How long do British cats live at home: life expectancy

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Representatives of the British breed are considered strong animals that are quite capable of living a healthy life for about 10 years. Many people are interested in how long British cats live in the modern world. Life expectancy can be either more or less than this number. It all depends on a large number of factors, which you can familiarize yourself with on our portal.

From 10 to 15 years, how long do British breed cats live? By cat standards, this is really a lot, but 1 year of an animal is not equivalent to 1 year of a person.

But even here the British differ from other breeds, since 1 year of life of this breed is equivalent to 15 years of a person.

If you think about the lifespan of your pet, this means that you need the cat to be with you as long as possible. You can have no doubt about the life expectancy of your pet, know that everything is in your hands! From our side we can say that on average the average British cat lives 15 years with proper care.

Factors that influence the age of a pet

This breed is very beautiful and such pets, as a rule, are kept to participate in various competitions or to breed new offspring. Such pets do not survive on the street, as they are gentle and very domestic creatures . British cats live best at home and with proper care.

The following factors influence how long British cats live:

genetic predisposition to certain diseases;
living conditions of a cat;
food;
the presence of stress.

The British have a well-developed immune system by nature, but nevertheless, they are susceptible to some diseases. Diseases can be transmitted from other felines or even from people.

Living on the street significantly shortens an animal's lifespan. It is also reduced by stress, infections, cat fights and bad food. Oncological diseases are not typical for this breed.

How to extend the life of a British cat?

The lifespan of a cat directly depends on the comfortable living conditions that its owners can provide it with . Summarizing all of the above, it becomes clear that the greatest influence on the life expectancy of a British cat has:

Balanced diet;
Lack of excess weight;
Physical activity;
The ability to have offspring (spayed and neutered pets live a little longer);
Regular examinations by a veterinarian;
Carrying out routine vaccination;
Prevention of worms and fleas.

Showing sincere care for your pet, giving it love and warmth, and also rejoicing in its successes is the key to a long and happy life for any pet.

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Much does not mean good

What’s strange is that your excessive care and love for a short-haired animal can also shorten its life. Owners of such animals very often pamper their pet with a variety of treats and protect it from external factors.

The reason for this is overeating, which does not in any way affect the good health of the pet. As for protection from external factors, this can reduce the pet’s immunity and lead to various diseases.

Regarding reproductive functions, they also affect how long your cat or your female will live. always live much shorter than ordinary pets .
And food! It plays a huge role in this topic!

British record holders

A cat named Spike from England lived 30 years. Being at a respectable age (19 years), the cat was bitten by guard dogs, but survived safely and even became an example of longevity.
Another long-liver, a gray-striped cat named Ma, lived for 34 years. She is remarkable for another quality: the cat was an excellent mousetrap.

Take care of your pet, you are responsible for it. Good nutrition, timely help from a veterinarian, moderate physical activity, minimizing stress - all this helps to prolong the active life of your pet.

Tips for increasing your pet's lifespan

Proper care of representatives of the British breed is the key to a happy and long life for your pet. First, you need to always monitor the living conditions of your male or female cat. Remember that cats live much better at home.

That is why the room in which the cat lives must be ventilated, and the temperature in the room must be stable, as well as the humidity. A cat's physical activity can also increase or decrease its lifespan. Provide your pet with a place to play and the right number of toys.

Don’t forget to also work with him yourself, give your pet enough attention!

Do you want your pet to live happily ever after? Follow these rules:

Fresh air. Let your pet out on the balcony or veranda!
provide good nutrition for the British people. Add grass, vitamins and various useful additives that are found in premium food to his diet.
mobility! Play with your pet as often as possible. Let him throw out his energy.

Next we will go through all these points in detail.

In the second point, we mentioned that food plays a direct role in a cat's lifespan. Don't forget to wash your pet's dishes and change their bowls frequently. Buy only fresh and high-quality products. Different meats are suitable for different breeds, but we recommend feeding the British with lean meat . Chicken and beef are also suitable for the diet of this breed.

If you do not have time to search for meat, and you want to buy regular food, then buy the food that is designed specifically for this breed. These types of food, as a rule, come in smaller packages than food for other breeds.

How long do cats live on average?

