoned by pesticides or deliberately
poisoned by malicious humans. Outdoor cats
are also at risk from catching feline
diseases particularly from the feral cat
population.
The are many
things to consider in deciding to keep your
cat as an indoor only cat or an
outdoor-indoor cat, life expectancy is only
one of them.
Overfeeding
your cat is a good way to shorten its life.
An overfed cat stands more chance of health
problems than a cat that is weight
controlled. Diabetes, arthritis, breathing
difficulties, heart and liver disease can
all result as a consequence of overfeeding.
All of these conditions may mean your little
pet not living a long and healthy feline
life. Your veterinarian can advise on the
best diet for your cat.
Exercise too,
is important for your cat's health and in
maintaining its weight. Healthy cats mostly
exercise themselves of course, but the
playtime you enjoy with your cat can
contribute to keeping kitty healthy. Elderly
cats particularly benefit from gentle
play-exercise.
Regular visits
to the vets for routine checks will give
your cat the best chance to live a long
life, and to live that life healthily. Many
life shortening problems can be tackled
successfully if detected early.
Neutered or
spayed cats often enjoy a slightly longer
life than unaltered felines. This is
particularly so for male cats as an
unaltered male will often receive injuries
defending his territory. There are many
other good reasons for spaying and neutering
of course, aside from extending the life of
your cat.
About the
Author
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