8/7/2023 0 Comments White tabby cat lifespanIdeally, they should be getting a wellness examination every year, and many vets recommend a check-up every six months once your cat is over the age of 10. Regular checkups (as well as getting them spayed/neutered and keeping vaccinations up to date) are just about the most important thing you can do to give your cat their best chance at a long and healthy life. It’s a no-brainer that, just like people, your cat will need to see a doctor now and then. And make sure they have toys that encourage them to run and play. Try to play with them for at least a couple of 15-minute sessions per day - an hour a day is ideal. So, in addition to making sure they have balanced nutrition and not too many treats, it’s also important to provide your cat with opportunities for exercise. Obesity and lack of exercise are just as hard on their lifespan as they are on humans. … But Give Them Plenty of ExerciseĪ sedentary cat is a short-lived cat. Many companies also sell outdoor cat enclosures - inevitably known as “catios” - where your feline can recline al fresco. If you have an enclosed porch, make sure they get to spend time out there regularly. Your indoor cat can still get fresh air and a taste of the outdoors in other ways: Set up a perch near a screened window. While it may seem cruel to some owners to keep their feline pals under house arrest, statistics show the risk isn’t worth it. Read More: 8 Do’s and Don’ts for Communicating with Your CatĪs we’ve seen, indoor cats can live three or even four times longer than a cat that spends most or all of its time outdoors. And while it’s okay to give your cat treats, experts recommend that those goodies make up no more than five or 10 percent of their diet. It’s always a good idea to talk to your vet about the right kinds of nutrition your cat needs, depending on their breed and age.Īlso, make sure their water is changed daily. You should follow their example and be particular about their diet as well.Īny old off-the-shelf cat food might fill them up, but it may not serve their nutritional needs, especially as they get older. Feed Your Cat ProperlyĬats are famously finicky eaters. How to Help Your Cat Live Longerįor most devoted owners, these steps may sound obvious, but good advice always bears repeating. If you want your cat to have a healthy, long life, there are more concrete steps you can take. So don’t put your faith in human-year guesstimates. The fact is, the breed of cat, how well it’s been taken care of, and how successfully it’s managed to avoid injury or illness will skew the results of any pet-age approximation.Ī cat that’s led a life outdoors with no owners, varied or limited food and no medical care could be dead in a mere handful of years or even months, while many cats who have been well looked after can enjoy an active physical and mental life well into their 20s. The Internet is full of pet age calculators you can use to play this game.īut such calculations are only useful for a general estimate of your cat’s longevity. With cats, it’s been said that their first year of life should be equated to 15 human years, the second year equivalent to about nine or 10 years, and every year after that is equal to about four human years. Some people just apply the same “seven-year rule” that is often used with dogs, where one year of your pet’s life is equivalent to seven of ours. Currently, the oldest living cat, verified as of 2022, is Flossie, a now 27-year-old British kitty, which Guinness touts as “roughly the feline equivalent of 120 human years.”Įquating a cat’s age to a human’s is fun, but ultimately not a very accurate way to think about your cat’s lifespan. Some unverified accounts tell of cats around the world that can live into their early 30s. And there are yet other environmental hazards, not least of which is being hit by a vehicle - the number one non-disease-related killer of outdoor kitties. Plus, outdoor cats are at greater risk than their indoor brethren for picking up any number of potentially deadly parasites. Read More: How Long Can Cats Be Left Alone? And yes, other cats, especially wild cats, will stalk and kill their own kind. On the other hand, most humans don’t have to worry about being hunted.Įven in a quiet suburb, there are plenty of predators of cats, including coyotes, foxes, dogs, raccoons and large birds of prey, such as owls and eagles. Sure, cats who spend most of their lives outside are less likely to be sedentary and they get loads of time in the fresh air and sunshine, which humans are always told to do for their health. An indoor cat lifespan may be in the double digits, but an outdoor cat lifespan is shockingly brief: only two to five years at best.
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