How long do sterilized cats live at home: differences in life expectancy from ordinary cats

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It is impossible to stay on Earth for several hundred years, unless, of course, you are a turtle. Unfortunately, cats, like people, are deprived of the opportunity to live for several centuries. It is unlikely that many cats will cross even the ten-year threshold.

As soon as a kitten is born, time begins its inexorable run for it. If a baby was born in a comfortable home environment, then his life will compare favorably with the living conditions of his street brothers. All conditions for a long and contented life have been created for domestic cats: good nutrition, a warm and comfortable place in the house, care from the owner and a visit to the veterinarian.

Street existence is dangerous: cat fights for a place in the sun, the struggle for survival, especially in the winter, competition for places where food can be obtained. Female street cats suffer from uncontrolled pregnancies, which wear out the body and often cause complications. Add to this intestinal parasites, fleas and cruel people who can seriously harm the animal. Such constant stress factors do not contribute to long life.

A domestic cat lives on average 12-15 years , while a street cat lives much less. Let's find out how many years street cats live, which breeds are long-lived, and how to care for your pet to prolong its life.

Features of life of sterilized cats

The lifespan of any cat depends on lifestyle and nutrition.

Every loving owner wants his pet to live as long as possible. This factor usually depends on:

• Animal health indicators.
• His way of life.
• Food.
• Features of the breed.

When to spay a kitten

When a kitten grows up, many owners think about sterilization. Of course, if you feel sorry for the cat and are afraid of the consequences of the procedure, then it is better not to do it. But in this case, you must take care of your cat’s full sex life, so that in the future she does not have hormonal imbalances, bad and aggressive mood due to the absence of a cat . As a rule, a cat can kitten up to 4 times a year , which the owner must take into account.

Still, due to the lack of sufficient square meters, many owners will not be able to shelter an unknown number of offspring, so the only option is sterilization.

Due to circumstances, street cats live less.

Is it necessary to neuter your beloved pet?

To understand whether it is necessary to castrate a pet, you should carefully weigh all the pros and cons of this procedure and its consequences.

So, among the advantages of castration we can highlight the following:

1. Balanced behavior.
2. Lack of desire for sexual intercourse.
3. Life cycle extension.
4. Attachment to the owners.
5. Lack of desire to leave home.
6. The animal does not “mark” its territory and does not make piercing and lingering sounds.
7. Metabolism slows down and the amount of food consumed decreases.
8. The risk of malignant tumors, prostate diseases, and urolithiasis is reduced.
9. No injuries in the fight for the female.
10. The likelihood of the occurrence of sexually transmitted and infectious diseases is reduced.

The disadvantages include the danger of such an operation in adulthood due to intolerance to anesthesia by many mature individuals. However, in most cases, surgery is not life-threatening for the cat.

After weighing the pros and cons, every pet owner has the right to decide for himself whether to castrate his animal or not. After all, often cat owners do not have the opportunity or desire to let their “wards” outside, and the risk of contracting various infections after such “walks” is high. Therefore, most often the decision is made in favor of the castration procedure.

How long do cats live at home after sterilization?

Many owners worry that the operation will shorten the years of their cat's life. In fact, the opposite is true - this procedure has a positive effect on the animal . Statistics show that on average, cats that are not sterilized rarely live past 5 years . This is due to various diseases, cold, city, postpartum diseases of the genital organs.

It is rare to find an unsterilized cat that is 10 years old . It’s the same for street cats – on average up to 5 years due to the same diseases and, naturally, fights for the female’s affections.

Neutered cats, due to their psycho-emotional state, which changes due to the operation, become calmer and smarter. They are not affected by hormones. In this case, life expectancy increases to 15–20 years . In modern practice, there are individuals among cats who are already over 30. The owners have something to think about.

The harsh truth of life

As a rule, at the age of 3-5 years, sometimes later, chronic diseases begin to manifest themselves. For example, urolithiasis, which in the early stages is easily treated with diet. At a later stage, it requires painful catheterization of the bladder (sometimes surgery), without which death is possible.

Timely vaccinations, preventive examinations and tests will not take much time from the owner, but they can detect diseases of furry pets at the initial stage and, often, it is quite easy to correct the situation. After minor intervention, healthy mustachioed friends live not only long, but also happily.

What is the difference between a sterilized cat and a regular cat?

Neutered cats have a calm and affectionate disposition.

Sterilized cats , compared to ordinary cats that walk and kitten, have a more flexible character . They get along well in families, get along and take care of children, and are affectionate with their owners.

Of course, an ordinary cat can also be obedient, but not always. When it's time to heat, they behave aggressively, which causes discomfort for both them and their owners.

The offspring of a cat are yet another hassle for a city family. Another thing is your own home, where the animal can live fully and take care of its kittens. But here too there is a controversial issue. A cat left unattended on the street faces a lot of dangers in the form of ticks, cars and, of course, various diseases. It has been proven that sexually transmitted diseases can be transmitted even among cats. Ideally, you should immediately buy a cat for your pet , but, unfortunately, not all owners can withstand such a load, both morally and financially.

Neutered cats live longer than normal cats

If you don't want to spay your cat, find her a cat!

