How many years do cats live and what does it depend on?

Every pet owner wants him to live longer. If we consider cats, then today they live almost 2 times more than several decades ago. In this article, we will consider in detail how many years cats live, what it depends on, how to increase the life span of a pet.

There are various situations, for some owners pets live a long and fun life, while for others, on the contrary, they often get sick and die pretty quickly. It is worth dwelling in more detail on factors that influence the life span of an animal. If you consider them in detail, you will be able to prevent them. So, there are several main factors that affect the life of a cat.

• Genetic predisposition. A certain cat breed is prone to certain diseases, so you should be attentive to those systems that suffer the most. For example, the weak point of Persian cats is the kidneys, they quite often suffer from renal failure. For this reason, the Persians live no more than 10 years.
• Accommodations. Cats at home live better than their relatives on the street. Pets eat well, are less likely to suffer from bacterial and viral diseases, they are protected from various infections, which can not be said about street cats.
• Food. The diet in many respects affects the life span of cats, while one should not forget about the balance of food.Lack of vitamins and minerals can negatively affect the cat’s well-being, and sometimes even leads to irreversible changes in the animal’s body. Before choosing a feed, consult a specialist. It should be understood that some doctors prefer industrial feeds (dry and wet), while others emphasize the importance of natural food.
• Sterilization. This factor can be considered from two different sides. So, some doctors are sure that sterilization has a beneficial effect on the life span of the animal, because after it the pet becomes protected from diseases of the reproductive system. Typically, cats live a little longer after sterilization. On average, this figure is up to 20 years. But cats that regularly give birth, on the contrary, harm their body and live less than usual. Other doctors, by contrast, are sure that sterilization negatively affects cats, as it leads to inactivity and indifference. As a result, cats quite often suffer from obesity and diabetes, which leads to a short life.
• Propensity to chronic diseases. Usually pets with chronic diseases or those diseases that are inherited, live a little. For example, animals with diabetes can survive for about 4 years, but the presence of urolithiasis predicts only 5 years of life.
• Stress. Only pets surrounded by love become centenarians. A positive psychological climate perfectly affects the condition of the animal, which adds a few more years to life. Stress adversely affects the condition of the cat.
• Confined space and cramped space. Of course, feline representatives live better at home than street ones. But in this case, it happens that they do not have enough space for an active life - for running, games and jumping. A cat is primarily a predator that has quite developed instincts. You should not buy a kitten if you live in a small apartment or in your home there is little space for active work.

So, it was noted above that cats live longer at home than domestic cats. Now you need to consider how much feline life lasts. Animals from the street on average live from 5 to 6 years. While a domestic cat can live several times longer. On average, her life expectancy is from 12 to 17 years. Some feline representatives, who reach the age of 20, become centenarians.

Since some experts emphasize that sterilization of cats has a positive effect on the number of years, it is worth considering in more detail their usual age.

Quite often in nature, females give birth more than once a year. Each pregnancy is a hormonal change in the cat's body. If these jumps occur quite often, then the animal gives in to a lot of stress.

It is worth noting that pets that do not undergo sterilization, as well as are not allowed to reproduce, have a high rate of cancer. Usually animals after sterilization live longer. Their average life expectancy is from 15 to 20 years. If the cat does not come into contact with the cat, then its risk of contracting rather dangerous diseases is equal to zero.

Quite often there is an exception to the rule. This rule applies to cats. Sometimes there are exceptions - feline, which live longer than expected. Typically, such representatives are listed in the Guinness Book of Records.

• Longevity among cats is Puff - a cat who managed to live 38 years. This is the maximum, not a single cat has lived for so long. She lived in Texas.
• And in the south-west of England, the cat managed to live 36 years. He was born in 1903. An interesting fact is that he died the day after his birthday.
• To date, a feline representative lives in Australian Melbourne. Now the feline age is 35 years old.

Some experts note the effect of the cat breed on age, although others completely disagree with this judgment. They note that the life expectancy of cats depends initially on the diseases with which she is ill, as well as on care. To understand this issue in more detail, we will initially consider what effect the breed has on the age of cats. Initially, the differences between simple and purebred cats should be considered.

If cats appeared as a result of selection, then their health is rather poor, because their body was created by an unnatural method using genetics. If we consider indigenous breeds that were created in a natural way, then they gradually adapt to the conditions of the surrounding world. Breeding breeds live less, but “natural” ones are able to live a long and happy life.

Breeds bred by breeding methods are prone to diseases of a genetic nature, therefore they require special care from the owner. So, you should consider in more detail the life expectancy of some popular cat breeds.

