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How Long Does House Cats Live

Do Barn Cats Have A Good Life

How Long Do Cats Live? Explained.

If you want the barn cats to live a long happy life, care for it much the same as you would an indoor kitty. Even though you may be hoping that the barn cat will be hungry enough to do a job of catching potentially damaging mice, they still need to be fed a diet that will keep them healthy and strong. via

Cat Breeds With The Longest Lifespans

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While it’s not uncommon for cats to reach 15 years old, some cat breeds stand out as long-lived companions. There’s no guarantee that your cat will live into its 20s, as nature and nurture both are determining factors. But picking a cat breed with a longer lifespan and taking great care of your cat improves your odds of having a loving feline for many years.

Do Barn Cats Need Heat

Shelter. All too often people assume that barn cats will stay warm in the barn, but unless it is heated, it won’t necessarily be warm enough to keep them safe. Ideally, you want to keep the shelter small enough to fit two cats. This minimizes air space and makes it easier for the cats to keep warm. via

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Why Do Outdoor Cats Live Shorter Lives

Outdoor felines face a range of potentially life-threatening dangers, including:

  • Cars, trucks, and other vehicles
  • Cats, dogs, and wild animals
  • Parasites like fleas and ticks
  • Poisons, including pesticides and fertilizers
  • Toxic plants like lilies

Cats who wander outdoors also risk theft or capture by animal control authorities. The chances of returning home increase dramatically when pets are microchipped and registered in the appropriate database.

Top 10 Cat Breeds That Live The Longest

How Long Do Domestic Cats Live?

For cat lovers, cats can ended up more than being a pet. They could become our loyal friends or even family. We definitely want them to stay with us as long as they can. Though most domestic cats dont usually live long, some breeds tend to have longer life span compared to the others. If you are looking for an especially long-lived cat breed and want to enjoy its company for a long time to come, you can consider to keep the following breeds.

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How Long Do Cats Live

Pet parents want to know how long they can expect their cats to live. The information helps with practical planning and emotional readiness. And while nobody can tell you exactly how long an individuals lifespan will be, statistics do allow us to answer the question How long do cats live? in a general way.

The feline life expectancy that is quoted in reference texts varies, but a good, average figure is 10 to 15 years.Another statistic that veterinarians commonly use in practice is the following:

Cats who spend significant unsupervised time outdoors tend to survive to be about 7 years old, while indoor-only cats can be expected to live to around 14 years of age.

These numbers may seem low, but they represent an average of the lifespans of ancient, well-cared-for kitties; unfortunate individuals who died early from disease or accident; and everybody in between.

Heres an example using a rather typical litter of four. The senior citizen of the group makes it to 18 years old, with another sibling dying from an age-related disease at a very respectable 15. So far, so good. However, one littermate succumbed to an infectious disease as a kitten and the fourth cat was killed by a car at the relatively young age of 10. If you look at the litter as a whole, they fall on the low end of that 10- to 15-year life expectancy range, despite the longevity of two of the cats.

Age of Cat

Fleas In House No Pets: Why Do I Have A Problem

If you think that you can only have fleas in your home if you have a dog or a cat, you arent alone. Contrary to this common misconception, although flea infestations are more common if you have a dog or a cat, these parasites can make their way inside on any type of fabricwhich includes any piece of clothing on your body or any item you may bring inside your house that has been in an infested area.

If you have grass in your front or back yard, these tiny parasites can hitch a ride with you or a guest into your home. Fleas could also enter your living spaces if you return from a friends house with a flea problem which has yet to be discovered. Another possibility is that a wild animal with fleas, such as an opossum, feral cat, skunk or raccoon, may have taken up residence without your knowledge on your property, putting you at risk for an infestation. In these cases, these creatures may introduce fleas as they build a nest in your attic, in trees near your home or even underneath your patio. As a result, you could have a flea problem, even if you have no furry family members.

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Cat Nutrition And Lifespan

Cats primarily eat meat, so they are considered obligate carnivores, and this should be reflected in the food we feed them. A lot of research has been done to determine the dietary needs of a house cat, so the food options that are available to cat owners are plentiful.

But not all foods are created equal. Adult cats cannot digest large amounts of carbohydrates or lactose, so these are unnecessary ingredients in their food. Carbohydrates can even decrease how much protein is digested, so they are, in fact, harmful to a cat. Proteins, on the other hand, are very important to a cat. Cats require a large amount of protein when compared to a dog, due to their unique digestive system. Adult cats should receive at least 5.5 g/kg of protein a day. This means the average eight-pound cat needs to consume at least 20 grams of protein each day and often much more.

