Factors Influencing Cat Lifespan
Predicting the lifespan of your cat is complicated.
Your cats breed, genetics, health, and luck all play a role.
Lets start with breed.
Purebred cats tend to have slightly shorter lives than crossbred or mixed breed cats. This is an unfortunate side effect of selective breeding.
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The health and longevity of your cats parents can be an indicator of your cats longevity. Inherited conditions like heart disease can reduce your cats lifespan, so knowing your cats pedigree can help your veterinarian determine your cats risk factors.
The biggest factor in cat longevity, however, is not breeding or genetics, but health.
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Tabby Cat Coats Arent Just One Pattern
There are actually four basic tabby cat coat patterns: mackerel, ticked, spotted, and classic, which is also referred to as marbled. The mackerel pattern is the most commonly occurring one, and is the pattern most people think of when they think of tabby cats. This pattern has vertical, narrow, curving stripes on the side of the cats body, and may be continuous or broken into bars and spots on the cats stomach and flanks. There is an M shape on their forehead, along with dark lines on the cats cheeks to the corners of their eyes.
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Orange Tabby Cats Love To Talk
If youve ever owned an orange tabby cat, you probably know that these guys are definitely the Chatty Cathys of the cat world! According to Gary Weitzman, head veterinarian at the San Diego Humane Society, cat personalities are tied to coat color. Weitzman says theres zero competition when it comes to which kind of cat is the most gregarious, with orange tabbies a clear winner.
Are Orange Tabby Cats Brave
Orange tabbies are fearless cats for the most part.
They enjoy getting into mischief since it appears to be ingrained in their DNA. It appears that these are cats that are meant to get into mischief.
Tabbies in the orange family, for the most part, are not terrified of children or other animals.
They dont mind living in the same house as other animals , and theyre not terrified of dogs.
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The Difference Between Male & Female Cat Life Expectancies
Your tabby cats life expectancy can also come down to whether your kitty is a male or female. Many researchers have yet to pinpoint a statistical difference between a male and female cats lifespan, but other studies suggest female cats live slightly longer than their male counterparts. If you have a female tabby cat, shes likely to live about two years longer than a male cat. The expectancy is about 15 years for female cats and closer to 13 years for male cats.
How Long Do Calico Cats Live
Like tortoiseshell cats, calico cats come in a wide range of breeds.
They also share the same gender preference as tortoiseshells, and the same health problems in males.
This is because the calico coloring only occurs when there are two X chromosomes.
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This means that in order for a male cat to have a calico pattern, he needs to have an XXY chromosome, which can lead to health problems, sterility, and a shorter lifespan.
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Orange Tabby Cat Toms Outnumber Queens Approximately Four To One
That is just how genetics work. The X chromosome is the reason for the orange coloring. Every female animal possesses two X chromosomes and every male possesses an X and a Y chromosome. Hence, an orange tabby queen would only result if both her father and mother passed on the orange genes.
An orange tom only requires the orange gene from his mother. This is the direct opposite of the calico or tortoiseshell pattern that is predominantly female. Interestingly, while the odd male calico tends to be sterile the odd orange female seems to have no problem reproducing.
All Orange Cats Are Tabby Cats They Do Not Have A Solid Coat
Without getting too deep into genetics , thanks again to their genetic makeup, all orange cats will have tabby markings of some kind. This is because of the agouti gene. The agouti gene determines whether a cat has a tabby pattern or not. However, when the red pigment gene is expressed, the non-agouti gene does not work. So you can’t have a non-agouti gene with an orange cat – meaning they will have some type of tabby marking, whether it is classic, mackerel, or ticked.
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Do Tabby Cats Like To Be Held
Most domestic tabby cats like being held and cuddled. However, the breed is a better determinate of how affectionate a cat is. Tabbies have a reputation of being loved and needing love because theyre the most common type of cat.
Tabby cats are friendly and lovable and get along with people and other animals. If a tabby is homeless, it probably wont be so for long. They tend to be very pleasant and will win you over with their charm to get snuggles and affection.
If you are holding a cat , you may get cat hair on you if it sheds. To understand if Tabbies shed, check out my article: Do Tabby Cats Shed? .
Orange Tabby Cats Are Usually Male
Did you know orange tabby cats are typically male? In fact, up to 80 percent of orange tabbies are male, making orange female cats a bit of a rarity. According to the BBCs Focus Magazine, the ginger gene in cats works a little differently compared to humans it is on the X chromosome. Males only need one copy of the gene to become a ginger cat while female cats have two X chromosomes and require two copies of the gene.
