Factors that affect feline life expectancy include maintaining a healthy body weight, a high-quality diet and adequate exercise

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

They say cats have nine lives, and eventually that ninth life comes along. Senior cats may show some gray hairs around the eyes and mouth, the lens of the eye clouds over, and they may think twice and walk away instead of jumping onto the kitchen counter.

The average life expectancy for cats is 10 to 15 years, although some live into their late teens or even 20s. Cats are considered mature at 7 to 10 years of age, senior from 11 to 14 and geriatric over the age of 15.

“This can vary a lot between cats depending on their breed and health status,” says Matthew Kornya, DVM, who practices at the Cat Clinic in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. “In humans, some 70-year-old people are healthier than some 50-year-olds, and the same is true for cats.”

Fortunately, you can take steps to ease your cat into her golden years -- and possibly even extend them.

“Cats are already living significantly longer than they were just 10 years ago,” says Drew Weigner, DVM, a feline practitioner in Atlanta and president of the Winn Feline Foundation. “Advances in treating many diseases seen in older cats, such as kidney disease, diabetes and thyroid disease, have led to not only increased lifespan, but also increased quality of life.”

Keeping weight off is key. By now we’ve all seen the videos of Cinderblock, the 25-pound cat bewailing her time on the water treadmill. Excess weight stresses joints, leading to painful osteoarthritis. It’s better if your cat never packs on the pounds in the first place. Measuring food, hiding small amounts around the house so she can hunt for it and scheduling three to five minutes of playtime a couple times daily are all ways to help cats stay active throughout life.

Some aging cats have the opposite problem, losing lean body mass with age. Smaller, more frequent meals and a fountain to encourage water intake can help them to maintain good body condition.

Senior cat dietary needs vary by individual. Some become less able to digest fat, while others have a decreased ability to digest protein. Cats with chronic kidney disease can benefit from therapeutic foods to help manage their condition. Other diet-sensitive conditions include cognitive dysfunction, diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism and osteoarthritis. Your veterinarian can help you choose the best food for your cat, but in general, a highly digestible, nutrient-dense diet is a good choice.

Evaluate whether you need to make changes to your cat’s environment. Putting his food dish on top of the washing machine to keep it out of reach of the dog may have worked well in his younger years, but it may be time to rethink that.

“Make sure cats can easily get to food and water or their litter box without it being a stressful climb or difficult place to get to,” says veterinary technician Harmony Peraza at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine.

Don’t smoke around your cat. Exposure to secondhand smoke dramatically increases a cat’s risk of lung cancer and other diseases such as asthma.

Take your cat to the veterinarian if you notice behavior changes such as drinking more water, eating less, not using the litter box, producing only small amounts of urine, prowling or yowling late at night or grooming less thoroughly.

“Arthritis commonly affects older cats and may lead to reduced mobility, inability to groom themselves and difficulty using the litter box,” Dr. Kornya says. “Minimizing arthritis pain can dramatically improve quality of life. Dental health is also of crucial importance, as many older cats suffer from tartar, gingival disease and oral infections that cause chronic pain and may lead to systemic disease. A healthy older cat is free of pain and infection, well-groomed and has a healthy body condition.”

Read more about caring for senior cats at FearFreeHappyHomes.com.

Q&A

Saying “Rabbits”

for good luck

Q: Why do some people say “Rabbit, rabbit” on the first day of each month?

A: This is one of those interesting but little-known sayings or superstitions that people either grow up with or have never heard of before. It’s thought to have originated in Britain.

The idea is that the first words a person says on the first day of the month -- even before greeting their rabbits, dogs or cats -- are “rabbit,” “rabbits” or “white rabbits.” Some people say it twice, others three times. The person who does this will have good luck for the rest of the month, according to the superstition.

Another belief is that saying it will ensure that a present is delivered by the end of the month, or that a wish will come true.

The tradition of saying “rabbit, rabbit” occurs in the United States as well. It’s sometimes associated with New England, but in an informal and completely unscientific poll, plenty of people from New England said they had never heard of the practice.

Storyteller Sue-Ellen Stillwell-Jones, from the Midwest, first heard it when she was in her 20s, from other storytellers. Sally Bahner of Connecticut was familiar with it, and Megan Bellue learned it from a friend from Iowa. A colleague from Ireland told Lynn Miller to say “white rabbit” three times at midnight.

Folklorists have gathered many examples over the years, including from people in North Carolina, Pennsylvania and New Mexico. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, from New York, said “rabbits” on the first of every month, according to one newspaper article. Author Simon Winchester claims to have gone 696 months -- or 58 years -- before forgetting to say it one month.

If you forget, wait until the end of the day, and say “Tibbar, tibbar” -- rabbit backward, in other words. -- Kim Campbell Thornton

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Studies aim to

keep pets healthy

-- Morris Animal Foundation is awarding more than $1 million in grants for 16 canine and feline research projects. Among the studies being funded are one to evaluate the potential of treating aggressive cancers with a new drug derived from a medicinal plant called feverfew; development of an oral vaccine for use in shelters and other multicat environments against feline enteric coronavirus, which can mutate to the deadly disease feline infectious peritonitis; and an inexpensive prognostic test to enable more rapid and appropriate treatment for canine neural injuries, such as strokes and acute spinal cord injuries.

