The life expectancy of cats, much like those of humans, depends on how good the owners take care of the cat. Stray cats who live outside their whole life do not get proper nourishment, and therefore are subject to many diseases such as Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), leukemia, dehydration, and kidney, liver and heart failure from not getting enough food and water. They are also prone to getting into fights with not only other cats but raccoons, dogs, and other ferocious animals. It is logical to say that cats who live in a home are safer and healthier than those who live outside a home.

On the other hand, indoor cats with good families could expect to live up to twenty years if the care is that good. Females (again, like humans) could expect to live an average of five extra years than males. I first adopted my outdoor cat, Mr. Cat, when he was a grown cat. At the time, the people who owned him across the street from us said he was about two years old. He passed away in March of 2004, and at this time, we estimated his age to be about fourteen or fifteen years old. Well, it turns out that someone who lives with the former owner of Mr. Cat used to own him before these neighbors. We learned that Mr. Cat was about eighteen years old, not fourteen or fifteen. As soon as I heard this, I knew that it is not silly or wrong to believe that cats could live a nice healthy life. We did everything we could to keep him healthy and happy, and when the time came for his passing, we knew he had everything he could have in life.

Ways to make sure your cat lives the longest life possible include:

1) taking the cat to the doctor regularly, one to two times a year. The visit should include shots, and a general discussion with the doctor about any new symptoms of illnesses or diseases your cat may have. If needed, diagnostic tests such as blood tests and X-rays should be given as well.

2) spending a little extra on food that has less preservatives and additives, and more vitamins and minerals. It may be more expensive, but isn't the long life of a cat worth it?

3) keep the cat indoors at all times, unless it is on a leash and you are holding onto the leash the whole time. This will prevent your cat from running away where a lot of danger beholds it.

4) it may sound funny, but limit stress for your cat. You might say, "What kind of stress could a cat possibly have?" Well, cats are creatures of habit, and even the smallest changes to their routine, like leaving their plate or litter box in another space, or having new people (and, even worse, children) come for a visit, will dramatically increase your cat's level of anxiety.

5) Spaying or neutering you cat when they are old enough. It has been proven many times before that cats who are fixed live longer lives.

6) Schedule playtime with your cat each day. Exercise helps to prevent diabetes, organ failure, stress, and many other illnesses. Have at least fifteen to twenty of playtime with your cat each day.

There are plenty of things cat owners could do to ensure a long, healthy life for their cat. Owning a cat takes responsibility and planning, but the love and affection they could get from a cat's warmth makes everything even more worth the time and expense.

Learn more about this author, Erin Yarrobino.
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