Getting to Know Cats
Did you know there are 86 million owned cats (compared to 78 million owned dogs) in the United States? Less than half of these cats receive veterinary care. Previous posts have provided suggestions for getting your cat to the veterinarian.
Cats mature more rapidly than people (see our chart, above). Thanks to improved veterinary care and nutritional advances, cats are living longer. The average cat lives 13 – 14 years. With ongoing care, it is common for cats to live 16 – 20 years. The oldest cat I have personally seen was 29!
Most of us consider our cats to be an integral part of the family and naturally want the best for them. It is important to establish a partnership with a cat-friendly veterinarian from the beginning.
There are six life stages in the cat’s life. Each stage has different needs. We will explore these different life stages in future posts.
Michele Arnold
7:48 am on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Am I blind, or is the chart missing?
Randi Kruger
9:41 am on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
You are correct! The chart is missing. We are working on a glitch with it and hope to have it up ASAP. Thanks!
Sally Spangler
10:43 am on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
"Dogs haave owners - Cats have staff" <grin> At least my Maggie acts as though she expects me to perform some duties for her at the the appropriate times - as in her food bowl being full and on the tray waiting for her. Wen she begins to scream at me - she is expecting for me to take her toy from her and play with her until she is ready to stop and return to her perch in my window or that quilt on the end of my bed for her nap. Of course there are those times when she desires to go out for a breath of fresh air, post her supper. She will sit in the chair by the back door and then snick on the kitchen screen window to make it known she is ready to come inside. Once in she is looking for a lap to warm herself after the chill of the outdoors.
DAVE
10:55 am on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
We have 6 cats. All have very distinct personalities. Some are very social, other not so much. Our cats tell time. At 6 every night they all scream for dinner and God forbid they don't get it. We have a cat that won;'t leave the bedroom except to poop (sometimes). We have a cat that begs. Most evenings I have 2-3 cats in my lap and there is nothing better for your blood pressure. I love my cats as much as my kids, sometimes more, they don't talk back.
Randi Kruger
1:24 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
We worked out our glitch so the age chart is up now.
Sally Spangler
5:09 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Thank you Randi, A very interesting chart. Maggie has been with me about 2+ years. Hard to tell how old she is as she came to me after her litter of 5 kittens had found homes. She looked like a kitten herself, but very quickly filled out to look like a full grown cat once her kittens had gone to their new owners.
Kim
8:23 pm on Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Dr. Lynn took care of my beloved Nermal oh, so many years ago. She is an excellent veterinarian.
I've had cats all my life. My current overlord, Mary Mac, plays fetch. She brings a toy... I throw and she brings it back to me. >^..^<