What helps cats live longer?

terestrife

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Yes, i know, life happens and things that are unavoidable can occur. Like illnesses and accidents. But i just want to do everything i can to help my cat live a long healthy life.

i was looking at a news report, and this lady has a 27 year old cat, and she credits her cats longevity to allowing her to live as a cat naturally does (meaning tiffany goes outside) and her cat is also  6 lbs, which she says is another reason her cat has lived so long.

Which is odd, i always read indoor cats live longer? My cat is indoor only, and is a big chubster at 13 lbs. I home cook my cat her meals, but she loves to eat. lol My other cat Elsa eats the same but stays thinner.

Does anyone know what kinds of things DO help a cat live longer? Or is it just luck?



look at that chubby girl! (the cat not me!
)
 

zed xyzed

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She is a cute kitty, I think it is luck, good diet and removing as many toxins out of their environment as possible.  For your home cooked diet are you supplementing with anything i.e. taurine ? cooking destroys many key nutrients that a cat needs, I always worry about home made cat foods for this one reason. 
 

denice

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Indoor cats do on average live longer.  They do need things like climbing places, toys a comfortable place to  look out the window to watch the world go by.  Experts call it environment enrichment.  When a kitty has a really long life like 27 years, I think genetics play a big part in it.  We have all heard stories or know someone who lives well into their 90's with poor diet, smoking and drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, they were extremely lucky in the genetic draw. 

The above poster is right about a homemade diet, it is fine as long as it is complete and balanced.

Routine vet visits and having a good vet that you trust is important as well especially as kitties get older.  Kitties can hide that they aren't feeling well until they are seriously ill.  Routine lab work can catch things long before they are serious and are more easily treated or controlled.
 
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terestrife

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She is a cute kitty, I think it is luck, good diet and removing as many toxins out of their environment as possible.  For your home cooked diet are you supplementing with anything i.e. taurine ? cooking destroys many key nutrients that a cat needs, I always worry about home made cat foods for this one reason. 
i cook chicken breasts and add ustew supplement. 
 

LTS3

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Genetics can play a role in how long a cat or person lives. Some are just lucky to have whatever genes are responsible for long life.

IMO, feeding the proper diet, taking the cat to the vet for routine check ups and definitely for anything that needs to be treated, keeping the cat indoors in a fairly cat-proof environment, and providing enrichment (toys, stuff to climb on and scratch, etc) and love
helps many cats live a long happy life
Diseases and accidents are unavoidable as you said but many can be managed with the help of the vet (assuming the pet owner is willing to take an active role in givng pills or fluids or whatever is needed) and a cat can still live a long life.
 

donutte

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I think the answer to this question is the secret ever cat parent wants to know!

I've had kitties live pretty long lives (nowhere near 27 but relatively long). One of the cats we had when I was a young kid lived to be close to 20. Our Ali Cat lived to be 18, just died of old age. Started sleeping a lot more and eating a lot less that last week and died in a spot of his choosing. AJ died in his sleep for reasons unknown when he was 12 or 13 (it was 2003 or 2004, thinking 2003 though). He was not sick, or at least didn't have any symptoms of being sick. 

I would love to know the secret though. Unfortunately, as other have said, in the case of living 27 years, it must be genetics.
 
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