Mary Allen
As a cat owner, you can lay the foundation for a long and happy cat life with good care, husbandry, and nutrition. Read here how you can do this.
The life expectancy of cats depends on their living conditions. For example, outdoor cats live an average of 10 to 12 years, while indoor cats have an average life expectancy of 15 to 18 years. But regardless of whether they are outdoors or not: with the right attitude and care, cat owners can ensure that their cat lives a long and happy life, and maybe even extend it by several years.
It can never be guaranteed that cats, with good care and species-appropriate husbandry, will actually not get any disease and live to old age. Finally, genetic predispositions also play a role and diseases often occur without a specific reason. But you can definitely increase the probability of your cat living a long life.
The Medical Care of the Cat
A very important point for a long cat life is the medical care at the veterinarian. These include:
- Regular Vaccinations
Vaccinations prevent many diseases such as rabies or feline distemper. To ensure vaccination protection, you should regularly check when the next vaccination is due.
- Regular Check-ups at the Vet
Regular preventive check-ups at the vet, especially for older cats, can help identify diseases early and possibly treat them.
Long Cat Life Through the Right Diet
Nutrition also plays an important role in cat care. On the one hand, this can prevent diseases, on the other hand, the right feeding ensures a strong immune system and a fit cat. Basically, it is important that the diet is adapted to the phase of life and the state of health of the cat. You should also pay attention to the following points:
High-quality Meat in Cat Food
Cats are carnivores and therefore need high-quality protein in their food. Wet food is particularly suitable for this. Phrases such as “animal by-products” on the feed packaging indicate low-quality meat. The proportion of meat in the cat food of a healthy cat should be at least 70-80 percent.
No Additives in Cat Food
Sugar additives, preservatives, and flavors have no place in cat food! Cats don’t need these substances, on the contrary: They are unhealthy and cats can’t even taste sugar.
Avoid Underweight and Overweight
Obesity is often underestimated because fat cats simply look “cute” to too many people. But that can be very dangerous: Being overweight increases the risk of certain diseases enormously. Examples of this are diabetes mellitus and joint diseases such as osteoarthritis. Therefore, make sure that your cat stays at a normal weight.
Being underweight is not healthy either, because it weakens the cat’s immune system and leads to a deficiency. If your cat is underweight, see a veterinarian as this can also be a sign of illness.
Cat Needs to Drink Enough
Cats often tend to drink too little. However, it is important that the cat drinks enough water, as this can also prevent diseases. For example, all urinary tract diseases are more likely if the cat drinks too little.
A drinking fountain can help to encourage the cat to drink because cats love running water. Wet food already contains a lot of moisture, which is why this is definitely an advantage for cats who are lazy about drinking.
Other Precautionary Measures for the Cat
In addition to medical and food-based preventive care, there are other aspects that can significantly extend a cat’s life.
Employment and Attention
While cats are known to sleep most of the day, they still require a lot of exercise and attention from their owners. This is especially true for indoor cats, but also for outdoor cats.
Cats want to work out, they want to play and they also want to be cuddled. Meeting these needs is especially important for the cat’s mental and emotional health. This is also an essential aspect of long and healthy cat life. Sufficient exercise is of course also fundamental for physical fitness.
Therefore, make time every day to play with your cat. Cats urgently need opportunities to occupy themselves in the apartment without people, for example with a scratching post, other climbing and scratching possibilities, or with a fellow cat.
Make Your Apartment, Balcony, and Garden Safe for Cats
Cats can also die from accidents. The greatest danger here is certainly road traffic for people outside but falls from balconies or accidents in the apartment also occur. So make your house and garden safe for cats:
- Design the balcony so that cats cannot fall down
- do not keep pointed or sharp objects within reach of the cat
- remove poisonous plants
- Don’t leave the window open when the cat is alone or unsupervised at home
A cat owner cannot influence or prevent accidents on the road. If you live on a busy street, you should reconsider whether or not to let your cat outside.
You can also fence your garden to make it safe for cats. This is not easy as cats can squeeze through very small holes and also jump high. However, if possible, it is an excellent solution to protect the cat from cars and other vehicles.
Castration of the Cat
Neutering can have an impact on the lifespan of both tomcats and cats. Because non-neutered animals, especially tomcats, are out and about a lot in search of a partner, cover long distances, and usually also have a larger territory. Of course, this increases the risk of being run over.
Neutering can help here because neutered cats and tomcats usually become calmer and take fewer and shorter walks, although this of course varies from cat to cat.
Avoid Stressing the Cat
Stress can trigger a lot of different diseases and should therefore be avoided at all costs. Stress can arise from situations that are unpleasant for the cat, such as noise, but also from mistakes in cat husbandry.
An example of this is the litter box: if it is too small, unclean, in a noisy place, or is also used by other cats, this causes great stress on the cat. The same goes for the feeding place. Therefore, find out exactly what requirements cats have when it comes to keeping them. It is also important to avoid stressful situations when dealing with the cat: never yell at the cat or inflict violence on it. These are absolute no-gos. If the cat wants to be left alone, respect that.
By following these tips and caring for your cat in a species-appropriate manner, you increase the likelihood of a long, healthy, happy cat life.