Essential amino acids are also very important to a cat. Taurine, methionine, and cystine are some of these essential amino acids, and without them, important vitamins, and the proper amount of protein, a cats health may suffer greatly.

S For Increasing Lifespan

How Long Do Cats Live?

The first and probably most intuitive way to improve your cats chances of living a long, healthy life is to offer a high level of nutrition in its diet. Make sure that you feed your cat food that provides it with quality and balanced nutrition. Also make sure that your cat is current on all necessary vaccinations. In order to prevent any disease or other health issues, its important to have your cat see the veterinarian at regular intervals. And perhaps less intuitive than the other methods, ensuring that your cats oral hygiene is tended to is hugely important, as its gums serve as a major conduit for blood flow. Any dental or oral disease can result in bacteria being channeled through the body, which can lead to serious health issues.

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Do Dryer Sheets Repel Fleas

You may have heard rumors that you can simply use some dryer sheets to repel fleas to prevent them.

Dryer sheets are not effective for flea prevention or treatment. You are better off with a dedicated flea treatment. It may feel like a good short term solution but, long term its likely to give you better results using the dedicated treatment.

It will stop you from having to repeat the process over and over again. So, now you know that dryer sheets are not the ideal flea repellent and better options on the market.

How Long Do Cats Live If Theyre Outdoor Cats

A number of challenges tend to limit the average cat lifespan of an outdoor cat. Of course, outside means different things depending on where a cat lives and when were answering How long do cats live?

Do you live in an urban, suburban, rural or remote location? How many neighbors have outdoor cats? Do you live in a place with an abundance of predatory wildlife? Are there feral or stray animals nearby? Is the weather amenable year-round to an outdoor lifestyle? How close do you live to roads and thoroughfares?

These are all limiting factors, as are increased exposure to fleas, ticks, and other parasites and illnesses. Outdoors, cats can also get into cat fights and scrapes with other cats and are at increased risk of accidents.

However, they also have the freedom to explore, mark out favored perches and get natural exercise. Because there are so many more unpredictable variables, the numbers are generally not good, and cat lifespan ranges much more widely, anywhere from three to 10 years. The average cat lifespan outdoors is 5.625 years.

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How Big Do Tuxedo Cats Grow In Size

How big do tuxedo cats grow You can find tuxedo cats in all size ranges, the average size of tuxedo cat is around 910 in height and 8.8 and 11.0 lb in weight Can tuxedo cats be grey and white While most tuxedo cats are black and white, some tuxedo cats coats can also be gray, silver and even orange.

Light Sleep = On Alert

How Long Does The Average Domestic Cat Live

Just like people, felines are known to be able to doze in a simple catnap or to fall into a very deep sleep. When your cat naps, it will position its body in a manner which will enable him to spring up right into the action at a rapid notice. This phase usually lasts for fifteen minutes to no more than half an hour.

During the more profound sleep state, the cat is going to experience the quick movement of their brain. It would last about five minutes, and the cat would go right back into dozing. The latter is a pattern which is going to go on until the feline wakes up.

Its also important to understand that kittens, as well as older cats, would sleep more than those who are average-aged.

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Keep Your Cat Indoors

While indoor cats can live well into their teens, outdoor cats only have a lifespan of about 5 years. Some cats sit at the door, waiting for their chance to explore the great outdoors, and while it may be tempting to give in, your cat will always be safer inside. An outdoor cats life has many more stressors than an indoor cats which decreases their lifespan.

Life in the outdoors may seem like a great way to keep your cat engaged and entertained, but outdoor cats can come into contact with diseases, become prey for larger predators like coyotes, can become victims of poison or traps, or get into car accidents while trying to cross the street. Your cat can still have a great life living inside as long as you enrich their environment so they dont get bored. You can keep your kitty entertained with silver vine toys, catios, or these expert-recommended cat toys.

Life Span And Survival

Without human assistance

Adult feral cats without human assistance have been found in surprisingly good condition. In Florida, a study of feral cats admitted to a trap-neuter-return program concluded that “euthanasia for debilitated cats for humane reasons is rarely necessary”. A further study of over 100,000 community cats admitted to TNR programs in diverse locations of the U.S. resulted in the same 0.4% rate of euthanasia for debilitating conditions. The body condition of feral cats entering a TNR program in Florida was described as “generally lean but not emaciated”. However, many community cats had suffered from parasites such as fleas and ear mites before entering TNR programs.

