Secrets Behind a Long Life for Your Pet Cat

My cat lived to be 22 years old. If I had known the information I wrote in this article earlier than her 16th birthday, she could have lived longer. Here are some tips to ensure your cat lives a long and healthy life. I began putting the following tips into practice after my cat's turned 16 years old and was already diagnosed with kidney disease. When my cat finally died at age 22, she was well known at University of Wisconsin's Veterinary Hospital as the longest living cat with kidney disease (most cats die less than four years after being diagnosed with kidney disease).

Many people wish that they could let their cat live a long life. There are few people who know how and what to do to allow their cats and dogs to live a healthy long life with few health problems.

The first important step is diet. Animal health has decreased since the arrival of pet food in the mid-1900's. Before this time, it was uncommon to see the myriad of diseases in animal nutrition that we now see today.

The second important step is a healthy lifestyle. There are many ways to allow your pet to have a healthy lifestyle. This includes appropriate water, exposure to outdoor air, and keeping your cat indoors as much as possible (indoor only cats are known to live longer). To allow your cat fresh air, take your cat out on a leash and do not allow your cat to roam an area where it can get bites from ticks or other insects. We have always brought our cats out on a leash and held them or allowed them to stay on a screened in back porch. This gives your pet plenty of sunshine and fresh air without the risk of cars and disease carrying insects.

The third is to watch your cat for any signs or symptoms of disease so you can catch it early. A knowledgeable pet owner who can quickly notice a problem and treat it can catch illness early and therefore slow or stop the progression of disease.