How long do cats live?

My chinchilla persian pukes up hairballs if she is not getting brushed often enough....sometimes i bring home a roll of tape from the hospital....and use it to remove the hair . the vet told me that trick...millions stick to the tape. In may, i took him to the groomer and he got the poodle clip.....he loves it....no more long hair except cheeks, feet, tail....no more hair ball for the next 4-5 months...i do it at the beginning of every summer. the vet told me about that too...he said all long hair cats "need help" with grooming..........

My Himalayan (God rest his furry little soul) had long hair and was shedding alot and yacking up hairballs, so we started shaving him down every fall and spring, his hair would grow back in beautifully and cut way down on the shedding and the (gag me) hairballs. Unfortunately he was only 11 years old when we had him put to sleep, he got strangulated bowels (I think that's what they called it)....anyhow it was surgically repairable the vet said but it would have meant the poor cat having diarrhea all the time and more surgeries down the road....darn near killed me having him put to sleep...in fact someone had to take him to the vet for me...I was way to upset.

I would love to get another declawed and neutered cat....just have to find the right one.

I had a very sweet cat named "Molly" who lived to be 23 years old. We adopted her from our neighbors when she was 9 and loved her for 14 great years. She had some chronic renal failure in the last few years, and we had trouble keeping her hydrated enough to prevent constipation and occasionally we had to have her disimpacted. We gave her special kidney diet catfood, and I mixed Alternagel to help eliminate phosphorus, I think, then a sprinkling of Metamucil since the Alternagel could constipate, and additional water mixed in to help the Metamucil along... And then, we'd give "Petromalt", a hairball gel, to help keep her bowels moving. Near her last days, I had to give her 200 cc Lactated Ringers subcutaneously every other day or so to help with hydration. She got around fine until the last few weeks of her life, her sight was still pretty good, but she was deaf the last couple of years, and was always the gentlest, most loving cat I've known. When we had to put her down, my husband and I were bawling so hard-- she was our baby, a part of the family, and it killed us to lose her. She's the oldest cat our Vets had ever known.

I had a really mean old cat who lived to be 20 or so. She just kind of went to sleep and we took her to the vet to be euthanized. That was a sad day!

My friend had a cat named "Damn." (Hey, I wonder if she looks at this board?? If you do, I'm talking about your cat, Damn!!!!) She looked just like my mean cat, and she lived to be 23. Now she was getting some pretty intense nursing and vet care there towards the end.

Kitties don't yak so much if they're not shedding, so the brushing is good. Also "MaxKitty" has an anti-hairball food that I tend to think helps. My kitties love it, too. I get a bag of the anti-hairball and mix it with a bag of the urinary tract health type and they gobble it down!!!

Love

Dennie

How long do cats live?

Too darn long for my taste!

When your demon kitty goes on to her final place, get a real pet. Get a dog!

:chuckle Heather

Ooooh hooooooo! Heather has kittie isssssues! LOL

Love

Dennie

BAAAAAAAAAD kitty issues! Kitties are bad!

Heather

heather you hater you!
I prefer an intelligent pet to one that just runs around in circles licking his/her Asssssssss but thats just me :P
actually I love dogs too
the answer to your question about how long cats live is simple, never long enough when you love them!
I grew up with the same cat since I was 2 years old, she died when I was 18, she was 16
she was awesome ,but horribly arthritic and ended up with stomach cancer of sorts

usually 15-20 years is the "normal lifespan"
then again some people/pets never seem to die !
heh

my little beast right now is only gonna be 6 in august but I hope she lives a longggggggg time, a good life , not being sick , but I cant wait to see her turn into the grumpy old cat that I just know she is gonna become!

I couldn't agree more!

This is to help put Heather's line of thinking into something we can all relate to. If cats are bad, then dogs are just plain stupid.

EXCERPTS FROM A DOG'S DIARY
Day number 180

8:00 am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVOURITE!
9:30 am - OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVOURITE!
9:40 am - OH BOY! A WALK! MY FAVOURITE!
10:30 am - OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVOURITE!
11:30 am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVOURITE!
12:00 noon - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVOURITE!
1:00 pm OH BOY! THE GARDEN! MY FAVOURITE!
4:00 pm - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVOURITE!
5:00 PM - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVOURITE!
5:30 PM - OH BOY! MUM! MY FAVOURITE!

Day number 181

8:00 am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVOURITE!
9:30 am - OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVOURITE!
9:40 am - OH BOY! A WALK! MY FAVOURITE!
10:30 am - OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVOURITE!
11:30 am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVOURITE!
12:00 noon - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVOURITE!
1:00 pm OH BOY! THE GARDEN! MY FAVOURITE!
4:00 pm - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVOURITE!
5:00 PM - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVOURITE!
5:30 PM - OH BOY! MUM! MY FAVOURITE!

Day number 182

8:00 am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVOURITE!
9:30 am - OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVOURITE!
9:40 am - OH BOY! A WALK! MY FAVOURITE!
10:30 am - OH BOY! A CAR RIDE! MY FAVOURITE!
11:30 am - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVOURITE!
12:00 noon - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVOURITE!
1:00 pm OH BOY! THE GARDEN! MY FAVOURITE!
4:00 pm - OH BOY! THE KIDS! MY FAVOURITE!
5:00 PM - OH BOY! DOG FOOD! MY FAVOURITE!
5:30 PM - OH BOY! MUM! MY FAVOURITE!



On the other hand..the evil cats have their own agenda!!

EXCERPTS FROM A CAT'S DIARY
DAY 752

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I
am forced to eat dry cereal. The only thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and the mild satisfaction I get from ruining the occasional piece of furniture. Tomorrow I may eat another houseplant.

DAY 761

Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded, must try this at the top of the stairs. In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors, I once again induced myself to vomit on their favourite chair...must try this on their bed.

DAY 765

Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body, in attempt to make them aware of what I am capable of, and to try to strike fear into their hearts. They only cooed and condescended about what a good little cat I was...Hmmm. Not working according to plan.

DAY 768

I am finally aware of how sadistic they are. For no good reason I was chosen for the water torture. This time however it included a burning foamy chemical called "shampoo." What sick minds could invent such a liquid?! My only consolation is the piece of thumb still stuck between my teeth.

DAY 771

There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices. I was placed in solitary throughout the event. However, I could hear the noise and smell the foul odour of the
glass tubes they call "beer.." More importantly I overheard that my confinement was due to MY power of "allergies." Must learn what this is and how to use it to my advantage.

DAY 774

I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and maybe snitches. The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to return. He is obviously a half-wit. The bird on the other hand has got to be an informant, and speaks with them regularly. I am certain he reports my every move. Due to his current placement in the metal room his safety is assured.

But I can wait, it is only a matter of time...


bob

the custodian of 3 cats, let's see, that makes at least 6 hairballs a month.