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How Long Can A Tabby Cat Live
The average lifespan of a tabby cat will be as long as other cats live and can reach 17 years old. The term tabby doesnt refer to a specific breed, but to a group of coat patterns.
Tabby cats have stripes, spots, or both. There are four main types of tabby coat patterns:
- Classic or blotched
- Spotted
- Ticked or agouti
Wikipedia describes a classic tabby as having broad stripes that often form a swirled or whirled pattern on the cats sides that look a bit like marble cake. Some cats will have a bulls eye pattern on their sides.
Both classic and mackerel tabbies will have dark bars on the cheeks and legs. Many tabbies also have an M on their forehead.
The mackerel tabby, which is the most common type, has stripes running down their sides that are at right angles to the spine and are somewhat reminiscent of a fishbone. These cats are also described as having tiger stripes.
Spotted tabbies are variations of the mackerel tabby and classic tabby in which the stripes are broken up into spots.
Agouti tabbies have ticked hairs in which each hair has bands of different colors on it. The cats fur has a sandy look to it like that of a mountain lion.
The cat may have faint ghost stripes on the face, lower legs, stomach, or tail tip. There may be also a long dark line extending down the spine.
The following YouTube video shows a litter of Manx kittens. They are tabby-and-white, and the tabby parts show the mackerel pattern.
Orange Tabby Cats Are Not Their Own Breed
Its not unusual for even the biggest cat lover to mistakenly believe that tabby refers to a specific breed. But in actual fact, the word tabby is taken from a striped silk fabric made in Iraq and is used to describe the unique coat markings that these cats have. All orange cats are tabbies, but as youve probably noticed, not all tabbies are orange.
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What Is The Largest Cat Breed
The largest cat breed is the Maine Coon. The Maine Coon frequently weighs more than 20 pounds and is a strong and long cat. The largest cat on record was a Maine Coon named Barivel. Maine Coons use their bodies to their advantage as they are excellent hunters.
According to Purina, the Maine Coon Barivel was on record as a Guinness World Record holder for the longest cat. Maine Coons are frequently born as Tabbies, and I can only imagine that their Tabby coat pattern helps them camouflage when they hunt their prey.
Sometimes larger cats will even bully dogs. To understand if Tabby cats will like dogs check out my article: Do Tabby Cats Get Along With Dogs? .
How Long Do Cats Live On Average
Domestic cats tend to live longer than dogs. This makes them a good choice for people who want a pet that is going to stick around for the long haul.
Of course, some factors are outside of our control. But genetics, luck, and preventative healthcare all play a role in how long your cat lives, which we will get into in more detail later.
Luckily for us, several scientific studies, including a comprehensive examination of 100,000 cats in the UK, have looked into cat life expectancy, giving us plenty of information about all of your felines nine lives.
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Tabby Cats Have Five Unique Patterns
Classic tabbies have bold, swirling patterns, mackerel tabbies have narrow stripes, and spotted tabbies have large or small spots. Ticked tabbies don’t have stripes or spots, but instead, have tabby markings on the face and agouti hairs on the body. Patched tabbies can show any one of the previous patterns, with the markings usually more apparent on the legs and head.
Timeline Of Tabby Cat Growth: A Guide To Age Vs Size
If you have a tabby cat , you know just how much of a joy they are to have. They run around, play with you, show plenty of affection and truly love life! Whether its a tabby pattern cat or not, cats are all unique and have different growth timelines and life expectancies.
Because each cat is different, I decided to compile as much research as I can into this helpful guide. This guide is geared towards tabby cats but will get you to show you what to expect at certain ages and sizes. Well break down everything from the newborn kitten stage all the way through adulthood and the final stages of a cats life. Ill also share with you some common health issues in domestic cats that you may run into during specific stages of the growth timeline.
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Orange Cats Are The Darlings Of Hollywood
Part of our affinity for orange cats could be traced back to our cultures consistent use of them in films and television. The ubiquitous sassy orange cat is an integral part of our pop-culture consciousness. We have the eternally unimpressed Garfield, the swashbuckling Puss in Boots, the innocently curious Milo, legendary advertising icon, Morris, and the iconic Heathcliff. Somehow, their orange fur suits them all perfectly.
The Orange Tabby Will Usually Have One Of Five Varying Kinds Of Coat Patterns
There are five basic types of this pattern: classic tabby, spotted tabby, ticked tabby, patched tabby and mackerel tabby.
The classic tabby will have a butterfly pattern on his back or a bulls eye pattern on his sides, appearing as if the cat was tie dyed.
