10 Ways You Could be Shortening the Life of Your Cat

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Cats do have 9 lives, of this I am certain. However, it doesn’t matter if they have one life or 9 if they use them up quicker than you can count that high. It does happen. Cats are brace animals that make some questionable decisions at times, which cause them to live a shorter life. But they’re not the only ones causing their lives to be a little shorter than you might thought possible. You might actually, as the owner of a cat, be causing your cat’s lifespan to grow shorter. The little things you do, or don’t do, for your cat make a big difference in the way that your cat lives, and the health of your cat. If you are worried that your cat might be unhealthy or that your habits might be causing your cat to live an unhealthy lifestyle, it’s time to check on you behavior and see what it is that you might be doing to cause your cat to lose its life a lot sooner than it should.

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Feeding it the Wrong Food

Most cats are happy with whatever food you choose to give them, but not all cats are getting enough nutrition from the food you provide. Some cats have special dietary concerns that you might be ignoring or that you might not even know about. If you are not properly feeding your cat, it could lose its life a lot sooner thanks to a lack of good health and proper nutrition.

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Not Going to Vet Appointments

Your cat needs to see the vet. It’s not really something you can ignore because you are not in the mood or because you feel you have better things to do. Your cat really does need to see the vet so that it can live the longest, healthiest life possible. If your cat does not see the vet, for example, then you might not be able to diagnose the cat with whatever disease it might have, and therefore the cat might die. And that is all on you.

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Not Checking its Litter

Your cat’s old litter might be a very telling part of its life for you. For example, you might notice that there are worms in your cat’s feces. This could mean a trip to the vet. If you don’t check the cat’s litter, you might not realize that your cat is not feeling well and that it has blood in its stool or urine. If this happens, it’s possible that you might actually have a cat with health issues that are being untreated because you’re not checking on its personal issues.

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Not Providing Enough Nutrition

Even if you feed your cat well, it might lack some proper nutrients. For example, some cats need vitamins and minerals not found in its food because of dietary restrictions or concerns, and your cat might not be getting enough of what it needs to survive. This, again, is something you need to discuss with your vet at those regular appointments.

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Leaving Doors Open

You might think it’s comfortable and wonderful but if your cat gets out, it’s anything but. Your cat could end up very sick from something it picks up sneaking outside. Additionally, your cat could be attacked by a wild animal that kills it or passes on some sort of disease or another while it’s out and about. You can’t just leave doors open and trust that your cat is safe.

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Leaving the Heat/Air Off when You’re Not Home

You might not think that this is a big deal, but it is to some cats. For example, if you have a hairless cat and you choose to turn the heat way down or off during the day while you are at work, you could be killing your cat. This particular breed cannot provide enough body heat to keep it safe and warm, and that means that you’re doing something that’s going to shorten its lifespan significantly.

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Leaving it Outside

Cats can’t be outside if you want them back inside. You should keep your inside cats inside, especially if they do not have claws. Cats cannot take care of themselves in the great outdoors without claws, and they’re so much more susceptible to disease and other health issues outside. Bring the cat indoors and stop worrying about its health.

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Bringing Dogs into the House

This is something that some people will agree with and others will not. However, after adopting a dog a few months ago, I can say that this is a dangerous way to almost kill your cat. the dog attacked the cat – even though the dog was allegedly good with small animals – and the cat suffered from a collapsed lung and failing liver. The cat lived, but it’s a few lives short at this point, I am certain.

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Not Giving it Medication

If your vet gives you medication to give to your cat, give the cat the medication. Just because the cat seems better today or doesn’t seem to need the medication anymore, it doesn’t mean it’s safe to stop. Additionally, it’s a bad idea to stop giving your cat meds because you are tired of fighting the cat to get the meds down. It might not be fun. It might be more work than you care to deal with, but it’s something you have to do because you need to keep your cat alive. Not giving full doses of medication is a dangerous concept.

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Ignoring Concerns

Does your cat seem off? Does it seem like maybe it’s making a funny sound or that something is not quite right? Don’t ignore it. It’s one of the most common ways that cats end up dying too soon. Chances are good that if something seems off with your cat, it’s because they are off. You need to keep your cat’s health in mind and make sure that he or she is always taken care of, that health concerns are addressed and that the cat has a chance to live thanks to you.

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