How Long Do Cats Live?
life stages
ketten (up to six months)
This is the best stage to introduce your cat to lots of new things such as other pets, household noises, being brushed and handled, as well as familiarising them with children.
You’ll see them go through their most rapid growth spurt during this time. This is also a good time to neuter your pet to stop unwanted litters.
junior (six manths - two years)
Your cat will reach full size during this period of time and will have reached sexual maturity.
It is important to play appropriately with your pet as this will teach them how to play nicely with people. This means ensuring not to play rough and tumble games with your cat; instead, use toys to engage with them.
Playing with your hands can encourage biting and scratching, which may seem cute when they’re a kitten, but remember that they soon grow up and the bites and scratches will get harder.
prime (three six years)
As the name of this phase suggests, your cat will be at its prime in life during these years. While they are young and healthy it’s still important to ensure that your cat remains up to date on their vaccinations and health checks to help prevent any diseases or illnesses.
mature (seven - 10 years)
As the name of this phase suggests, your cat will be at its prime in life during these years. While they are young and healthy it’s still important to ensure that your cat remains up to date on their vaccinations and health checks to help prevent any diseases or illnesses.
senior (11-14 years)
This sees your cat reach the human age of 70 years old which means that they may start needing more mental stimulation to keep them happy.
Enriching your cat’s environment should be done throughout their lives, and should be continued into their senior years, especially as cats tend to relax a lot more at this age. Food puzzles are a great way to keep your cat entertained and, if they are slightly overweight, it can keep them busy and active while trying to get their food!
Geriatric (15 years and older)
Some cats can reach this age with no signs of slowing down (lucky for some!) but for others, they may start to live life in the slow lane, happily snoozing the day away on their favourite pillow.
Geriatric cats will need to be monitored more closely for any changes in their behaviour; this can include things like vocalisation and frequency of going to the toilet. If you notice anything out of the ordinary then it’s best to book an appointment with your vet.
- Domestic cats can live for up to 20 years
- Factors such as diet, healthcare and environment can have an impact
- Cats have six key life stages which can help to understand certain health/behavioural problems
No comments:
Post a Comment