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| Average lifespan of a cat |
Average lifespan of a cat and how to increase it
In this post you will learn about: average lifespan of a cat. Cats are so much more than pets. They are life companions and confidants. Unfortunately, they do not live as long as humans and a lifetime for them can be too short a time for us. So, what is average lifespan of a cat? While we might not want to think about the demise of our fluffy friends, it is an important question that can help us have realistic expectations of our life with them. Cats face many environmental dangers that could potentially end their lives early.
So, What is average lifespan of a cat?
Taking factors such as genetics, disease and injury into account, the average of a cat is approximately 15 to 17 years. It is possible for cats to live into their twenties, however, and the oldest recorded cat in the Guinness Book of Records was 38 years old. Various factors influence the longevity of your cat, and knowing how to properly care for them can not only extend their lifespan, but improve their quality of life, too. Read also: How to tell if a cat is pregnant.
Ways that can help in increasing cat’s life span
- Feed them a healthy, balanced diet.
- Feed your cat the correct portion for their age, and try to manage weight by choosing lean options if necessary and advised by your vet.
- Visit the vet regularly to ensure your cat has no latent diseases or injuries.
- Have your cat vaccinated, deformed according to a schedule given by a vet.
- Keep your cat’s teeth clean and healthy.
- Ensure that if your cat explores the neighborhood, that it is safe for them to do so.
- Minimize stress and anxiety.
- Be aware of your cat’s normal behaviors and check up on behavior that doesn’t fit this. It might be a sign of health issues.
- Keep medication and other toxins out of reach. Read also: 10 interesting facts about cats.
Diseases that could decrease the average lifespan of a cat
Regular check-ups are vital to protecting cats from death caused treatable diseases. Vets can identify and treat diseases if they are detected early enough, but failure to do so will likely result in an early passing for your cat. These are diseases you might not realize can kill your cat:
Cardiomyopathy
This form of heart disease is extremely common and can only be detected when using a stethoscope or heart rate monitor. One owner says that an annual trip to the vet extended her cat’s life by 8 years when they detected a problem with her heart.
Hyperthyroidism
Also known as overactive thyroid disease, this is one of the most common glandular diseases in cats. Symptoms can include, but may not always be: thirst, weight loss and increased appetite. These symptoms are not always uncommon enough to be noticeable, that is why medical check-ups are vital to detecting this disease.
Kidney disease
The symptoms of this disease appear gradually, making it difficult to recognize. These symptoms are a dry coat, bad breath and weight loss. A cat owner tells of how she took her cat in to get her teeth cleaned, but routine blood tests showed that kidney disease was present. The owner stresses that veterinary checks can save your cat’s life.
Urinary crystals
Crystals can sometimes form in urine, making it difficult to pass through the urethra. If your cat struggles with urination, this could be a sign of blockage by crystals. This is not only uncomfortable, but potentially deadly. A routine check-up detected crystals in one owner’s cat before the cat suffered from its effects, saving the cat from pain.
Diabetes
In humans, this is known as the silent killer. And it has some effects in cats. Diabetes can decrease the average lifespan of a cat. Symptoms of this disease include weight loss, increase in appetite, frequent urination and thirst. What is frightening about this disease is that it can show no symptoms at all in certain cases. The only way to detect this life-threatening disease is through, you guessed it, regular check-ups.
Genetics can play a role in how long your cat lives. It has been found that mixed-bred cats live longer than pure-breds. Pure-bred cats have a limited gene pool that makes them more susceptible to genetic diseases. Mixed-bred cats, however, Have a wider gene pool and fewer chances of inheriting unfavourable diseases. The difference in lifespan is only a few years however. Read also: How to groom your cat.
What happens when cat ages?
Ageing process is been accompanied by physical & behavioral changes:
- Skin is much thinner and very less elastic. And has reduced the blood circulation, as well as is prone to the infection.
- Immune system of the older cats is very less able in fending off the foreign invaders.
- Ageing felines are often overgrown, brittle and thick and will have to get clipped often.
- Older cats will groom themselves very less effectively than younger cats, at times resulting at hair matting, the skin odor as well as inflammation.
- Ageing is accompanied by a lot of changes in eyes. The slight haziness of lens is the common age as well as in cases doesn’t decrease the cat’s vision to appreciable extent. But, many diseases- associated with the high blood pressure will seriously & irreversibly impair cat’s ability of seeing.
- Most old cat’s also suffer from less hearing.
- Even though a lot of different diseases will cause loss of appetite, healthy senior cats, decreased sense of the smell might be responsible for the loss of interest at eating. But, discomfort associated with the dental disease is likely cause of the reluctance to eat.
- The dental disease is very common in the older cats and will hinder eating as well as cause the significant pain.
- The feline kidneys undergo many age changes that might lead to the impaired function. The kidney failure is common disease among older cats, and signs are very varied. Thus, picking up any changes in kidneys early, may provide better quality of the life.
- Dental disease is common in the older cats and will hinder eating & cause pain. Read also: How to Prepare Your Cat for a Baby.