Saturday, April 27, 2024

How long do cats live? Average lifespan and how to keep pets healthy

house cat life expectancy

For other ways to buy, visit our International Partners page. Most often, an aging cat might not be as spry and agile as they once were. They could move a little slower and take their time with obstacles they used to burn through.

Nutrition/Diet

One of the things pet owners like about cats is their self-sufficiency. They don’t need to go outside if you have a litter box that is cleaned and ready for them. They also groom themselves and may only need a good brush every week or so. The exception is long-haired cats that may need regular combing to keep them free from mats and hairballs. The Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl is our favorite bowl since it offers all of the above and is beautifully crafted to meet modern home stylings.

A Cat’s Average Lifespan

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. Cats are carnivores, so they need at least 30% protein in their daily diet.

#3- Adult/Mature Cats:

The condition of the heart, coat, and other body systems can also help your vet determine an approximate age of your cat. Exercise and play are known to help reduce and prevent stress, which ultimately leads to a happier and healthier cat. Cats need to be able to tap into their natural instincts like hunting, pouncing, and interacting. Your veterinarian is always your best and most trusted resource to answer any questions and concerns about your fabulous feline. Keep your cat protected from unwanted parasites like fleas, ticks and mosquitoes that transmit disease by administering a monthly heartworm and parasite preventative.

Life Expectancy of Cats: How Long Do Indoor-Outdoor Cats Live?

One of the biggest concerns goes back to the advantage of an outdoor cat, namely, weight maintenance. In a confined space, it may be hard for your cat to get enough exercise. Part of taking your cat to the vet regularly is to have any new or existing issues addressed. These issues can be anything from a slight change in their sleeping or eating habits or a new onset of hairballs.

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. Annual health screenings can help detect these conditions early, which can improve outcomes and help your cat live longer. Food-related issues like unbalanced diets and overeating can cause many significant problems later. Though there is no “oldest” Nebelung cat, they do typically live longer than other breeds. Since Egyptians believe that Ra took on a cat’s form, it was assumed that he and the other eight gods took on the feline’s longevity. Sign up for weekly pet health tips and insights from our veterinarians.

Several factors play into the number of years your cat is around; some examples are breed, genetics, and where they live their life (indoor or outdoor cat). Let’s take a look at some of the factors that play into life expectancy for your feline friend. Thanks to continuing advances in veterinary medicine and science, cat life expectancy has increased, making it possible for felines to stay healthy and happy for longer.

How Long Do Outdoor Cats Live?

They may be milder and more relaxed now, with more of a draw to sleeping than playing. Many people don’t know what to do with a litter of kittens, and cats that give birth outside of their homes may not be able to care for their kittens on their own properly. Dr. Laria Herod is a full-time veterinarian and the content creator behind lifestyle brand Squally Muffin. Outdoor cats are more likely to get stolen, lost, eat something harmful (like poisonous plants) and get into fights with other cats. Not to mention, being an outdoor cat means that cars are a risk.

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Indoor cats get a more balanced and nutritionally complete diet, which improves life expectancy. Understanding the expected cat lifespan for your breed and lifestyle is important. Instead, focus each day on providing the very best nutrition, exercise, enrichment, and bonding experiences you can for your cat. Overbreeding adds to the outdoor cat population and makes it difficult for shelters to keep up with all of the animals that come into them. When cats experience an unintended pregnancy, that litter ends up in the hands of the human that cares for that cat.

Indoor cats also tend to have a more complete diet than outdoor cats, which can help them live a long life. 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.

house cat life expectancy

Cats undeniably have the potential to live long and happy lives with you and your family for many decades. The factors that influence their lifespan include important things like their diet and health maintenance habits. Just by bringing your cat to the vet regularly and providing a healthy and balanced diet, you could potentially help your cat sustain a lifespan for up to 40 happy years. The average life expectancy of indoor cats is between 15 and 17 years, according to scientists at the University of California-Davis. The average lifespan of a cat overall in the UK is 14 years, according to a study carried out by the Royal Veterinary College. The study, which looked at the deaths of 4009 randomly-selected deceased cats in 2015, found that crossbreed cats had an average life expectancy of 14 while purebred cats had a lifespan of 12.5 years.

Indoor cats tend to live much longer in general due to modern interventions like veterinary medicine and vaccinations, complete and balanced cat foods, and protection and shelter. Because indoor cats tend to be more sedentary (because they typically don't hunt for their food, etc.) getting enough exercise and becoming overweight is a huge worry regarding their health. Over 90% of domestic cats in the UK are free to roam outdoors every day and these ‘outdoor cats’ generally live shorter lives than cats that are kept indoors all the time.

Our mission at Pet Keen is to make the life of you and your pets easier and even more enjoyable. This brush is perfect for both you and your cat since it is easy to use, clean and it’s very effective when getting rid of loose hair and knots in your cat’s coat. In addition to the base membership plan, our veterinarians may also recommend additional medication (Rx and/or OTC) that you will have the option of adding to your plan at an additional cost. Just because your cat is only a few years old doesn’t mean they’re not fully grown. It’s important to keep this physiological age in mind when caring for cats. Taurine, methionine, and cystine are some of these essential amino acids, and without them, important vitamins, and the proper amount of protein, a cat’s health may suffer greatly.

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