Saturday, September 12, 2009

Factors Affecting How Long Cats Live

By Moses Wright

How long do cats live? This is a common question from cat owners. Since many factors can affect the cat lifespan, there is no single answer. However, a healthy indoor cat can live up to twenty-one years.

If the cat is allowed to spend time outdoors without confinement or supervision, the cat lifespan is often drastically decreased. Pat cats who roam outdoors are susceptible to accidents such as being struck by a car, disease contracted from other cats, and poisoning which is usually accidental.

The hazards of being outdoors all the time drastically affects the lifespan of stray cats and feral cats. A large percentage of stray and feral cats only live a few years due to these dangers and starvation.

Keeping a cat indoors is one way to increase the longevity of the cat's life. Some people believe that there are other measures that can be taken to give the pet cat a long life.

Cat owners do have some control over some of the factors that can affect the cat longevity. Feeding a cat a healthy diet is a basic necessity for a cat to live a long life.

Cats need to have proper nutrition without having excess food which can make the cat obese. Obesity can make the cat susceptible to some cat illnesses. Obesity can also make the Current arthritis which may not decrease the cat life but can cause discomfort and pain.

Exercise in the form of active play is something that should be encouraged by the cat owner. Older cats are often less inclined to engage in active play on their own. Therefore, the cat owners should play with the cat and encourage active play.

Antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and cat vitamins are examples of nutritionals supplements that are marketed as ways to keep cat healthy and help them live longer. A veterinarian should be consulted before the cat owner gives these products to the cat. Very little research has been done on cat vitamins and cat supplements to test their safety and effectiveness.

Some factors that affect the lifespan of the cat are not within the cat owner's control such as cat diseases which often have genetic causes. Regular veterinary exams can help the cat live longer since the veterinarian can screen for cat diseases and may notice symptoms that the cat owner may miss. Since treating a disease early is the best way to avoid negative effects from the disease, regular veterinary checkups are crucial to protect the health the cat.

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