How long will my cat live?
Larry Chamberlain asked:
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.
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.
Helping our Pet Companions Recover and Maintain Natural Health
Jennifer Kays asked:
Anyone who has experienced having a pet, knows beyond a doubt of their vital importance for our lives and emotional health. Whether it’s a dog that warns us of danger, protects us or comforts us when we’re feeling “down” or it’s a cat in a hospice that curls up beside a dying patient to be with and comfort them in a time of deep, mystical transition beyond words and cognitive understanding. Pets have been a important part of providing companionship and comfort for elderly people. Dogs, cats, horses, and other animals have been our children’s teachers providing lessons of love, responsibility, confidence, sharing, comfort, strength, courage, play, communication, laughter and many other essential life lessons. It has been shown that the touch of a pet literally improves our physical health as well as our emotional health.
We share so much in common with our animal friends. We realize that part of what we share with our pets are health concerns. Just as we do, our pets can suffer from allergies, infections, heart disease, asthma, arthritis, kidney and urinary distress, wounds, excess weight gain, joint pain, eye conditions, skin disorders and other health concerns or chronic disease. It is extremely painful to be in close relationship with our pet for years and then lose it to an illness that cannot be reversed or treated. Often the powerful drugs that carry the risk of harmful side effects also carry that risk for our pets. Often these drugs only suppress the symptoms of an unwanted health condition. In time, these health conditions can become worse and require more frequent does of drugs or stronger drugs. Often the drugs seem to have cured the health disorder only to have the health disorder return with increased discomfort when the drugs are stopped.
Because of this, many of us have chosen to actively treat and prevent our pet’s health disorders with alternative therapies that are fulling a large gap left by conventional animal medicine. Many alternative natural pet care supplements and remedies are a measure of prevention that will save our pets unnecessary suffering and discomfort and provide our pets a general healthy well being that greatly improves our lives and enhances our relationship with our pet companions. It is our responsibility to do for our pet friends what they are unable to do for themselves.
We can help our pet companions by avoiding feeding them foods with high fat content or excess grain. Even then, many pet foods lack essential vitamins, minerals, amino acids and essential fatty acids vital for our pet’s health. We have available to us, many natural vitamin and mineral supplements. Some of these natural vitamins and mineral supplements are in “treat” form that excite and please our pets and afford us a chance for playful interaction with our pet friends. Natural pet health care products help with joint pain recovery, motion sickness, nerve calming, muscle relaxants, digestive health, skin and fur health and eye drops for clarity, oral health, weight control and bladder i.e. urinary health. Also available are natural shampoos and insect repellents for our pet’s comfort and health. We even have available to us, natural aromatherapy products to control unwanted order and enhance our pet’s emotional wellbeing.
We are grateful for all the wonderful ways that our pet companions enhance our lives and help improve and our physical and emotional health and well being. We are grateful for the lessons that our pets have taught and continue to teach us. We can actively demonstrate our appreciation, respect and responsibility for our animal friends, by attending to their physical and, yes, emotional health by providing our pets with natural pet health care products that keep them safe, healthy, vibrant, and active. Our efforts are beyond obligation. Our caring for our pets is motivated by our gratitude and love.
Anyone who has experienced having a pet, knows beyond a doubt of their vital importance for our lives and emotional health. Whether it’s a dog that warns us of danger, protects us or comforts us when we’re feeling “down” or it’s a cat in a hospice that curls up beside a dying patient to be with and comfort them in a time of deep, mystical transition beyond words and cognitive understanding. Pets have been a important part of providing companionship and comfort for elderly people. Dogs, cats, horses, and other animals have been our children’s teachers providing lessons of love, responsibility, confidence, sharing, comfort, strength, courage, play, communication, laughter and many other essential life lessons. It has been shown that the touch of a pet literally improves our physical health as well as our emotional health.
We share so much in common with our animal friends. We realize that part of what we share with our pets are health concerns. Just as we do, our pets can suffer from allergies, infections, heart disease, asthma, arthritis, kidney and urinary distress, wounds, excess weight gain, joint pain, eye conditions, skin disorders and other health concerns or chronic disease. It is extremely painful to be in close relationship with our pet for years and then lose it to an illness that cannot be reversed or treated. Often the powerful drugs that carry the risk of harmful side effects also carry that risk for our pets. Often these drugs only suppress the symptoms of an unwanted health condition. In time, these health conditions can become worse and require more frequent does of drugs or stronger drugs. Often the drugs seem to have cured the health disorder only to have the health disorder return with increased discomfort when the drugs are stopped.
Because of this, many of us have chosen to actively treat and prevent our pet’s health disorders with alternative therapies that are fulling a large gap left by conventional animal medicine. Many alternative natural pet care supplements and remedies are a measure of prevention that will save our pets unnecessary suffering and discomfort and provide our pets a general healthy well being that greatly improves our lives and enhances our relationship with our pet companions. It is our responsibility to do for our pet friends what they are unable to do for themselves.
We can help our pet companions by avoiding feeding them foods with high fat content or excess grain. Even then, many pet foods lack essential vitamins, minerals, amino acids and essential fatty acids vital for our pet’s health. We have available to us, many natural vitamin and mineral supplements. Some of these natural vitamins and mineral supplements are in “treat” form that excite and please our pets and afford us a chance for playful interaction with our pet friends. Natural pet health care products help with joint pain recovery, motion sickness, nerve calming, muscle relaxants, digestive health, skin and fur health and eye drops for clarity, oral health, weight control and bladder i.e. urinary health. Also available are natural shampoos and insect repellents for our pet’s comfort and health. We even have available to us, natural aromatherapy products to control unwanted order and enhance our pet’s emotional wellbeing.
