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.
Larry Chamberlain
lives in London, England, and has had a lifelong fascination with domestic cats.
His website
www.best-cat-art.com provides
information about all that is best in cat art. Also pages about cat and kitten
care and information on cat breeds and types.