The average lifespan of modern cats has increased significantly over recent decades and is 12-15 years . However, there are many examples of long-lived cats whose age exceeds 20 years. Extending life is associated with high-quality care for pets, frequent visits to the veterinarian (the development of medicine has made it possible to use the latest technologies for diagnosing and treating animals), as well as improving the quality of food.

This is interesting! The average life expectancy of cats is influenced by the presence of previous and chronic diseases, living conditions, quality of food and the size of the animal.

Many owners whose pets have reached the age of 5-7 years begin to worry about the health and extension of their life span, because during this time they usually become full-fledged members of the family. Starting from the age of ten, we can talk about the onset of old age in the animal and its health needs to be paid more attention.

Siamese and British cats are traditionally considered to be long-lived. Although it has not yet been possible to establish an exact connection between the breed of a cat and its long life, many scientists insist that with proper care, the chances of extending life increase regardless of breed.

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Food size

This is due to the small jaw size of cats. Smaller food is simply easier for them to chew. If you can't find small food, you can buy wet food. But remember that the food, as we wrote above, must only be from an expensive and reputable company. Such manufacturers include in their products the very vitamin minerals, proteins and meat that your pet needs.

Since we have already remembered the topic of vitamins, we need to consider it in more detail. There are a lot of vitamins, and they differ only in their varieties, namely: vitamins for castrated animals, vitamins for strengthening teeth and bones, and so on.

Just like people take medications, you should always consult your veterinarian before purchasing vitamins for your pet! He will advise you on the best vitamins.

By following all the above tips, you can increase the life expectancy of British cats at home.

British woman giving birth

If a British cat begins to secrete a yellow, pus-like fluid from under its tail, these are the first signs of the onset of labor. In addition, any cat before giving birth begins to scream unnaturally and refuse to eat.

The first time British women give birth is quite difficult, and they may call the owner to deliver the baby. Therefore, it is recommended to be at home on a pre-calculated day and stock up on:

veterinarian's phone number;
clean scissors;
surgical gloves;
Vaseline;
nylon thread;
any antiseptic.

On average, the first birth lasts about 10 hours. In some cases, it can last 24 hours, but no more.

Fold-eared Briton - reality or myth>>

In one litter, a British cat gives birth to up to 6 kittens. After giving birth, the “new mother” sometimes behaves unpredictably - she does not agree to feed the kittens or even turns away from them. In this case, the owner just needs to help his cat by placing the babies one by one on her nipples. After some time, she will feel a familiar smell, begin to lick them and, finally, “recognize” them.

How to name a British cat >>How to name a red, black, gray kitten >>

A little history

Today, there are several versions of the appearance of this breed. Professional felinologists are still arguing which one is more reliable. Those who want to understand how long the British cat lives will be interested in the most mysterious story. According to some reports, these are the same animals that once lived in Rome and Egypt. They were brought to the territory of the British Isles by legionnaires.

Despite the fact that the British for a long time considered them ordinary yard animals, these aristocratic beauties managed to climb to the very top of the feline class system. On July 13, 1871, the first cat exhibition took place in London, which won the approval of the Queen of England herself, who owned two blue Persians. One of the participants in this event was a mouse-colored English Shorthair. It is from this moment that we can talk about the appearance of the British breed.

We recommend reading: How Cats Purr

What is castration?

Many people confuse castration with sterilization, although these are completely different operations. During sterilization, the spermatic cords of cats are ligated to prevent the release of germ cells, but physical attraction remains. And castration of British cats is the removal of the gonads, when the production of hormones completely stops, which is why the cat is no longer interested in close “communication” with the female cat. Of course, not all genitals are removed, but only the testicles - through an incision in the scrotum.

The operation is carried out under general anesthesia, subsequently its traces are visually completely invisible - you can understand that there are no testicles in the scrotum only by touch. Light anesthesia is used so that the cat does not experience pain and comes to its senses within 10 minutes.

Why castrate a British cat?

This procedure makes life much easier for the owners, allowing them to avoid many not very pleasant moments. After six months, all cats begin puberty, they become aggressive and leave marks throughout the house. Just yesterday, a cute kitten becomes a male, letting you know about it with a demanding meow. And it’s not the cat’s fault, the reason for this behavior is raging hormones, when the body begins to demand procreation.

