That said, certain diseases such as asthma and lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) are more commonly diagnosed at this age. It’s important to keep cats up to date on their vaccines and routine examinations, even though this age group is relatively resistant to illness. Careful management of their weight will reduce the likelihood of health conditions, such as arthritis and diabetes, in the future. They have reduced calorie needs and should be eating adult cat food at this time. Young adult cats are still very active and playful, but they are no longer growing physically. Older kittens (6 months to 1 year) should be spayed or neutered to reduce the risk of certain cancers and life-limiting behavioral issues, such as urine marking or spraying. Kittenhood is also the time their immune system is introduced to protective vaccines, such as FVRCP, rabies, and FeLV vaccines. Appropriate diets will have an Association of American Feed Control Officials nutritional adequacy statement on the label that states the diet provides “complete nutrition for growing kittens.” It’s important that kittens are fed a diet specifically formulated for growth, as they have higher caloric needs at this age to help them grow big and strong. Though most kittens learn bathroom and feeding habits without much help, it’s also important to socialize kittens and engage in appropriate play to set them up for behavioral success. This young, playful life stage is incredibly important for setting your cat up for success. Life Stages of CatsĪs your cat ages, he goes through different life stages that affect his behavior and health needs.Ī kitten’s job is to grow and to learn how to interact with his environment. And these cats tend to live much longer than those allowed to roam. Though some cats will benefit emotionally and behaviorally from supervised outdoor activities such as walking on a leash or exploring outdoor enclosures, most cats can be very happy as indoor-only pets in a properly enriched environment. Parasites (fleas, ticks, and intestinal parasites) Infectious disease (from wildlife and/or other cats) Unfortunately, cats that are allowed unsupervised and unlimited outdoor access will find their average life expectancy cut in half. For example: Maine Coon cats have an average lifespan of 10-13 years, while a Siamese can live to be 15-20. Breed-specific lifespans vary too, so purebred cat parents should take their kitty’s breed into consideration as well. It’s thought that mixed-breed cats are affected by hereditary illnesses less frequently than purebred cats, and so their average lifespan is typically one to two years longer. Many factors contribute to how long a cat will live. Some lucky felines have been known to live 20 years or more-the world record holder for oldest cat on record, adorably named Creme Puff, lived to be a whopping 38 years old. The average cat lifespan is between 13-17 years. Here’s everything you need to know about the lifespan of cats. So, if you’ve ever found yourself wondering how long cats live, the answer is largely dependent on how you and your vet work together to approach your cat’s nutrition, vaccination, oral health, and environmental needs as he changes through the years. And it’s a pet parent’s responsibility to help their kitty reach those golden years by giving him proper care for each life stage. Thanks to advances in feline medicine, nutrition, and care, our house cats are living longer, healthier lives.
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