• British. These cats have quite developed muscles, are characterized by strong immunity and are quite active. On average, they live from 12 to 15 years, although some individuals survive even up to 20 years, if you create the right care. This breed has practically no genetic diseases, and oncological problems are very rare.

• Scottish fold. They can be safely called real centenarians, since they usually live up to 20 years, as they have strong immunity. But it is extremely attentive to the weak points of the fold cat - this is the spine and ears.

• Siam. The average life expectancy of Siamese cats is from 14 to 18 years. Sometimes you can meet real centenarians who can live up to 30 years. An interesting fact is that longevity is passed on from generation to generation, so before buying a kitten, you should ask how many cats lived from his pedigree.

• Abyssinian cats. This breed, with proper care, can live up to 15 years, although there are cases when a cat survives to 20 years. You should be attentive to Abyssinian cats, as they are prone to kidney diseases, as well as diseases of the teeth, blood and retina.

• Persians. This breed is represented by several varieties, and each of them has a different indicator of life expectancy. For example, cats with a short nose should be classified as centenarians, since they live up to 20 years, while classic and extreme breeds are only 15 years old. Persians after 10 years of age need special care, because at this age their immunity becomes weaker, and the likelihood of diseases that are associated with the kidneys, spine or musculoskeletal system also increases.

• Russian blue. Their average duration is 15 years. There are cases when representatives of the Russian blue survived to 18-19 years.In order for the cat to live longer, after 8 years it should be regularly shown to the veterinarian so as not to miss the onset of possible diseases.

• Bengals. Representatives of this breed belong to centenarians, since they are not prone to diseases of the cardiovascular system. Usually they live 15-16 years. Bengals are among the most hardy and strong breeds.

• Sphinxes. Representatives of this breed can live up to 10 years. But bald representatives, on the contrary, can live for 20 years. A case was recorded when the sphinx lived for 31 years. These cats are distinguished by excellent immunity.

Egyptian Mau and Asian Tabby live on average just a year less. Only breeds such as tiffany, Japanese bobtail and Devon Rex can live to the age of majority. While the Maine Coon, Neva Masquerade and Australian Smoky breeds usually live to be 17 years old. The maximum age of 15–16 years old applies to cats of the Selkirk-Rex breeds, Asian Shorthair and Arabian Mau. American bobtails, York chocolate cats and exotics have been living for no more than 13 years. Snow shu and bombing cats can survive to 12 years.

Every creature should receive water and food, because life is impossible without it. If there is a lack of water or food, then this will negatively affect the body. It is impossible to determine how many days a cat can live without food.

You should know the daily dose of your pet's food to avoid experimentation. If we consider life without food, but provide free access to water, then the cat will not be able to live more than 10 days. If the cat is without water and food, then she will live about 5-6 days. In this case, her age, breed and gender also matter.

After this, a hunger strike can lead to irreversible consequences. The life of a cat depends largely on several factors.

• If it is cold outside, then the chances of surviving an animal without access to water are significantly increased, it will be able to wait for moisture to appear. But in the summer it is difficult to live without water, in just 24 hours the cat’s body in the heat will be already quite depleted.
• Food has a big impact on the urge to drink. If a cat eats dry food, then her desire to drink increases significantly. If the cat does not get water, then soon she will get sick. It happens that the owner should leave for a few days, then it is worthwhile to understand that the cat should be fed at least once a day. Therefore, it is worth asking friends to look after your pet at the time of departure.
• There is an opinion that British lop-eared cats simply do not drink water because of their breed, but their owners say the opposite, so even this breed should provide free access to water.
• The amount of water depends on the age of the cat. So, the older she is, the more she needs water. On average, a cat needs 250 ml of water per day. If cats do not receive water at home for more than 2 days, disturbances in the organs of the animal and dehydration begin. It is believed that a cat can live without water for 5 days, but it happens that she dies before.

Of course, cats live much less than humans, but it is interesting to compare the age of the animal and human. It is generally accepted that one year of feline life is equal to 7 years of man. So, a two-year-old cat is a teenager, by human standards he is 14 years old. A cat at the age of 2.5 is already an "adult." In principle, such a calculation is possible, but not throughout the life of cats. If we consider the animal’s years closer to old age, then one year should be equated to 5 human. Today, many adhere to the following scheme for calculating the cat's years:

• the first year of the animal is equal to 15 years of man;
• second year - 9 years;
• every next year - 4 years.

So, you should pay attention to the table comparing the age of a cat and a person.

There is another scheme for calculating the age of a cat when compared with human life. She is taken from an international veterinary passport for dogs and cats.

It is no secret that over the years the appearance of cats changes. An experienced veterinarian can, after examining a cat, roughly determine its age. There are certain signs by which you can determine the age of the pet, but it is worthwhile to understand that they can also indicate some diseases. So, by what signs can we say how old the cat is?