Why is it worth castrating a British dog? Positive consequences:

The cat stops marking the territory, which means the unpleasant smell disappears;
The mournful night meowing stops, the owners can sleep in silence;
The pet no longer tries to escape from the house to the street in search of a female;
The likelihood of diseases of the reproductive system organs is significantly reduced;
Castration allows you to prolong the life of your beloved pet;
The Briton becomes a calm, playful and friendly cat again.

If we consider the negative aspects, there are practically no complications and negative consequences after castration of a British cat, with the exception of possible weight gain. Due to the fact that the pet becomes inactive, it recovers quickly. And in order to prevent obesity, it is necessary to adjust the cat’s diet: purchase specialized food from pet stores and it is advisable to remove milk and fish from the menu.

When is the best time to castrate a British cat?

After a small kitten appears in the house and the owners do not plan to get offspring from it, the question immediately arises: when should a British cat be neutered? The most optimal age is considered to be from seven months to a year. The operation can be done later, but earlier - in no case, since puberty has not yet ended and the body has not yet become stronger. But it’s better not to delay it for too long; it’s better to carry out castration before the pet has time to “know the delights of love.”

British kitten

In addition, the mentioned optimal age is the most suitable period for castration, since the body of a young cat tolerates anesthesia well. And given the fact that the British reach puberty later than others, they cannot be castrated until the age of seven months (representatives of other breeds undergo such an operation even at five months). As for undesirable age, older Britons can only undergo castration with the permission of a veterinarian, after a thorough examination of the cat by a doctor.

How is the operation performed?

The castration procedure begins with preparation for the operation. After the veterinarian examines the cat and carries out all the necessary tests, the Briton is given general anesthesia. It is advisable to carry out the operation in a hospital, since in cases of unforeseen complications you will need special tools and drugs that are not available at home. The surgical intervention takes from ten minutes to half an hour; before the operation, the cat cannot be fed for several hours. The castration itself takes place according to the following plan:

The Briton is placed on his back and all his paws are fixed for better access;
The veterinarian ties the spermatic cord and makes an incision over each testicle;
After this, the specialist cuts the spermatic cord and removes the testicles;
Then the incisions are sutured and the cat is turned on its side to recover from anesthesia;
The owner receives instructions on how to care for the pet after surgery.

It is better to carry a cat to castration and back in a special carrier - this is more convenient for both the British cat and his owner. After all, after the operation, the animal will lie motionless for the first time, so it is very important to bring it home with maximum comfort.

Postoperative care

After anesthesia, the Briton will remain lethargic and apathetic for several hours, and he will begin to drool from the anesthesia. Therefore, it is important to stay with your pet all this time and monitor its condition. It is advisable to put a special collar on the cat so that he does not lick the seams. You also need to monitor your pet’s behavior, and until he completely recovers from anesthesia, do not allow him to get up.

The pet will definitely try to stand up or even jump, but this should not be allowed, since its paws are still insensitive. And be sure to treat fresh seams with a cotton swab with chlorhexidine. Healing occurs quickly and in most cases without negative consequences.

Nutrition and care

Having figured out how long British cats live, you need to pay attention to their diet. It is quite enough to feed an adult animal twice a day. In addition, you need to provide him with round-the-clock access to a bowl of clean drinking water. As a rule, these cats are not picky eaters. But this does not mean that they can be given food from the human table. It is important that the animal receives complete, balanced nutrition and mineral and vitamin supplements.

Those who decide to give their pet industrially produced food should opt for super-premium food. Because they contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals.

Those who have already understood how long a British cat lives will probably be interested in what kind of care this animal requires. Let’s say right away that representatives of this breed are quite unpretentious and do not cause any special problems. It is enough to brush your pet a couple of times a week and also keep his eyes and ears clean. In addition, they need to trim their nails periodically.

It is recommended to bathe Britons as they become dirty. However, you should not do this too often, since water procedures do not bring pleasure to your pet.

Today, there are several versions of the appearance of this breed. Professional felinologists are still arguing which one is more reliable. Those who want to understand how long the British cat lives will be interested in the most mysterious story. According to some reports, these are the same animals that once lived in Rome and Egypt. They were brought to the territory of the British Isles by legionnaires.