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We had to have our cat put to sleep yesterday. Big trauma in the house, the whole family's depressed - even the dogs. She was almost 17 and I thought that was old for a cat but today I have been tormenting myself trying to find average longevity for housecats and have found all sorts of claims that cats live on average to 25. Is this so? She was both an indoor and outdoor cat, very smart with car sense, a notorious mouser in her youth. We miss her!
I'm sorry to hear about your cat. Sounds like you and your family gave her a long, good life, filled with everything a cat could want.
If you are thinking you didn't take good enough care of your cat because she lived "only" to 17, put that thought right out of your head. Please don't allow your thoughts to torment you. Remember the joy you and your kitty gave each other during her life.
We lost our "notorious mouser" at 15 to feline leukemia -- that was almost 30 years ago. We still talk about her a lot, laugh when we recall her antics, roll our eyes when we recall her mischief, groan in mock horror when we recall the time I let her in the house with a very much still alive chipmunk in her mouth. She's still with us, in that way.
Sorry about your loss. 17 is a long, life for a cat. Mickey died at 19, Pierre at 20, Lucky at 22. Lucky was basically blind and deaf when he went. I told my Mom I thought she just moved him around the house. He pretty much just stayed in his bed, but he still ate and used the litter box...although my Mom did have a special small one for him close to his bed. And on the other side of his bed was his food and water bowls.
Right now our oldest cat is Beau, he is 14. I wonder about his health, because he was a lost, stray kitten when we found him, and has had many health problems, like he catches colds, has teeth problems, a sensitive stomach, he got very thin last year, and now is on a very expensive prescription cat food, with 3x a day feeding regimen, with very small amounts.
We had to have our cat put to sleep yesterday. Big trauma in the house, the whole family's depressed - even the dogs. She was almost 17 and I thought that was old for a cat but today I have been tormenting myself trying to find average longevity for housecats and have found all sorts of claims that cats live on average to 25. Is this so? She was both an indoor and outdoor cat, very smart with car sense, a notorious mouser in her youth. We miss her!
I'm so sorry for your loss. Your cat had a nice long life. I only know of one cat that made it to the age of 24. He belonged to a cat breeder in TN. That isn't average. Most pass away in their mid teens.
Sorry for your loss.
It isn't uncommon to question yourself when a beloved pet passes on. However, it won't change anything. STOP beating yourself up.
There are soooooooo many things that can affect how long any pet lives. Surroundings, diet, genetics, etc. 17 years...you did something right!
So sorry for your loss. It's a tough thing, and when that time has come you tend to question yourself. I still do, about a 17-18 year old (always forget the exact age because she came to us late in her life) we lost a couple years ago. Did I do all I could, was it the right time, etc. Hard to let go.
Let me assure you this though: there's no way 25 years old is average for cats. 25 is attainable, certainly it's not exactly unusual to hear of a cat living to early 20s, but this is still longer than average. Supposedly according to one source the oldest on record was 37! But average? Average is mid-teens. This includes cats who go outside.
17 is a completely typical and respectable age for a cat to reach. Don't worry yourself needlessly thinking that it should have been longer. Indeed a lot of the age your cat will reach is determined by genetics, which is not something you could change at all.
There is nothing more stressful and traumatic than putting a fur baby to sleep. I truly am sorry. It takes some time to feel better. Your cat lived to be 84 in human years which is certainly a respectable life span. If she could, she would have thanked you for all your love and care and compassion for knowing when it was her time. BTW, my girl is 15 with kidney disease, and I will be thrilled if she makes it to 17. I lost my other fur baby to lymphoma last year at 14 so I understand your sadness. Take care.
Please please please stop tormenting yourself! And thank God that you had such long wonderful years with your baby! It is THE hardest thing in the world to say goodbye to one of our animals, and my heart truly goes out to you.......
My prayer for you: May you know the comfort of many angels as you grieve for your baby. May only good memories of her be with your for the rest of your life.
Peace.
Last edited by Garden of Eden; 05-12-2011 at 08:49 PM..
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She's still with us, in that way.
It's a tough thing, and when that time has come you tend to question yourself. I still do, about a 17-18 year old (always forget the exact age because she came to us late in her life) we lost a couple years ago. Did I do all I could, was it the right time, etc. Hard to let go.
