Feline Friends Living Longer As Cat Health Care Improves

Our feline friends are living longer than ever before just like we are. This is thanks to improvements in nutrition and cat health care. Nowadays, almost everything that is possible in human medicine is possible in cat health care, although very advanced treatments can be incredibly expensive so cat health care insurance is always a good investment.

The longer and healthier lives that out furry friends are benefiting from are thanks to preventative medicines, increased awareness on the part of cat owners of the need for regular checkups and better quality nutrition. Cat food has come a long way in recent years, with the quality of shop bought food improving and many cat owners providing special diets at home. Whilst some breeds of cat are naturally inclined to live longer than others, the trend is visible across every type of pet cat. It is no longer unusual for a cat to live to be over eighteen, and sometimes well into its 20s. The extension of pet cat life expectancy has been reflected on cat food packaging: in the past, senior cat food was labelled for cats of seven years or over and geriatric for cats over twelve. These days few people use the term senior for a cat under ten.

The most important cat health care advice that owners should take on board if they want their pet to benefit from a long and healthy life is probably to monitor their pet's weight. Healthy sized and even slightly thin cats live significantly longer than their more portly counterparts. Also, a whopping 70% of cats suffer with periodontal disease by the age of four. Tooth and gum problems in cats can have far-reaching consequences including heart, liver and kidney problems, so regular teeth cleaning goes a long way.

Keeping aging cats active, mentally and physically is vital too. It is estimated that the vast majority of senior cats suffer with arthritis, so play and exercise will keep joints lubricated, minimising pain. Play will also keep brains active, avoiding feline equivalents of Alzheimer's.

Jess Moss is a writer from England. She enjoys writing about current affairs and animals, especially cat health care. Visit http://www.pethealthinfo.org.uk/cats for more information.