Average life expectancy for cats at home

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The science that studies domestic cats is called felinology. Felinologists study how the organism of animals is arranged, study the conditions of their maintenance. The area of interest of unusual science includes the study of the standards of existing cat breeds, their improvement and the development of new ones. Felinologists say that the average life expectancy of cats is due to the natural set of genes, including the breed.

When will pussy retire?

Statistics compiled by researchers confirms that domestic cats have, on average, lived three years longer over the past forty years. The life expectancy of domestic cats has increased from six to nine years. And at the age of nine, a cat is not considered old.

The status of an elderly pet acquires when it reaches the age of twelve. This confirms the fact that current pet owners are very serious about preventing the aging of their pets.

From a very early age, kittens are under the supervision of veterinarians, due attention is paid to a balanced diet of animals at any age.

If a cat or a cat of retirement age does not mean that they will always lie on the couch or in their house. They remain as playful, curious and affectionate as ever.

Only now the serious stage of their life has come. Owners should consider keeping aged pets to provide nutrition and care appropriate to their age.

Purebred centenarians. Top five

Exploring the breed characteristics of cats, felinologists came to the conclusion that the life expectancy of cats, among other factors, depends on the breed. Live longer than others:

• proud and independent Siamese cats;
• Thai breed - one of the oldest;
• American Shorthair - America's National Pride;
• Tailless Manx breed;
• Scottish Fold, or Scottish Fold.

They easily live into their twenties. The life expectancy of Scottish cats in some cases reached twenty-two years.

It's a hundred and four years for a human being! Of course, their owners took into account, first of all, the advanced age of their pets, creating conditions for existence and nutrition.

Top 5 long-living breeds

Slightly behind the life expectancy of cat breeds:

• Russian Blue with a proud aristocratic look;
• friendly Asian tabby.

They live up to nineteen years. Almost the same, just a few months less, the life of breeds lasts:

• devon rex, bred in the sixties of the last century;
• Asian Longhair (or Tiffany) - intelligent and "talkative";
• Japanese bobtail is a short-tailed favorite of the Japanese.

Mean lifespan

Cat breeds, artificially bred by man, live somewhat less than the ancient ones, the genotype of which has evolved over the centuries.

For example, one of the largest cats - mei-kun - lives up to seventeen years. Fluffy pets Persian cats delight their owners for fifteen to sixteen years. The life expectancy of British cats is also a decade and a half.

The lifespan of animals, of course, is influenced by many other factors - living conditions, quality of food, past illnesses.

The average life expectancy of a domestic cat is twelve to fifteen years.

The life of the homeless in the wild

Alas, homeless kitties cannot become centenarians. They survive in difficult street conditions:

• danger to life is created by other animals, cars, people;
• diseases that homeless animals suffer without treatment and good nutrition;
• stress from heat or cold;
• a half-starved existence almost from a young age;
• wounds and injuries received in fights.

The life expectancy of outdoor cats ranges from five to eight years.

While homemadepets, thanks to care for them and regular feeding, maintain good he alth until old age.

Pet life

Mongrel cats, when kept at home, also hunt until old age, are cheerful and active in life. Of course, pets also do not always live up to fifteen or twenty years. But the master's care provides them with a good and long life.

Careful attention to the venerable age of furry pets will help them live longer. Wanted:

• balanced, quality, age-appropriate nutrition;
• small but regular exercise;
• consultations and examinations of the animal at the veterinarian;
• maybe sterilization (castration).

Although these conditions are not a guarantee of longevity, they are what create the preconditions for good he alth in old age.

A cat named Cream Puff is noted in the Guinness book, who lived for thirty-eight years.

Vet Tips

The life expectancy of cats at home increases significantly with careful attention to their he alth. Veterinarians give cat owners effective advice:

1. Give your cat enough water. Ideally, it should always be where the cat can drink. This is especially important when feeding dry food. Water should be changed regularly.