The condition of the teeth best helps to correctly determine the age of the cat. It is worth paying attention to their color. Young cats have snow-white teeth, and already in 3-5 years a yellow coating appears on them. Strong yellowing usually occurs at 5-10 years of age, but after 12 years they have a fairly intense yellow color.

And also pay attention to the fangs and incisors. As early as 3-5 years, they begin to erase little by little. And in 5–10 years, the lower and upper jaws may fall out. Usually, tartar and cracks already appear at this time. With age, gum disease appears, and existing problems are exacerbated. And after 10 years, incisors may fall out. At the age of 15, often incisors, fangs, and molars were also frayed. In this case, the cat needs a semi-liquid or soft food, otherwise it will not be able to live long.

The coat dims over time, and its pattern loses its clarity. Wool begins to lose its softness and density. All these changes become noticeable from the age of 6. And already from 10 years old you can see gray hair in separate hairs. In fairly old cats, bald spots on the hair may appear, although this symptom should not be attributed to the definition of old age, since cats lose their hair with various diseases.

Gray hair is manifested not only on the wool, but also on the mustache. Initially, several colorless hairs appear. Gradually, their number increases until all vibrissa become white. This usually happens at the age of 10 years, and sometimes earlier.

The eyes of young feline representatives are transparent, the iris is characterized by brightness, evenness and purity. Over time, it becomes heterogeneous, wrinkles, spots and lines on it become noticeable. After 10 years, the eyes become dull, sometimes cataracts may develop, with frequent lacrimation.

The spine begins to suffer from about 8-10 years, which is manifested in its sagging. It can be noted that the bones of the shoulder blades and shoulder girdle stick out, but the fat layer disappears.The skin, as well as the muscles of the back, become sagging; hanging folds may appear on the stomach. In old age, lice are usually thin, but cases of obesity are also possible.

It is worth paying attention to the gait of a cat. In old age, it becomes “wooden” - paws bend poorly, jumps are characterized by awkwardness, and coordination of movements is possible. The owner should equip a quiet shelter near the ground so that the cat does not bother, to get there. It is worth noting that cat's claws also change with age, lose flexibility.

Cats in old age are not as active as in youth. In this they are no different from people. Animals are already quite rarely playing, anxiety or timidity may occur. Typically, at the age of 10-15 years, the cat has many chronic diseases, which are characterized by fatigue, impaired urination, heart failure and joint inflammation. It is better to regularly show the cat after 10 years to the veterinarian. He can prescribe certain courses of treatment for her or change her diet.

With age, problems may occur when using the tray. As the control of urination decreases, the cat may not be in time to the tray. It should be understood that the animal is innocent of this. No need to scold him, because you can still further create psychological trauma and so weakened cat. This problem can be dealt with using disposable wipes or you can move the tray closer.

In order for the cat to live as long as possible, it is worth taking into account several tips from experts.

• It is necessary to feed the cat correctly, as well as arrange access to clean and fresh water.. If necessary, you should adhere to a special diet. Do not overfeed the animal, you must adhere to uniform servings. It should be kept from overfeeding if the pet has been neutered or sterilized. You should completely abandon pork (it is very oily), bones (they can damage the gastrointestinal tract), legumes (contribute to bloating) and dog food.
• You must regularly take your pet to the vet for examinations. Do not skip them so as not to harm your pet. It is recommended that you follow all the necessary recommendations on time. It is worth surrounding your pet with love and care. Remember that cats can very skillfully hide their pain, so with minor changes in the behavior of their pet, you should immediately go to the veterinarian.
• If you are not going to breed cats, get a pet for yourself, then it is better to be neutered or sterilized. In this case, your pet will live longer. It is worth organizing the pet an active lifestyle, since regular physical activity is the first rule of longevity.
• It is necessary to adhere to the conditions for caring for a cat. Various hygiene procedures should be followed. It is very important to regularly clean the teeth of the animal, and also remember to carry out deworming on time, as well as apply flea remedies.

It is necessary to dwell in more detail on products that should be excluded from the diet of your pet, if you want him to live longer. These include the following:

• pork is quite oily;
• the liver can lead to impaired intestinal motility;
• fish leads to a risk of urolithiasis, as well as a deficiency of vitamins;
• boiled potatoes should be banned, because it contains a large amount of starch, which is simply not absorbed by the cat's body;
• milk should be excluded if the cat has lactose intolerance, which is quite common;
• bones put the cat at risk of damage to the walls of the digestive tract;
• legumes provoke bloating;
• dog food is strictly prohibited for cats.