The average lifespan of an indoor cat is 12-17 years, with more and more living over 20 years, due to improved care and nutrition. Some breeds, such as Manx and Siamese are reputed to have the greatest longevity. Mixed breeds are reputed to have the greatest chance of living a long life, however.
The average for dogs depends more on breed, because of the greater variables that differentiate dog breeds. For example, a Great Dane’s lifespan averages from 7-10 years, while Chihuahuas live from 10-17, with some reaching their 20s. Many breeds have been developed for reasons other than the dog’s health or longevity. Quite a few of the more recently developed breeds have been developed purely out of a sense of fashion for their human owners, while the first breeds were purposely created by their owners when a male and a female dog were matched and mated for superior strength or hunting abilities, such as a heightened sense of smell or ability to run long distances,
Nutrition and Care Do Add Years to a Pet’s Life
Recent interest in animal health and well-being has resulted in studies by veterinarians and the pet food industry. Pet owners want to have their companions with them as long as possible. Veterinarians would like to help the pet owners as well as the pets in having the best quality of life that is possible. The pet food industry has to keep up with pet-owners who care about their pets enough to do their own research in finding what is the optimum diet for their pet. Pet foods that have added antioxidants and vitamins and minerals which are beneficial at different stages of a pet’s life have been the subject of university studies and professional veterinary and zoological societies and organizations.
So many people care about their pets that the pet food industry has found it profitable enough to have funded many of these studies, and the longevity of the more common household pets, such as cats and dogs has been increasing in the past 20 years.
Why, then, do we see so many dogs and cats over 5 years old at Pet Rescues and shelters?
Cute can be Dangerous
Being cute can be very dangerous for a cat or dog. Yes, they are usually the first to be taken home from a reputable breeder or a shelter or pet rescue. But these animals are at the mercy of people who are judging them for what they think is cute. Puppies and kittens do not look the same as weeks go by. Will these people who brought them home because of how they looked still want them when they get older? Will these people understand that kittens don’t know how much new draperies cost, and puppies don’t always know the difference between a chew toy and an antique chair leg? Being cute can be dangerous when someone can own you and neglect you or reward you depending on your looks, and haven’t thought about behavior or personality, or life’s changes.
Sometimes an Older Pet is Better
A cat is not old at 10 years of age. A 5-year-old cat can be old, if it has come from a lineage of progressively weak parents. In general, human selective breeding of cats and dogs has resulted in poorer health for many of these animals. Many people are beginning to realize that if they want a healthy pet, they will pick one that has escaped human intervention at breeding time somewhere along its lineage. Reputable breeders are much more aware of this, and are careful about inbreeding, and breed for the health of the animal. But, still, the mixed breeds have the greatest reputation for being healthy! When choosing a pet where background is unknown, unless there is an apparent health condition, it is usually unpredictable how many more years an animal will live. And even then, it depends on what happens after they come home with you. A cat or dog with an infection can be given antibiotics and be well in a few weeks and live a happy long life afterward. A perfectly healthy young dog, can slip out a slightly open window and be hit by a car. So, how many years does anyone have? Some people prefer a mature dog or cat that already has gone through all of his or her stages and changes, but not that many people think that far ahead. Most just go by first impressions and compulsively fall for whatever they think is “cute” at the moment. Will they still think the dog is cute when another dog breed becomes the fad?
Picking a Dog or Cat That’s Right For You
There was a popular song in the 1960s that originally came from Trinidad in the 1930s. It went, “If you want to be happy for the rest of your life, never make a pretty woman your wife, “ and ended with “so from my personal point of view, get an ugly girl to marry you.” While not taking this as a literal fundamental, it is probably good advice when considering human subjective standards such as the age and color of your new pet. Some of the animals are in the shelter because their worst fault was that they outlived their owners.
In telling how her mother picked out her new dog, a trainer at the Pasadena Humane Society said that her mother picked up the dogs with her eyes closed and the dog who licked her on the forehead was the dog she took home.
Commitment and Loyalty
If you don’t feel secure in your judgment of whether an animal is healthy, bring a friend to confirm your choice. If you still want that animal, even if your friend disagrees, stand by your decision if you think you can keep that animal happy and healthy as you would a husband or wife. Relationships take work, but they usually give what you put into them. We can always learn and grow.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