As mentioned above, sterilized cats, including neutered cats, live longer than normal cats . For an animal that often walks outside to live to be 10 years or more is very rare.

The lifespan of operated pets is noticeably longer, but only if the owners take care of it, feed it properly and variedly, and do not ignore any diseases and contact a veterinarian on time.

History of the origin of the breed

The Siberian cat is an amazing breed of cat that has Asian roots. Not so long ago it was believed that these animals were of Russian origin, but such an opinion was erroneous and was very quickly refuted.

Indeed, the place of origin of these wonderful animals is considered to be “Russian” Siberia. However, only starting from the 16th century, Siberia joined Russia. Until this time, Rus' was not engaged in conquering lands, but in wars with the Tatars. The first information about Siberian cats is found much earlier.

The ancestors of Siberians are wild cats that lived in the lands of the Trans-Urals. There are several hypotheses regarding the exact origin of the breed. One of them is that the Siberian cat appeared as a result of crossing a wild cat and a representative of a domesticated species.

Another theory adheres to the version that Siberians are purely representatives of a wild steppe breed. The creation of which was purely nature's work.

Important: thus, despite all the nuances, you can be absolutely sure that wild blood flows in the veins of Siberian cats. This fact, of course, affected not only the animal’s habits, but also its character, as well as its attitude towards its relatives and owner

What is sterilization?

In order to choose the type of sterilization, you must consult your veterinarian.

Sterilization is one of the types of abdominal operations in which the genitals of an animal are removed . It can be complete or partial. A cat's uterus and ovaries may be removed, or only the uterus or only the ovaries may be removed. There is an operation to tie the fallopian tubes. Each type of procedure has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages, which it is better to familiarize yourself with before the procedure and consult with a specialist.

What should owners know about sterilization?

Owners who decide to sterilize their pet should know about the optimal age for the operation and postoperative care. As for age, it is better to sterilize your cat before her first heat . The optimal age is considered to be from 8 months to one and a half years . The older the animal, the greater the risk of complications after surgery.

During the postoperative period, you need to give your pet maximum attention and care!

You must also understand that the procedure is very serious and is carried out in the animal's abdomen. The rehabilitation period for cats is on average 10 days . During these times, it is better not to disturb the cat, but to feed it fully (choose special dry food, canned food, boil chicken). During the healing period of the suture, the cat should not lick it so that it does not come apart, so it is better to put a blanket and collar on it.

The following days after the operation, the seam must be wiped with a special solution, so the collar will prevent the cat from licking the wound.

How and why is castration done?

The main goal of this operation is not to prolong the life of the animal, but to suppress hormonal activity. If the owner does not set himself the task of breeding the breed, then during the mating season he will see a lot of disadvantages: cats begin to meow heart-rendingly all day long, leaving unpleasant-smelling marks on furniture and other things. In addition, their aggressiveness increases, some of them run away from home in search of a female. In order to avoid all this, castration is performed - a surgical procedure during which the testicles that produce germ cells are removed.

Castration is not sterilization. During the last procedure, reproductive capabilities are “blocked”, but the genitals are preserved and the hormonal levels do not change.

The maximum result is ensured by surgical castration, however, the cat can have a hard time withstanding general anesthesia and the recovery period is quite long. There is an alternative - chemical castration using tablets: they suppress the animal’s hormonal levels and after completing the course, sexual functions return to normal. The method is more gentle, however, changes in the endocrine background are dangerous due to hormonal imbalance and oncology.

A very important point - castration is carried out only in healthy cats that are more than 7 months old, but less than 7 years old. Older animals have a harder time undergoing surgery and are more likely to experience complications. Some veterinarians advise castrating a cat before 2 years of age, while the endocrine system is in a state of formation.

conclusions

Sterilization of a cat is a solution for owners and their charges if they expect a long and happy life with their pet. This operation is one of the most common, so owners should not worry. The main thing is to provide the pet with peace and rest for several days after the procedure, treat the suture, and provide high-quality and nutritious food . Of course, owners should remember to choose a highly qualified veterinarian.

Sterilization has more pros than cons. The main advantage is that your animal will live much longer than ordinary cats .

Lipoma

This is a benign formation consisting of adipose tissue. In essence, it is a local accumulation of adipose tissue under the skin. Lipoma is a benign tumor, although in rare cases, liposarcoma, a malignant formation, can develop under its mask.

Lipomas manifest themselves in the form of soft-elastic subcutaneous formations, mobile, painless, and can slowly increase in size. The skin over lipomas is not changed and easily moves over them. Small lipomas are not visible at all; they can only be detected by palpation. Larger lipomas stand out as “bumps” of round or oval shape. The size of lipomas is very variable - from 1-2 cm to 20 cm or more. Lipomas never become inflamed or suppurate.

Procedure options

In addition to the classical operation, it is worth highlighting several types of sterilization.

Chemical method

It is equally suitable for both sexes and consists of introducing drugs into the animal’s body that reduce or completely suppress sexual activity. In Russia, drops or tablets are common; intramuscular injections are used less frequently.

