a serious question

I just wondered how long on average do cats live for roughly as my cat =
Josie is 10 years old and wondered if she is almost at the stage now =
where I should be giving her extra care? she is just as wild as ever, =
showing no problems really.

regards

Heather
--=20
VOTE For your Funkiest FELINE here
pick JOSIE! http://www.k9media.net/funkiestfeline/voting.php




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Indoor only cats live, on average, about 15 years, I believe. Over 10 years,
they are considered geriatric and should have blood work once yearly along
with their shots and a physical. (many cats live longer than 15 years)
Gail
"Heather-SCOTGIRL" wrote in message
...
I just wondered how long on average do cats live for roughly as my cat Josie
is 10 years old and wondered if she is almost at the stage now where I
should be giving her extra care? she is just as wild as ever, showing no
problems really.

regards

Heather
--
VOTE For your Funkiest FELINE here
pick JOSIE! http://www.k9media.net/funkiestfeline/voting.php




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Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.588 / Virus Database: 372 - Release Date: 13/02/2004

Indoor only cats live, on average, about 15 years, I believe. Over 10 years,
they are considered geriatric and should have blood work once yearly along
with their shots and a physical. (many cats live longer than 15 years)
Gail
"Heather-SCOTGIRL" wrote in message
...
I just wondered how long on average do cats live for roughly as my cat Josie
is 10 years old and wondered if she is almost at the stage now where I
should be giving her extra care? she is just as wild as ever, showing no
problems really.

regards

Heather
--
VOTE For your Funkiest FELINE here
pick JOSIE! http://www.k9media.net/funkiestfeline/voting.php




---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.588 / Virus Database: 372 - Release Date: 13/02/2004

I just wondered how long on average do cats live for roughly as my cat =
Josie is 10 years old and wondered if she is almost at the stage now =
where I should be giving her extra care? she is just as wild as ever, =
showing no problems really.

regards

Heather

My vet said years ago, age 7 was considered "senior citizen". But not any more!
At age 10, your cat could be with you another 10 years, I've heard many cats
who have lived to be 20. My oldest one died at 17. As far as your question
about extra care, why not take her in some time for an overall health
evaluation, and your vet can help you with any special needs she might have.
Other than that, (personally) I think nutrition is the most important thing
with an indoor cat.
Good luck for *many* more years with your kitty.
Sherry

I just wondered how long on average do cats live for roughly as my cat =
Josie is 10 years old and wondered if she is almost at the stage now =
where I should be giving her extra care? she is just as wild as ever, =
showing no problems really.

regards

Heather

My vet said years ago, age 7 was considered "senior citizen". But not any more!
At age 10, your cat could be with you another 10 years, I've heard many cats
who have lived to be 20. My oldest one died at 17. As far as your question
about extra care, why not take her in some time for an overall health
evaluation, and your vet can help you with any special needs she might have.
Other than that, (personally) I think nutrition is the most important thing
with an indoor cat.
Good luck for *many* more years with your kitty.
Sherry

"Heather-SCOTGIRL" wrote in message
...
I just wondered how long on average do cats live for roughly as my cat Josie
is 10 years old and wondered if she is almost at the stage now where I
should be giving her extra care? she is just as wild as ever, showing no
problems really.

regards

Heather


Your cat is considered to be a "senior" at that age, but I had a cat that
lived to be just a little less than 20 years and he did not start to show
any real signs of aging until he was 18. He declined rapidly after that,
and we made a great many visits to TED during his last year-and-a-half. My
Holly will be 9 years old in June -- and, like yours, shows no signs of
slowing down. Nevertheless, It is important at this age for you to have
Josie's health evaluated, get a full blood panel workup, and ask your vet to
discuss any changes that should be made in your cat's diet or routine.

MaryL

"Heather-SCOTGIRL" wrote in message
...
I just wondered how long on average do cats live for roughly as my cat Josie
is 10 years old and wondered if she is almost at the stage now where I
should be giving her extra care? she is just as wild as ever, showing no
problems really.

regards

Heather


Your cat is considered to be a "senior" at that age, but I had a cat that
lived to be just a little less than 20 years and he did not start to show
any real signs of aging until he was 18. He declined rapidly after that,
and we made a great many visits to TED during his last year-and-a-half. My
Holly will be 9 years old in June -- and, like yours, shows no signs of
slowing down. Nevertheless, It is important at this age for you to have
Josie's health evaluated, get a full blood panel workup, and ask your vet to
discuss any changes that should be made in your cat's diet or routine.

MaryL

"Heather-SCOTGIRL" wrote in message
...
I just wondered how long on average do cats live for roughly as my cat Josie
is 10 years old and wondered if she is almost at the stage now where I
should be giving her extra care? she is just as wild as ever, showing no
problems really.

regards

Heather
----------------
Depends on lots of factors. But so far, my cats - who've died - have lived
to be 16 & 17. Cats can live to be 20 or older, though - certainly not
unheard of. The ones I presently have are 5 & 12. They're inside cats, so
road accidents, etc. won't be factors, but age-related diseases will likely
be. I think 10's a good age at which to have geriatric bloodwork done at
the annual vet trip, to catch any of the age-related diseases early.

Cathy

--
"Staccato signals of constant information..."
("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon

"Heather-SCOTGIRL" wrote in message
...
I just wondered how long on average do cats live for roughly as my cat Josie
is 10 years old and wondered if she is almost at the stage now where I
should be giving her extra care? she is just as wild as ever, showing no
problems really.

regards

Heather
----------------
Depends on lots of factors. But so far, my cats - who've died - have lived
to be 16 & 17. Cats can live to be 20 or older, though - certainly not
unheard of. The ones I presently have are 5 & 12. They're inside cats, so
road accidents, etc. won't be factors, but age-related diseases will likely
be. I think 10's a good age at which to have geriatric bloodwork done at
the annual vet trip, to catch any of the age-related diseases early.

Cathy

--
"Staccato signals of constant information..."
("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon

"Heather-SCOTGIRL" wrote in message
...
I just wondered how long on average do cats live for roughly as my cat Josie
is 10 years old and wondered if she is almost at the stage now where I
should be giving her extra care? she is just as wild as ever, showing no
problems really.

------------------------------------------------------

I'd say the average lifespan for an indoor cat is probably 15 to 17 years or
more. With proper nutrition and veterinary care, indoor cats can live into
their 20s. Most of my cats lived into their late teens and early
twenties.

Cats over 10 should have *semiannual* exams at the very least, and after 12,
*three* exams a year at the very least .

Remember, after the first year, each human year is physiologically
equivalent to *four years* for a cat. That's why many owners are shocked
when their vet finds a tumor the size of golf ball or that their cat is in
the advanced stages of a disease which there were no signs of at the
previous year's exam.

Phil