BS: Life Expectancy in Cats

Subject: BS: Life Expectancy in Cats
From: GUEST,Bluesman
Date: 21 Aug 11 - 01:38 PM

My cat was seventeen in June past. She has become very slow in recent days, eating okay, but slow and can barely keep her eyes open. She was at the vet last Friday, he said she is healthy enough, kidneys, heart and weight all good, but said the years are against her.

I hate the thoughts of losing her. Anyone know the life expectancy of a cat ?

Subject: RE: BS: Life Expectancy in Cats
From: SINSULL
Date: 21 Aug 11 - 01:42 PM

Most of mine have been rescued from the streets of NYC. 14 is a good age for them. But I have known people whose cats were born into safe homes and lived into their twenties. It is sad to lose a good friend. Sometimes you just have to decide that the quality of life isn't there or worse a sudden downturn will leave your friend in terrible pain with no vet available.
M

Subject: RE: BS: Life Expectancy in Cats
From: pdq
Date: 21 Aug 11 - 01:45 PM

In human terms, a 17 year old house cat is about 83.

Subject: RE: BS: Life Expectancy in Cats
From: GUEST,Bluesman
Date: 21 Aug 11 - 02:12 PM

Thanks for your replies. It means a lot to me.
As we get older we prefer pets to people. They will never let us down.

Subject: RE: BS: Life Expectancy in Cats
From: GUEST,Josepp
Date: 21 Aug 11 - 02:17 PM

17 or 18 is about the limit of most cats. Some make it to 20 but that's rare.

Subject: RE: BS: Life Expectancy in Cats
From: Midchuck
Date: 21 Aug 11 - 04:09 PM

My wife was told by a vet that a realistic way to figure the age of domestic cats was like so:

First six months of a cat's life = first fifteen years of a human's

Second six months of cat's life = next five years of a human's, i. e. a one-year old cat is the equivalent of a twenty year old human.

After that, every year of the cat's life = four years of a human's, i. e. a five year old cat is equal to a 20 + 16, or 36 year old human.

A ten year old cat would be equal to a 20 + (9 x 4), or 20 + 36, or 56 year old human.

At 17, a cat would be equivalent to a 20 + 64, or 84 year old human.

Or so I figure it.

Peter.

Subject: RE: BS: Life Expectancy in Cats
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 21 Aug 11 - 04:20 PM

Siamese, in my experience, have a slightly shorter lifespan of about 12 years, as compared to the 'British' type, which as has already been said, can live to twenty but more usually 15-18yrs. I'm so sorry Bluesman that you're feeling sad at the thought of saying goodbye, I've gone through that a lot over the years and it's terribly painful. My cats have meant everything to me, and when it's time, I can hardly bear it. But sometimes it's better for the old friend than letting them go on in distress and discomfort. I always trust the Vet's opinion, and take a little comfort in the happy and much-loved life my cat has lived at my side. It's no different IMO to losing a human family member, just as agonising. Maybe you have a few years yet with her, I do hope so. Eliza.

Subject: RE: BS: Life Expectancy in Cats
From: GUEST,Bluesman
Date: 21 Aug 11 - 05:49 PM

Thanks Eliza, meant to say, she is a maine coon. They are beautiful.

Subject: RE: BS: Life Expectancy in Cats
From: olddude
Date: 21 Aug 11 - 06:04 PM

I don't know but mine is now 18 or 19 and she was the one still playing with the Raccoon before it got waffled by a car. She is now kinda lowly and depressed. I think I gota put her on paxil or something ...

I have a theory, they never die, they just re-inflate and go live with someone else. Mine still acts like a kitten and she is older than dirt. Love the critter

Subject: RE: BS: Life Expectancy in Cats
From: ranger1
Date: 21 Aug 11 - 07:04 PM

Indoor cats tend to live longer than outdoor cats. One of my cats was six months shy of her 20th birthday when she developed a tumor in her abdomen. My other cat made it only to 13 and developed lymphoma.

One of my grans had cats that typically lived into their late teens and twenties. The persian was 20, the siamese was 21, and the off the street stray was 17.

Subject: RE: BS: Life Expectancy in Cats
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 21 Aug 11 - 07:54 PM

Starboard was the oldest I know we had. His back legs were gone a little (but his front were strong and believe me it could hurt if he assisted himself in getting up on your knee that way!) and there was no physical reason for having him put down.

We had him put down at 18 because greenbottles had layed eggs in him. I still think we made the wrong choice but there we go - can't undo it now.

He was 18.

