Facts About Cats' Lifespan
Everyone's heard the saying that cats have 9 lives, but is that really true? A cat's life span is definitely interesting, and there are some things you can do to help your cat live a long and healthy life. Here are some facts about cat's life span and how you can help to keep them alive longer.
The Lifespan of a Cat
Cats have a strong genetic background for longevity when it comes to the number of years they can live. Given the proper nutrition and care a cat can easily live as long as 21 years; and some have been known to live for much longer. It is estimated that the lifespan of a cat can be anywhere between 25-35 years, although the average lifespan is only about 14 years. If you are considering adopting a cat or already have one then it's important to know the average lifespan, but it's also important to take your own measures to ensure their health. Keeping your cat healthy can extend their life by several years.
What can you do to extend the life of your cat?
There are several things you can do to help keep your cat alive and healthy:
1. Choose the right food. One of the most important things you can do to ensure your cat's health and longevity is to give them proper nutrition. Much like you would not feed a child candy every day and you would make sure they get their daily intake of vitamins and minerals; you can do the same with your cat. What your cat eats during the day affects their behavior every hour of the day. It affects how their fur grows, how their joints move, how their kidney's function, and many other parts of their body.
2. Spaying or neutering your cat. You might not know this, but spaying or neutering your cat can extend their life by about two or three years. Cats who are not spayed or neutered can find themselves with diseases, unwanted litters, and several other illnesses that you will have to watch them suffer through. Spaying a female cat can help prevent life threatening uterine infections and will also help lower the chances of breast cancer later in life. Neutering your male cat will actually make your life much easier as the urine odor is more tolerable, they are more likely to stay home, get in less fights, and will improve their overall personality. So do your cat a favor and get them spayed or neutered to keep them healthy.
3. Take them in for regular veterinary visits. Another way to extend the life of your cat and to keep them healthy and strong is to make sure you get them in for regular check-ups. Just like a child needs to see the doctor at least once a year for their well child checks, a cat needs to be assessed at least once a year (or more often) to make sure they're healthy. Many cats are also susceptible to feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus (feline AIDS). They are common and can be passed form one cat to another, as well as from mother to kittens.
4. Keep up on your vaccinations. There's no telling how many years you can extend the life of your cat by keeping the vaccinated. It can help them from getting serious diseases and keeping them healthy. Don't assume they have already had them, take them in and make sure.
Hopefully these simple facts about a cats life span and some suggestions on how to extend their lives will help you keep your cat alive longer and healthy every day.
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