With human assistance

Feral cats in managed colonies can live long lives. A number of cats in managed colonies in the United Kingdom died of old age.:522

A long-term study of a trap-neuter-return program on a university campus in Central Florida found that, despite widespread concern about the welfare of free-roaming cats, 83% of the cats studied had been present for more than six years, with almost half first observed as adults of unknown age. The authors compared this result to a 1984 study that found the mean life span for domesticated cats was 7.1 years.

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Do Fleas Live In Peoples Hair

If you have noticed fleas around your home you may be wondering if theres a chance they can get into your hair, ew!

No, fleas do not get enough nourishment from our blood. So, they are not likely to live in your hair. And, they are even less likely to lay eggs there. If they are desperate and there are no pets for them to get nourishing blood from they may hitch a ride on us until they can find a suitable host.

So, now you know fleas do not enjoy living in our hair but they may hitch a ride on you as a temporary measure.

Why Am I The Only One Getting Bit By Fleas

how long do domestic short haired cats live

If you have a large family home and you notice that youre the only one that seems to be getting bitten you may be wondering why this is happening.

You are the only one getting bitten by fleas because each person has a different chemical makeup. For example, each human secretes different levels of carbon dioxide. These small differences can affect which person attracts fleas and this could be the reason why youll notice bites on one person more than others.

Other things to note as well is the reaction from flea saliva. It can be drastically different from person to person.

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How Long Can A Tuxedo Cat Live In The House

The tuxedo cat facts is they gel well with other pets in the house due to their friendly nature. They can even get along well with dogs and are seen enjoying a good playtime. They may even follow you around the house like dogs. An indoor tuxedo cats can live up to 15 years while a tuxedo in the outdoors can live for only 5 years.

Tuxedo cat facts you might not know is the first tuxedo cat to be domesticated was thousands years ago. Back in the ancient times, those cats stunned with short black and white hair and sleek-coated look which contributed a lot for their popularity. The shorthair tuxedo cats originate from Ancient Egypt.

Indoor Cats Life Expectancy

Cats that spend time indoors only, will have a longer life. Indoor cats are less exposed to bacteria, diseases, traffic accidents or the danger of chewing on toxic plants. Indoor cats may live between 12 and 15 years of average. However, the record age of an indoors cat is 25. This is the official record cat age that appears in the Guinness book of records, however, unofficially, some say that the record age is close to 36 years.

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What If Theyre Indoor Cats

When it comes to the question How long do cats live? all the research weve done overwhelmingly suggests that indoor cats live nearly three times as long as outdoor cats. How long do cats live if theyre indoor cats? Indoor cats are typically sterilized, vaccinated and removed from the stresses, risks and dangers of the outside world. They are fed regularly and have easy access to water that is fresh and clean.

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They require more attention, more distractions, and must be encouraged to get sufficient exercise to avoid obesity. Fortunately, attentive cat owners provide all of those things. The numbers varied widely among all the sites we visited, ranging from 14 to 20 years. Based on the numbers we chronicled, the average lifespan of an indoor cat is 16.875 years.

Signs Of Ageing In Cats

Everything You Need to Know About the Lifespan of Your ...

Your cat may become less playful as he ages and spend more time sleeping.

Weight loss is quite common in older cats; this should never be put down to just aging; there is always a cause of weight loss, which should be investigated. Common causes include diabetes, hyperthyroidism, kidney disease and cancer, which are all common diseases that can affect middle-aged to older cats.

Arthritis is a common disease that can creep up on older cats which occurs when the joints degenerate. Symptoms include limping, reluctance to put weight on one leg, stiffness, particularly when waking and reluctance to jump.

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History Of Domesticated Cats

Cats have been kept as pets for thousands of years. They;originate from the Near East countries where they were domesticated from wild cats to help control rodent populations. These cats spread throughout the world as pets, and we eventually started selectively breeding them for specific traits, thus creating different breeds. The primary cat breeds were originally bred using cats from four major regions; the Arabian Sea, the Eastern Mediterranean, South Asia, and Western Europe. These four regions have produced cats that have different genetic markers based on what region, or race, they are from.

Other Factors Determining Cat Life Span

Other factors that contribute to determining your cat’s life span include:

  • Health condition; cats with certain medical conditions will live less
  • Home care; how well you take care of your cat
  • Balanced diet
  • Exercise; a less active cat will have a shorter life span
  • Genetic factors

So, if you want to ensure that your pet lives a long and quality life, make sure you visit the vet on a regular basis, take care of his diet and have him exercise at least a few minutes per day. Prevent cat obesity, as this shortens your cat’s life significantly.

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