And the obvious advantages of the method can be identified:

• Reversibility . You can always stop taking medications and restore the possibility of conceiving offspring
• Painless . Even with injections, the sensations are not comparable to a full-fledged operation.
• Availability. The ability to take medications at home without the intervention of a specialist.

Unfortunately, often, all the benefits are outweighed by the unpredictability of the body's reaction to taking medications. Starting with hair loss and the appearance of excess weight, ending with malignant tumors.

Ionizing radiation

For sterilization, ionizing radiation is used to treat the genitals, suppressing activity for up to several years. Among the advantages it is worth highlighting:

1. Fast efficiency. It only takes a few sessions to see results.
2. Possibility of treatment at a young (up to 6 months) age.

The disadvantages include high cost and the presence of a highly qualified specialist. The radiation dose is strictly individual and is calculated based on the breed, weight, height, and age of the animal.

Treatment

Now that we have figured out the difference between a lipoma and an atheroma, let’s move on to the next question: is it necessary to remove the lipoma or remove the atheroma? Let's start with the fact that conservative treatment of lipoma, as well as treatment of atheroma, is absolutely futile. Moreover, aggressive influence on these formations using various “folk” remedies can cause suppuration of atheroma, as well as malignancy (malignancy) of lipoma.

Tactical approaches to the treatment of lipoma are as follows: if the lipoma is small (2-3 cm), does not grow and does not cause any inconvenience (does not rub against clothes, is not a cosmetic defect, etc.), then it does not need to be removed. In case of growth (especially rapid growth), it is better to go for surgery. If the lipoma grows, then sooner or later you will still have to remove it, but it is better to do this while it is small in order to avoid large incisions and traumatic intervention. Any removed lipoma should be sent for histological (under a microscope) examination.

As for atheroma, it is recommended to remove it in any case, because practice shows that sooner or later they fester, and during surgery against the background of inflammation it is not always possible to completely remove the atheroma capsule, which is fraught with relapse (reappearance of the formation). In addition, when suppuration occurs, the wound is almost never sutured; it heals by secondary intention, which often leads to the formation of a rough scar. If, after removing the atheroma, it turns out that the formation does not have a capsule and does not contain atheromatous masses, it should be sent for histological examination to exclude dermatosarcoma, which is sometimes similar in appearance to atheroma.

Factors influencing the length of a cat's eyelid

The lifespan of cats is determined, first of all, by the conditions and quality of their maintenance. However, there are also other factors that determine the length of a cat's eyelid.

Breed affiliation

The lifespan of purebred cats is several years shorter than that of their mongrel relatives. Since the breeds were bred artificially, purebred purrs sometimes suffer from certain genetic diseases.

The selection of outbred pets was carried out by nature itself. And the diversity of genetic material has always been the key to excellent health and longevity.

Rating of long-lived breeds

The half-Persian cat lives the longest - about 20 years. He is a couple of years ahead of the Selkirk Rex sphinx. Maine coons and masquerade cats can live up to the 16-year mark. Bald animals are aged 12–14 years.

Life expectancy table for cats depending on breed

The table provides a comparative analysis of the average life expectancy of popular feline breeds:

Nutrition and lifestyle

Frequent stay in an insufficiently warm and clean room is fraught with the appearance of various feline ailments, which negatively affect, if not the life span of the purr, then its quality.

Cat food must contain sufficient amounts of vitamins and microelements required by your pet.

In addition, it is unacceptable to overfeed or underfeed an animal, otherwise the pet will not live to old age due to obesity or protein-energy deficiency.

Psychological comfort

Animals living in families with an acceptable psychological climate are considered to be truly long-lived.

Lack of affection on the part of the owner, and even more so rough treatment of the pet, often leads to long-term stress in mustaches, which is very difficult to treat.

Heredity

Felinologists recommend buying purebred pussy only from trusted breeders. The act of purchase should always be preceded by familiarization with the pedigree, in particular with the diseases that the ancestors of the potential four-legged “family member” suffered.

Armed with this data, potential owners can easily predict how long a kitten will live.

Acquired diseases

A cat with hereditary or chronic diseases will be able to please its owners with its presence for only a short time.

So, a cat with diabetes will “last” no more than 4 years, and a pet with urolithiasis will last no more than 5 years.

Sexual activity

Frequent fruiting, as well as active spring sprees, are considered severe nervous strain. However, these factors do not affect the lifespan of animals.

Effect of spaying and castration

Many owners are interested in how sterilization affects the life expectancy of cats. On the one hand, castrated cats live longer than their non-castrated counterparts due to the absence of problems with the reproductive system.

On the other hand, castration in some cases causes urolithiasis, excess weight and diabetes.

Determining the age of a kitten or adult cat

It is impossible to determine the exact age of an animal taken from the street, but an approximate age is not at all difficult. Veterinarians determine it by external signs: the condition of the teeth, fur, mustache, eyes and musculoskeletal system.

The older the cat, the more worn out his teeth are. Very old individuals may lack incisors and fangs. Also, with aging, dulling and thinning of the coat is noted. By the age of 10, the first gray hair appears, spreading from the fur coat even to the mustache. The animal's eyes become dull and the spine begins to sag. The gait loses its former confidence, and the claws lose flexibility.