2. Cats need movement. It is good to play with your pet more often, or provide enough toys.

3. Needs hair care. Even though cats are cleananimals, they need to be combed from time to time, cut out the tangles of fluffy, sometimes washed.

4. A change in your pet's behavior may indicate a he alth problem. In this case, urgently need to consult a veterinarian.

5. Regular vaccinations will help prevent many diseases.

6. Cat teeth must be kept in order. Oral he alth is essential for predators to survive.

7. Weight control is a must. Sudden weight loss is most likely due to he alth problems. Especially when cats can walk outside on their own.

8. Overfeeding is also very harmful. The heart, liver, kidneys of the animal suffer. Food should be in moderation.

9. Domestic cats that are not allowed to go outside live longer. They won't catch infections, and the risk of an accident is much lower.

10. Regular visits to the veterinarian are the key to good he alth. Most feline diseases are easily treated in the early stages. Only a specialist will detect them.

Domestic cat longevity and neutering

The main decision of the owner, affecting the life expectancy of the animal, is the question of spaying or castration.

Doctors examined the effect of castration on the average life expectancy of cats at home, as well as on the behavior of pets and the development of certain diseases. Pet owners should be aware that neutered cats and neutered cats live longer. Specific behavior is corrected: vagrancy, territory marking with urine, aggression of males onrivals.

Castrated animals are thus protected from almost all tumors of the feline reproductive system. Keep in mind that castration slows down the metabolic rate. Therefore, the daily calorie requirement is also lower.

In this regard, castrated animals are at risk of obesity. You will have to reduce the daily amount of calories consumed by the cat. You can use special feed for castrated and sterilized animals. They are sold in pet stores.

Signs of early aging

Cats and cats begin to age after about seven years. But they are considered old only at the age of twelve.

Pets eat less food. Instead of walking or playing games, they prefer to sleep peacefully in a quiet corner. Hair can thin out, bald patches may form. Scratches or wounds take longer to heal.

Most vulnerable:

• stomach and intestines;
• kidneys;
• teeth;
• heart;
• nerves;
• vision and hearing.

Features of the behavior of a middle-aged cat

The cat begins to emotionally react to the slightest changes in the surrounding habitual life. This can be rearranging furniture, changing feeding times, just moving the tray. And the arrival of another pet causes real stress. Behavior may change:

• Anxiety or timidity occurs with loss of hearing, vision, or some nervous diseases.
• Kitty sometimes does not have time to go to the tray. This can be caused by kidney problems or bone disease. Then it's betterput some trays at home.
• Sleep problems can cause arthritis. It causes pain in the evenings and at night.
• Hostility and aggressiveness are caused by stress, pain, changes in character.

No need to be offended by an elderly pet. It's the years, and it's not his fault.

How to feed an older cat

After about nine years of age, cats need a change in diet. Taking care of the conditions for existence increases the life expectancy of cats.

Feeding guidelines for older pets:

• Remove fatty foods from the diet.
• Food should be ground. This does not depend on the condition of the teeth, just the stomach becomes weaker, heavy food will stagnate, creating problems with the stool.
• Important calcium with phosphorus, as well as taurine. They will be provided by grated low-fat sea fish with stewed vegetables. The dish is ideal for the prevention of many diseases.
• Sour-milk products are very useful. Helps digestion, supply essential vitamins.
• Rice, oatmeal, buckwheat and vegetables are rich in potassium. This element is good for the heart and will prevent cramps.
• Water is important. Free access to it normalizes all the processes of the cat's body.
• Special vitamins are almost not absorbed after ten years, so it is better to consult a veterinarian.
• Food must be of good quality. Fat content less than 10%. The amount of protein - as for kittens. The same applies to the content of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium.
• S alty fooddon't give.

Although they say that a cat walks by itself, she is a pet. Without human participation, her life becomes noticeably shorter. The care of the owners, their attention and good nutrition of cats will prolong the life of the animals, provide comfort in old age.

Don't despair if your furry pet is already over ten, this is just an excuse to take care of him a little more.