Domestic cats have been part in one’s household for the longest time. These small, adorable domestic pets belong to the Felidae family. Cats are known for their distinct sense of hearing and keen night vision, said to be one of the best in the world. With muscular supple body and retractable claws, cats are also said to be very keen observant with excellent memory and can easily learn through experience. The average life expectancy of cats depends upon whether the cat is an outdoor cat or an indoor cat.
Back in decades, about twenty years ago, cats can live just four to six years on the average. However, with the introduction of better and more advanced veterinary care at present, the cat’s life expectancy has gradually increased to a considerable fifteen years, or even more.
To increase your domestic cat’s life expectancy, always consider their diet. Feeding the right pet food, along with practicing a proper lifestyle, play very crucial roles towards achieving a longer cat life. But keep in mind that over-feeding your pet felines is not healthy. In fact, doing so can gradually lower their chances of achieving a healthy and long life.
Another factor that can help increase the life expectancy of cats is their genetic make up. There are actually certain types of cat breeds genetically at risk of particular health problems and diseases, thus giving them lower life spans. On the other hand, mixed breed cats such as the mouser or the moggie have longer life expectancy because of their mix genetic make up, as compared with the other pure breed cats.
Cats that are mostly kept indoors also tend to achieve longer life and can live up to fifteen long years. Why? Because they are not at risk to accidents nor poisoning, neither are they susceptible to attacks from other animals like dogs, cats, among others. Moreover, cats that generally live indoors do not easily yield in to infectious feline diseases because they are less exposed to other felines, thus giving them chances to live for over twenty years.
Play time and regular exercise are also factors that help increase the life expectancy of cats. Older cats must be given ample but gentle time of playtime and exercise to keep them healthy and agile. Remember that just like humans, old cats need more attention and care especially with regard to their health. It is also a good practice to take your feline friends to a regular visit to the veterinarian to help prevent certain diseases and keep your pet fit and healthy.
Most common diseases that affect the cat’s life include the CRF or chronic renal failure, kidney diseases, and diabetes. Chronic renal failure is actually a very common health problem among old cats. The cat’s health is greatly affected once the renal failure sets in. Kidney diseases in cats are those in which the cat’s system can no longer clear all its toxic waste from the blood. As with cat diabetes, this can be corrected with proper diabetes management provided that the disease has been earlier detected.
In general, it is safe to say that the life expectancy of cats is between 15 and 21 years. And to achieve this, give your cats a proper diet and exercise and show them love every day.
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