(boncing posts triny pt 1)

Subject: RE: BS: Life Expectancy in Cats
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 21 Aug 11 - 07:55 PM

(Pt 2)

I can think of little Delia who we got from a feral this

Subject: RE: BS: Life Expectancy in Cats
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 21 Aug 11 - 07:55 PM

(pt 3)

to the happy this before what believe was the gamekeepers Jack Russell killing her at maybe 1 yr old and a couple of road accidents but I think most of the others passed 10 at least.

Subject: RE: BS: Life Expectancy in Cats
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 21 Aug 11 - 07:58 PM

(maybe bad like in section two which should have been this

that caused the bounces)

Subject: RE: BS: Life Expectancy in Cats
From: GUEST,Josepp
Date: 21 Aug 11 - 09:20 PM

Mine's 11 or so. Shows no signs of slowing down yet. No cat has ever lived a more carefree life than mine. He goes where he wants, sleeps where he wants, always has food, gets his flea & tick treatments regularly. He's still very spry and athletic. He's a happy, healthy cat. When it's his turn to go, I know that he had a good, happy life. Never spent a day in misery. I couldn't bear the thought.

Subject: RE: BS: Life Expectancy in Cats
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Aug 11 - 10:59 PM

We've had several oldies in our family. My son's oldest had to be put down last year and she was well into her twenties. I've had Siamese which made to their late teens. All of the ones I've had have all been indoor cats with an enclosed cat run since 1983 when we left the Wyoming prairie for busy streets of New England.

The two we have right now are a Siamese and a tabby, both about 15. The tabby shows a little age, but has no problem romping around when he feels like it. The Siamese is a big boy, too, and shows no signs of being anything but a young cat.

Bluesman, when the time comes, you might find some comfort in the postings of THIS OLD THREAD. We have a long history at Mudcat of supporting one another through the losses of our furpersons.

May we know the name of your kitty? I'd like to send her and you some hugs.:-)

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Life Expectancy in Cats
From: JennieG
Date: 21 Aug 11 - 11:52 PM

Our Binky is now 14, and still sometimes plays like a kitten....when she isn't sitting in the sun coming through the window, or on a lap. While we know she won't be around forever we will miss her terribly when it's her time to go, much more than any other kitty who has shared our lives. Bluesman, I can really feel what you are going through.

Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: BS: Life Expectancy in Cats
From: Goose Gander
Date: 22 Aug 11 - 12:25 AM

twenty years tops.

Subject: RE: BS: Life Expectancy in Cats
From: Genie
Date: 22 Aug 11 - 01:33 AM

There's no realistic linear relationship between cat years and human years, but one
formula for cat years is based on a cat reaching maturity in approximately 1 year, which could be seen as 16 in human terms, then adding about 4 years for every year the cat ages. A 5-year-old cat would then be (5 − 1) × 4 + 16 = 32 "cat years" (i.e. human-equivalent years), and a 10-year-old cat (10 − 1) × 4 + 16 = 52 in human terms.
At any rate, indoor cats have been known to live into their twenties and even indoor-outdoor cats can live into their late teens.

Subject: RE: BS: Life Expectancy in Cats
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 22 Aug 11 - 04:17 AM

I took notes this morning when an animal expert was talking about cats & wildlife. I'll be moving sometime in the next few years into a place with a yard & would love a cat. I've been catless since 1978! That's a long time between purrrrrrs.

He said an outdoor cat lives on average a lot less than an indoor cat (5 yrs vs 15+ years) as it faces more danger, apart from the danger it poses to small birds. He also suggested keeping cats indoors when birds feed - ie. early morning & late afternoon.

Subject: RE: BS: Life Expectancy in Cats
From: GUEST,Bluesman
Date: 22 Aug 11 - 04:32 AM

Thanks for all of this. Her name is Macushla. Glad to be able to say she is brighter today, yesterday I honestly thought she was slipping away.

Subject: RE: BS: Life Expectancy in Cats
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 22 Aug 11 - 08:32 AM

My cat lived until she was 18, a couple of years previous to that the vet warned us that she could go at any time but she kept plodding on. She just didn't seem to want to give up but in the end she could hardly stand so reluctantly we had to let the vet intervene.

Subject: RE: BS: Life Expectancy in Cats
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 22 Aug 11 - 10:56 AM

katlaughing, I was very interested in the rather longer life of your Siamese over there in USA. Here we tend to have the type of breed which has been selected for over the past thirty years, very skinny, dainty and with a very long, pointed, wedge-shaped face, and huge wide ears. I've heard that the USA Siamese can be the more traditional type, with more rounded faces and bodies a bit stockier. What type were yours please? Ours are called 'foreign type' and include self-colours and also tabby-point, blue-point, seal-point, red-point etc etc. I'm fascinated because I used to show my cats with the British Cat Fancy, and I saw one or two traditional Siamese at the shows. I wonder if the shorter life of the 'whippier' ones is because their body mass is less? Maine coons are very popular here, huge and beautiful, and I've heard very gentle and affectionate.