We are grateful for all the wonderful ways that our pet companions enhance our lives and help improve and our physical and emotional health and well being. We are grateful for the lessons that our pets have taught and continue to teach us. We can actively demonstrate our appreciation, respect and responsibility for our animal friends, by attending to their physical and, yes, emotional health by providing our pets with natural pet health care products that keep them safe, healthy, vibrant, and active. Our efforts are beyond obligation. Our caring for our pets is motivated by our gratitude and love.
Your Dog Health Care Must Include Annual Rabies Shots
Sylvia Dickens asked:
h care must include regular rabies shots, although many dog owners do not keep their pets’ vaccinations up to date. The misconception is that since the dog doesn’t run free, it’s not important.
Even though you keep your dog restrained on a leash or in a yard, you can never guarantee he will not come in contact with this deadly disease.
Did you know that your dog can pick up the rabies virus simply by licking the ground? If a rabid animal has left saliva or other body fluid shortly before you passed, your dog is at risk.
Much of the focus for many owners is on obedience training. Dog health care is often only an issue when the dog first arrives at the home or when it becomes ill.
Rabies shots are essential if you want to ensure your dog stays healthy. But that’s not the only reason. If your dog comes in contact with a rabid animal, such as fighting with a raccoon, skunk or an infected dog, your pet could be euthanized.
And if that isn’t enough to get you to the vet, consider that rabies is a threat to your family as well.
What can you do to protect your dog and your family?
Rabies vaccines gradually lose their effectiveness over time. The longer it is since your dog was vaccinated, the more at risk he or she will become. In fact, within as a little as six months, your dog could be at risk. The maximum length of time the vaccine lasts is about two years, but by that time it’s effectiveness has deteriorated significantly.
Many people use this two-year point as the period when they give their dogs booster rabies shots. This is an unsafe practice.
For the best protection, you must have your dog vaccinated every year. Any good vet will send you a reminder every year that your dog’s shots are due.
Dog health care is important, but preventative health care is more important. It ensures your dog is protected against dangerous and painful diseases. Rabid animals suffer terribly. The disease affects their entire nervous system causing death. There is no cure.
Regular dog health care measures can protect your family from the rigors of taking the ‘cure’ if your dog does come in contact with the rabies virus.
And rabies dog health care can save your dog’s life.
Recently, two dogs in North Carolina suffered after fighting with a rabid fox. One was quarantined for 6 months, the other was euthanized. That state also had a cat and a raccoon that were rabid.
You can never be sure when rabies will be present. Infected neighborhood cats, raccoons and skunks can wander into any yard without your knowledge and leave rabies-laden saliva.
If you seldom hear about rabies, do not think that your dog is safe. Every year somewhere in the country there are reported cases of rabies in wild animals. Unprotected dogs have been euthanized after fighting with those rabid animals.
Protection is far better than treatment after the fact. There is no reason for your family or your dog to suffer. It takes about 15 minutes a year to get your dog vaccinated against rabies and other serious diseases.
Make sure your dog health care includes regular rabies vaccines to ensure your dog’s and your family’s safety.
h care must include regular rabies shots, although many dog owners do not keep their pets’ vaccinations up to date. The misconception is that since the dog doesn’t run free, it’s not important.
Even though you keep your dog restrained on a leash or in a yard, you can never guarantee he will not come in contact with this deadly disease.
Did you know that your dog can pick up the rabies virus simply by licking the ground? If a rabid animal has left saliva or other body fluid shortly before you passed, your dog is at risk.
Much of the focus for many owners is on obedience training. Dog health care is often only an issue when the dog first arrives at the home or when it becomes ill.
Rabies shots are essential if you want to ensure your dog stays healthy. But that’s not the only reason. If your dog comes in contact with a rabid animal, such as fighting with a raccoon, skunk or an infected dog, your pet could be euthanized.
And if that isn’t enough to get you to the vet, consider that rabies is a threat to your family as well.
What can you do to protect your dog and your family?
Rabies vaccines gradually lose their effectiveness over time. The longer it is since your dog was vaccinated, the more at risk he or she will become. In fact, within as a little as six months, your dog could be at risk. The maximum length of time the vaccine lasts is about two years, but by that time it’s effectiveness has deteriorated significantly.
Many people use this two-year point as the period when they give their dogs booster rabies shots. This is an unsafe practice.
For the best protection, you must have your dog vaccinated every year. Any good vet will send you a reminder every year that your dog’s shots are due.
Dog health care is important, but preventative health care is more important. It ensures your dog is protected against dangerous and painful diseases. Rabid animals suffer terribly. The disease affects their entire nervous system causing death. There is no cure.
Regular dog health care measures can protect your family from the rigors of taking the ‘cure’ if your dog does come in contact with the rabies virus.
And rabies dog health care can save your dog’s life.
Recently, two dogs in North Carolina suffered after fighting with a rabid fox. One was quarantined for 6 months, the other was euthanized. That state also had a cat and a raccoon that were rabid.
You can never be sure when rabies will be present. Infected neighborhood cats, raccoons and skunks can wander into any yard without your knowledge and leave rabies-laden saliva.
If you seldom hear about rabies, do not think that your dog is safe. Every year somewhere in the country there are reported cases of rabies in wild animals. Unprotected dogs have been euthanized after fighting with those rabid animals.
Protection is far better than treatment after the fact. There is no reason for your family or your dog to suffer. It takes about 15 minutes a year to get your dog vaccinated against rabies and other serious diseases.
Make sure your dog health care includes regular rabies vaccines to ensure your dog’s and your family’s safety.