A spotted tabby will look more like a leopard or a jaguar with rosette or oval markings rather than stripes. Ticked tabbies have most of the tabby markings on their face.
Patched tabbies will have large swathes of color as well as stripes. The mackerel tabby will have stripes just like a tiger.
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What Health Problems Do Siamese Cats Have
Siamese cats are diagnosed with asthma, hip dysplasia, bronchial disease, heart disease, amyloidosis, Progressive Retinal Atrophy , minor digestive issues, dental problems, and types of cancer. But, many of these diseases have clear symptoms and cures. So, nothing to worry about. Moreover, regular health check-ups combined with a proper diet and regular exercise can keep most diseases at bay.
Why Are Orange Tabby Cats So Affectionate
What do orange tabby cats have that makes you adore them every time you meet them. Well, the quality thing about this cat is their sweet nature, outgoing affectionate personality and ready to fit in any situation.
Their transformation is very stunning. You will be surprised that the orange tabby cats will be willing to leave the room within two days of adoption. They get along with other pets as well as the environment.
As previously explained, tabby is not a breed. Its simply a fur pattern that appears across a wide range of colors.
All tabbies have some aspects of marking on their forehead that resembles letter M. There are various types of tabby cats, each possessing a unique coat pattern.
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Senior Years Of Cat Life
Much like dog ages quickly, so does a cat. Around this point, your cat should be 10 years old which is somewhere between 60 70 years in human years. Thats quite old!
The senior years of a cats life can either be really enjoyable for them or really painful. Much of this is dependent on how well they are taken care of in the early stages of life.
Still, cats bodies do wear down with age. They can develop all types of physical issues such as arthritis, obesity, poor vision, and poor balance. Diseases will be harder to fight against without serious medical attention.
The lack of physical activity can be particularly troublesome as you try to help your cat maintain a healthy weight balance. Your cat may also require a change in diet so they can get certain nutrients and vitamins to help them function well at this age.
The senior years of a cat can vary, but once they get to around 15 years of age then that is considered a huge milestone. This also comes with more complications. Cats 15 years or older will likely experience serious behavioral changes. This can include changes in how their meow vocalization sounds, lack of awareness, and even refusal to use the litter box properly.
All About Red Tabby Cats
The red cat is a common type that is always tabby in pattern, and males far outnumber females. They are more commonly called orange, ginger, marmalade, yellow, butter, caramel, or butterscotch.
Red cats are not their own breed and you can find them in many cat breeds as well as moggies . They may be shorthair or longhair cats. If you are looking for a lovely ginger cat, you will have a wide variety of breeds and coats to choose from. You may want a red cat that has tiger stripes or one with spots or patches.
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Two To Six Months Old
Somewhere at the beginning of the second month, your kitten will be able to start learning how to use the litter box. This is really achieved by watching the mother cat and developing those instincts over time.
Theyll also be walking with more confidence than before although they still might be shaky in their approach. Kittens are quick learners though, and will eventually develop the balance needed to walk comfortably. During this stage, a lot of exploration takes place.
Around the 7 to 8-week mark, kittens should weigh between 1 to 2 pounds. That might seem small, but considering that most cats only ever weigh 6 to 12 pounds in weight means they are growing quite quickly!
Kittens will typically have a larger appetite compared to adult cats. Its not uncommon to find yourself feeding a kitten multiple meals per day as their bodies grow.
At this point, especially in the second and third months, your kitten will need its first round of shots. Kittens should be getting vaccinations every three to four weeks until they are around five or six months old.
The vaccinations can be more spread out after that period. Kitten vaccinations are vital because they help protect against common diseases. If you have a specific breed that is more likely to catch a certain disease, then they may need additional vaccinations beyond the core group.
Below is a few fo the common diseases that kitten vaccinations will help prevent against:
- Feline rhinotracheitis
Its Time To Talk About Fat Cats
Fat cats are undeniably cute, as the internet proves on a regular basis, but for every extra kilogram of weight your cat puts on, your cats lifespan is reduced an average of 6 months.
This is because being overweight puts your cat at increased risk of developing illnesses like diabetes.
Feeding the right amount of a healthy diet and making sure your cat gets plenty of exercise is the best thing you can do to help your cat live a long life.
Regular checkups and vaccines help too.
Making sure your cat is vaccinated and kept up to date on preventatives reduces their risk of contracting diseases.
Those veterinary visits can also help your veterinarian catch any other illnesses, like cancer or diabetes, in time for treatment.
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