What is a cat’s typical life expectancy? The only problem with our fuzzy feline friends is that they don’t live forever. Eventually, our pet cats begin to show signs of age, and begin to play less and sleep more. Sadly, there is no magical fountain of youth that promises to make your furry friends live forever – but according to a new medical study, house cats are living much longer and healthier lives than they used to!
In the latest “Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery” a new study reveals that the typical cat life expectancy has been greatly improving over the years. Consumer Affairs quoted the new study, and explained, “Today, pet cats are living until their late teens or early 20s (the human equivalent of 100 years old). In fact, more than 20 percent of the cats we see around today were 11 years or older in 2011, researchers estimate.”
The major increase in age for our beloved cats can most likely be attributed to healthier eating habits, maybe even that over-priced organic cat food that is all the rage these days, plus more frequent trips to the veterinarian. Believe it or not, taking your cat to the vet wasn’t a common practice a few decades ago.
There is one slight downside to our felines living longer and unprecedented lives – vets and medical experts really don’t have too much experience with cats in their late teens or 20’s, so it’s pretty much unchartered waters when it comes to care for elderly house cats. So, even though your pet may be living much longer than any one expected, including his veterinarian, his health care will pretty much become experimental once he reaches a certain age.
Are you happy to hear that cats are living longer and healthier lives than they used to? Why do you think that is? Do you have an elderly pet cat, how old is he or she? Let us know in the comments below!
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Advances in medical science are increasing the life span of our pets as well as of us. I’m so happy about that!
What a great post – it works two ways to let us know we can take care of our kitties in the right way for a longer and healthier life and that those seeking to get a cat will remember that they can have a long lifespan so be certain you want to commit to that!
I had no idea any of this. We have 3 cats, and helping them live a happier and fuller life is something we hope we are doing. We wish they could live forever.
This is fantastic news! We consider our dog to be such a huge part of our family, that just the thought of losing him makes my heart hurt. I am sure the same holds true for cat owners too.
there are a lot more options these days to keep our pets healthy and live longer for sure. My doggie is 8 and still a spring chicken
Thank you for this great post! I have a cat and I am very happy to know more about her being healthy!
Well this is great news. I think my daughter’s cat is around 7 and my kittens aren’t even two years old.
I have to admit that we do not take our cat to the vet regularly. We do take the dog. It is so nice to know that they are living longer!
I also have to admit that my cat does not see a vet as regularly as she should. This post is very informative! Thanks.
I had two beloved cats during my childhood. They lived all the way into my early twenties and I still think about the bond that I had with them to this day. So great to hear that cats are living longer – makes me happy to think about.
I have a friend who is so fond of her cats. i will definitely share this to her, she will be delighted!
Yes! I’m super happy that cats are living longer. I have two of my own. To know that their life expectancy could be longer makes me happy. My mom’s cat who I believe was 14 just did just died last year. It was sad but she lived a happy life.
I always feed my cats and dogs the healthiest food I can find because it definitely makes a difference.
I didn’t know that cats are now living longer. That’s great news. And your kitty is adorable!
Oh, this is great. Makes me want to adopt a cat and grow it along with my son. He will definitely like it.
Our cat, while fairly new to us, is very old. He’s not very playful, lol, but who is at that age? 🙂 He’s awesome though and we’re happy to have him as a part of our family.
I am so happy to hear these things because we have a cat in our family that we just got a little under a year ago. Glad that she will be around for a while to come.
I love that there are so many advancements so pets can be with us longer. I don’t have any cats but I have two dogs and want them to live a long life.
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I had a cat who lived to be 21 yrs. Old. It was heart breaking when I had to have her euthenized. I loved her with all my heart and miss her so much. I now have a new cat whom I adopted a yr.ago. I have fallen in love with his name is Oreo. He can never replace my 21 yr. old cat but I can give him as much love.I believe our Lord created all animals to be loved .
I have been so lucky. Our first cat joined us when we were married. Ernie lived to 19years. All our other cats have been obtained from my husbands vet practice that needed homes. Beatrice came our way after being hit by a car and taken to the practice by one of the employees. My husband guessed at the time she was about a year old. She had a wonderful long life staying till last December, She was 21! The two remaining cats are 7 and 10 years…hoping for lots more!
Usually a bad tooth, bladder stones which are prominent in felines can cause such pain it drives a cat crazy. Could be many a things, is he good to the cat? Why is it only attacking husband?. Unless xrays were done its hard to tell any underlying conditions
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