Saturday, August 21, 2010

What is the ';average'; realistic, normal age a cat usually will live to? Im not talking about exceptional cases?

I agree with Dreamer, and would just add that, on average, indoor cats live up to several years longer than outdoor cats. There are a lot of environmental hazards outdoors, especially if you live in a city. Also, repeat vaccinations are a lot less necessary for cats that don't go outdoors.





If you choose to keep your cat indoors, you've got to commit to monitoring your cat's weight and encouraging her to exercise and play.





-KittyMamma


http://KittyMamma.blogspot.comWhat is the ';average'; realistic, normal age a cat usually will live to? Im not talking about exceptional cases?
15-20 years. 20-30+ years if well cared for. For a cat to die younger than 15 is unusual unless they are poorly cared for. Quality food and fresh water are the best way to ensure health. As cats age, incorporate raw or canned food into their diet to prevent kidney/liver problems (dry food is hard to process, it requires a lot of moisture from the body, and as a cat ages, it becomes harder and harder on their organs to process dry food. Switching to at least a partial raw or canned diet gives them more moisture with their food and helps alleviate the problem. You can also soak dry food in water or chicken broth before feeding.)





Also, lay off the vaccines, especially in older cats- after kitten shots, cats really don't need anything updated except rabies. Even if you do update when they're younger on things like distemper, once they hit around 10 years old, don't do it. Indoor cats just don't need the constant vaccines and it really wears down their immune systems after a while.





Teeth are a big thing too- bad teeth cause infections in the gums that get into the bloodstream and cause organ failure and early death. Make sure you're keeping their teeth clean, again, especially as they age.





Lastly, keep the weight off! Healthy cats actually look a tad thin to most people. Fat cats are prone to a huge number of life-shortening health conditions. It's actually healthier for a cat to be slightly underweight than slightly overweight. If your cat gains weight as it ages, cut back on the food or switch to low-fat.





I currently have a cat that's 11 1/2 years, and the vet says she'd never believe his age because he looks and acts so good. He gets rabies every 3 years and eats Wellness dry and canned food. I have a water fountain to help encourage drinking (many housecats don't drink nearly enough water, which again, affects their kidneys). Because he eats quality food he has no issues with dental disease.What is the ';average'; realistic, normal age a cat usually will live to? Im not talking about exceptional cases?
I would say a average age is 10-12. I have had several cats with my oldest living until he was 19. He died of kidney failure. My other cat was 17 she died of liver problems. I have 5 now ages 8,11,10,9,7. I feed them science diet. I feel that monitoring them for any problems and getting them to vets early on if they are sick plays a role in survival. :)
Like people genetics plays a major role in your cats lifespan and its breed will also influence its longevity.





Because your cat lives indoors I would say 12-15 years as an average.





My cat recently went to the vet and her labs came out great! She is turning 11 and seems to be in better shape than my first cat @ 11.





Hope this helps.
I have fed my many cats mostly store brand cat food and Purina cat chow. They mostly lived about 15-17 years, unless something unusual happened. My oldest was a healthy 19 when she got mouth cancer. After 2 surgeries, it came back and we decided to stop fighting. Love your cat and it will love you.
8-12 years with normal care, 12-16 with great care, and 16-25+ has been heard of occasionally...if you're gonna feed store brand food and do the required vet checks only, 8-12 years can be expected, barring injury or illness
Most cats in my neighborhood live until they walk into my back yard and eat a baby bird. Then they mysteriously disappear.
Average is 15-18 yrs old. My oldest one was 17 or 18. Next oldest was 15 - both died of heart attacks. My first cat was only 13 yrs old - he died of cancers.
Hmmm... About 15 not counting health problems that come with old age.
Between 14 and 16 years usually :)
12-16 years. %26lt;3

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