Subject: RE: BS: Life Expectancy in Cats
From: Becca72
Date: 22 Aug 11 - 11:01 AM

Kat,
Feel free to post another picture of your lovely boys. Your Siamese is one of the most handsome kitties I've ever laid eyes on! :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Life Expectancy in Cats
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 22 Aug 11 - 11:07 AM

Good idea Becca, perhaps Kat could post a pic, then I could see her boys.

Subject: RE: BS: Life Expectancy in Cats
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 22 Aug 11 - 09:55 PM

We had one cat that made it to 21. I had one who died of premature kidney failure at 7, to everyone's suprise. We've had quite a few make it to 17-19. As long as they're happy being a cat we help them. When we feel they have given us "the look" we have ended their pain.

Subject: RE: BS: Life Expectancy in Cats
From: Genie
Date: 22 Aug 11 - 10:49 PM

Yes, Phil, I do think cats (and probably dogs too) tend to "tell" us when "it's time."   My tortie Minnie suffered from noticeable arthritis and then urinary incontinence in her 16th & 17th years (I had to put chucks down on the couches and rugs during her last few months) but still acted like she wanted to go about her daily explorations and shows of affection, even as it became harder to get her to drink or to retain any of the liquids she consumed.   Then one evening when I called for her she did not come.   After searching for her for quite some time outside (I always brought her in at dusk or before), I noticed she was standing by my leg, making no sound, not rubbing against me. Her fur was matted and she looked dazed. She let me bathe her--something I normally would have attempted at peril of my own life--and I discovered she had an abcess. It was obvious that she was 'on her way out', so I took her to a naturopathic vet the next day and held her while she slipped away.   The point is, as long as she seemed to be interested in staying alive and doing "cat things," I was not going to "put her down."   I have no doubt she told me when she was ready to go.

I'm glad your kitty seems to be making improvement. My sister's 15 1/2-year-old lab-huskie mix dog seemed to be on death's door about a year ago but bounced back (to being a normal 'old man' dog).   Then last week he seemed to be dying again, but with some TLC and meds he's rebounding somewhat again. In human years he's somewhere between 85 and 100, but estimating this is not an exact science.   I think it's good to realize that sometimes when we think an old pet is "dying" our conclusions may be premature.

Subject: RE: BS: Life Expectancy in Cats
From: katlaughing
Date: 22 Aug 11 - 11:59 PM

Bluesman, that is a beautiful name. Thank you for letting us know. Good to hear she is better, today.

Thanks, Becca. I think so, too.:-) I've added a couple of OTHER PIX. One of Kipling, the current proud Fellow. There's also another of Trystan, also a current proud Fellow.:-)There are a couple of ones, which have been up there, of Ms. Lovee, who passed in 2005. She was so precious.

Eliza, I'll have to scan in some old photos of two others whom I had the privilege to know/own: Sasheen, a chocolate point who had a classic apple head, I think it is called. And, Heyokah, who was a gorgeous boy. I know what you mean about the pointy faces, etc. I've always preferred the rounder look, still very Siamese. Sorry, don't mean to take over the thread, Bluesman.

Subject: RE: BS: Life Expectancy in Cats
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 23 Aug 11 - 01:42 AM

lovely photos, kat

Subject: RE: BS: Life Expectancy in Cats
From: GUEST,Josepp
Date: 23 Aug 11 - 12:16 PM

It Hurts When I Do That

Subject: RE: BS: Life Expectancy in Cats
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 23 Aug 11 - 03:48 PM

Super photos kat, very magnificent and contented pussycats. The 'apple' shaped head in a Siamese is actually the original type found in Thailand. I don't know why, but here in UK they bred that out and went for the most skinny and slinky shape. I'd like to post some pics of my 'boys' but don't know how to. (not very clever technologically) And as I'm not a memebr, I don't think it's allowed. I brought up the breed type as I wondered if it has any bearing on lifespan. It would seem that the larger the body mass of the cat's breed, the longer he/she might live. My blue-point 'Smokey' is getting a bit old now, he wants to be beside me all the time bless him. It's sad isn't it?

Subject: RE: BS: Life Expectancy in Cats
From: GUEST,Bluesman
Date: 23 Aug 11 - 04:05 PM

Beautiful cats. Thank you Kat.

Subject: RE: BS: Life Expectancy in Cats
From: Brian May
Date: 24 Aug 11 - 08:06 AM

VERY low if next door's cat continues to crap on my lawn . . .