How old do British cats and cats live?

Legends have long circulated about British cats that explain the origin of these cute creatures. Most versions agree that the ancestors of this breed were brought to the islands of Great Britain by Roman legionaries during their campaigns of conquest. However, feline scientists argue that the British breed was not developed in Great Britain earlier than in the 19th century. The truth, as always, is in the middle: the cats were indeed brought in by Roman ships, they settled in England, their fur became thick enough over time to withstand fog and rain. As for the breed, its distinctive features were formed only by the 19th century, and at the first cat show, which was held in London, cats with plush fur became the recognized favorites of British aristocrats. The British did not cross these cats with other breeds, so the British cat keeps its genetically determined data for decades.

The life expectancy of the British breed depends on a combination of factors - it's no secret that street cats do not even live up to 10 years, and those individuals that live at home can live up to 15-16 years. The lifespan of a domestic cat depends on the following nuances:

• balance and regularity of food;
• timely vaccination;
• prevention of helminthiasis;
• regular veterinary examination;
• prevention of obesity, constant monitoring of the condition of teeth, heart, blood vessels;
• timely castration or sterilization of a pet;
• the presence of physical activity and an active lifestyle in the pet;
• good care that provides a comfortable living environment and pet hygiene;
• absence of stress factors and situations.

Any breed, including the British one, contains not only positive properties, but also a genetic set of features, which consists in a predisposition to certain diseases. It is known that the British do not suffer from cancer, but they are prone to obesity, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system. In addition, the breed showed weak kidneys, liver and musculoskeletal system.

Coloring, among other factors, also indirectly affects the life span of your pet. Traditionally, British cats were gray, however, now we can see different color options that have been bred by breeding. There is a pattern in which it was revealed that the more exotic the color of the British, the more he is susceptible to diseases, even those that were not originally characteristic of his breed.

The science of genetics explains this pattern quite simply - if the genes responsible for coat color and genes responsible for health are close, they enter into the so-called linked inheritance. The resulting offspring inherits not only color, but also diseases - poor hearing, vision (up to the development of blindness), skin dermatitis, deformational changes in the skeleton, disposition to the appearance of benign and malignant neoplasms.

British cats and cats live an average of 15-16 years, but this is possible only with proper care. If there are inaccuracies in the diet or other unfavorable factors, then the average British live up to 11-12 years.

There is a scientifically proven opinion that if an animal was neutered or spayed, then its life expectancy increases by an average of 2.5-3 years. In addition, it is believed that those individuals who have a lean body structure live longer than their larger and more well-fed counterparts. The British breed, unfortunately, does not belong to skinny specimens, which means that they do not have to count on a couple of extra years of life. British cats are inactive and genetically prone to obesity.

Excessive stress can also shorten the life of the British cat breed. For this reason, they are not allowed out into the street, and they take walks in an isolated courtyard of the garden, where there is no access to strangers' dogs, cats, and there is no threat from moving cars or people. Sharp flashes of light, sound signals, the attention of strangers - all this causes stress for the Briton. If you protect it from such influences, then with proper care, a cat of this breed can live for more than 15 years, since there is evidence of centenarians who have even reached 20 years of age. If we compare the age of a cat and the age of a person, then it can be tentatively assumed that 15 years of a cat's life is equal to 75 years of a person's life, therefore, at the age of 8 years, a Briton is already considered an elderly individual that requires a special regimen of care and nutrition.

Proper care of the British cat breed not only prolongs the life of the pet, but also makes it comfortable. The basic principles of care are as follows.

• Proper nutrition. Considering that cats of British blood have weak livers and kidneys - and for this reason, neutered cats and neutered cats require special attention - then the diet of the animal is made taking into account these characteristics.You can feed your pet with natural food or balanced industrial food.

Before use, the meat must be frozen at low temperatures for at least two weeks in order to destroy the eggs and larvae of helminths. In addition to protein, the Briton also needs fiber, so cooked vegetables and fruits should be included in the diet. From carbohydrate products, it is allowed to take cereals cooked from any cereals, except for oatmeal and semolina. To improve the functioning of the intestines, it is allowed to take low-fat varieties of cottage cheese and kefir. As a source of minerals, small amounts of boiled egg yolk can be given to the cat.

• Castration and sterilization - if you do not plan to breed a British breed, but keep your pet for the soul, then at the age of 7-8 months the kitten needs to be castrated or sterilized. Such a procedure will relieve the Briton of the regular physiological stresses associated with the reproductive instinct, as well as save him from deteriorating his health and reducing his life expectancy.

• Hygiene - an important factor that affects all areas of a cat's life and requires regular and rigorous implementation. The Briton should be combed weekly so that the pet's stomach does not clog up with hairballs if it is forced to lick itself. Every month the cat needs to trim its nails, while paying attention to the integrity and health of the nail plate. The animal's eyes are wiped with a soft cloth moistened with warm water - this should be done at least 1 time per week. The auricles are cleaned once every 2 weeks, the procedure is performed using a cotton wick.

British cats tend to suffer from tartar, with bleeding gums and loose teeth. Oral hygiene requires regular brushing and gum care, which any veterinarian can teach you, as long as the procedure is performed regularly.

All of these items must be kept clean. Pet hair should be checked from time to time for fleas, and if you suspect fleas, you will need to immediately insecticide the litter and pet hair.

• Veterinary examination - this procedure should be done regularly, and for young cats it is enough to visit a doctor once a year, and after 8 years of age, a visit to a veterinarian should be done 2 times a year. In the very first visits to the veterinarian, the kitten is carried out all the necessary vaccinations - this is the only way you can protect the baby from dangerous diseases. In addition, the pet will be prescribed anthelmintic drugs in order to prevent helminthiasis.

When choosing a sleeping place for them, try to arrange it so that the pet with its thick and dense coat is not hot, but it is not necessary to place it in a draft either. For small kittens, equip a place where they can play, place toys there and install a scratching post, which is necessary for them to maintain healthy claws and development of paws.

Despite the fact that the life of a British cat, as a rule, does not exceed 20 years, completely unique events happen, which are confirmed by long-livers in the world of cats. So, at the end of 1999, an entry was made in the Guinness Book of Records about the cat Spike, a resident of the UK. This red & white representative of his breed became famous for having celebrated 29 birthdays and during all this time managed not to lose a single tooth. Moreover, the amazing cat was able to survive the incident with a large Rottweiler, which badly bit Spike.

The owner of the cat believes that the cat owes its longevity to a natural remedy - aloe vera gel. Spike received this gel every day, and in addition, his daily diet included omega-3 fatty acids, which he obtained by eating ocean fish and trout. In addition to natural food, the owner also fed the cat with balanced industrial food. Spike has always been an active and mobile cat and spent the whole day walking around the territory of his home garden.

Another unique example of the long life of British cats is the gray-spotted cat named Ma. This person also lived in the UK and became famous for being the winner of cat shows, and in addition, she was excellent at catching mice. The life expectancy of this cat at the time of 2001 was 32 years. The long-liver was also entered into the Guinness Book of Records, and it is possible that Ma would have lived for some more time, but due to a serious illness, the owners were forced to euthanize their pet.

The cases described are not isolated - centenarians in the cat family are found in other breeds. It should be assumed that good genetic inheritance and proper care of the pet are a guarantee that it will be able to live a long life. Take care of your pets and let them delight you with their presence for as many years as possible.

For a video review of British cats, see below.