-- Many pets and people were separated during Northern California’s Kincade Fire, and rescuers are turning to social media to help reunite four-legged and two-legged family members. The Kincade Fire Pet Rescue and Reunification page on Facebook posts photos and descriptions of lost and found pets. In Southern California, volunteers from the equestrian community often pitch in to help rescue horses through a Facebook group called Southern California Equine Emergency Evacuation. Cowboy 911, also on Facebook, has listings to help connect rescuers, shelters, owners and animals, including dogs, birds, horses, pigs and even wildlife. Reunification can take months as people seek new housing or more animals are found, so it’s important to continue checking or to renew a lost or found pet’s listing.

-- Often, dog breeds come in different coat varieties. There’s the familiar rough collie -- think Lassie -- as well as a smooth, or shorthaired, collie. Fox terriers have smooth or wire coats; Chihuahuas have short or long coats; dachshunds come in smooth, long or wirehaired coats; Jack Russell terriers have smooth, broken or rough coats; Brussels griffons have rough and smooth coats; Portuguese podengos have smooth and wire coats; and Pyrenean shepherds have smooth- and rough-faced varieties. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts headed by “The Dr. Oz Show” veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker, founder of the Fear Free organization and author of many best-selling pet care books, and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. Joining them is behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

Whether you’re buying for pets or pet lovers, we’ve found the perfect gifts for anyone on your list -- even the naughty ones

Andrews McMeel Syndication

It’s that time of year again: turkey, football and Black Friday shopping. If you’re reading this, we’re pretty sure that you probably have dogs, cats and people who love pets on your gift-buying list. To make shopping easy for you -- so you can spend more time with your animals -- we’ve come up with a gift guide that has something for everyone.

Treats for good dogs

-- Pet Connection team member and Fear Free lead trainer Mikkel Becker says her dogs love the foraging challenge of the iDig. Bury chews, treats and toys for dogs to find. Goifetch.com; $79.99.

-- Shaped like a suitcase, the Travel Dog food puzzle tests dogs’ dexterity, concentration and “scentsability.” Two dogs can play at the same time. Myintelligentpets.com; $76.

-- Load ’em up and launch! Ring toys, that is. The Chuckit! Ring Chaser Launcher Dog Toy saves your arm during endless fetch sessions. Bonus: hands-free pickup to prevent getting slimed with slobber. Available from Amazon and Chewy; $12.95.

-- Reward your good dog -- and they are all good dogs -- with a daily treat from Bosco and Roxy’s Bark the Halls Advent Calendar. Each window for the 24 days leading up to Christmas contains a biscuit made with applesauce and crushed peanuts. Available at Cost Plus World Market and online at worldmarket.com; $24.99.

Purr-fect for cats

-- The classic, of course, is an empty box, but if you want to go all out for your cat, the IntelliKatt food bowl has three levels of difficulty and more than 500 different combinations, offering your cat a stimulating hunting challenge. Even “mewbies” can have fun with it. Beonebreed.com; $19.99.

-- Cats who love to climb will be thrilled with the wall-mounted Ultimate Cat Climbing Tower & Activity Tree. Just over 6 feet tall, it has two resting areas where up-high cats can monitor their territory. Amazon and PetFusion; $109.95.

-- If a traditional cat tree isn’t right for your home, consider the Happy Stack, which is easy to set up and can be moved as needed so your cat always has a place to climb, scratch, nap or hide. Happystack.net; $179.

-- Grow grass for your cat to nibble with the Organic Cat Grass Growing Kit. The cute planter with a kitty face comes in black or white. Amazon; $15.97. (Hint: Dogs will like it, too.)

Pet-people pleasers

-- An abundance of fiction and nonfiction featuring animals will have book lovers settling in to enjoy their new read -- dog or cat on lap, of course. Look for “Here Comes Santa Paws” (Kensington Books), the latest in Laurien Berenson’s long-running series featuring standard poodles and their mystery-solving owner, Melanie Travis. “Cat Life” by Amy Shojai looks at cats big and small, cat culture and history, anatomy, behavior and more (Furry Muse Publications). Photography buffs won’t lose focus while admiring the stunning photos in National Geographic photographer Vincent J. Musi’s “The Year of the Dogs” (Chronicle Books). Science-loving kids with cats can experiment -- in a good way! -- guided by “Cat Science Unleashed: Fun Activities To Do With Your Feline Friend” (National Geographic Children’s Books) by Jodi Wheeler-Toppen. There’s also “Dog Science Unleashed.” Pet-loving friends will also enjoy a copy of the latest issue of Happy Paws magazine, with articles on kids and dogs, pet care hacks and the secrets behind canine senses.

-- Make someone smile every morning as they drink coffee or tea in a mug customized with a portrait of their pet. Find artists on Etsy who will take a photo and turn it into a work of art (search “pet portrait mugs” on the site).

-- Cat lovers can settle in to play Cat Crimes on a cold winter day. This feline version of Clue, with six cat tokens, lets players use paw prints, toy placement and other evidence to solve the crime.

Happy shopping!

Q&A

Which dog for

a couch potato?

Q: I’m not a super-active person, and I want a laid-back dog. Are there certain breeds I should consider?

A: Plenty of dogs will suit your needs -- with some caveats. Any puppy or adolescent dog, no matter what breed, is going to be active and playful. If you choose to get a puppy, be prepared for a higher activity level for one to two years before your dog settles into sedate adulthood. Or consider acquiring an adult dog so you can skip the puppy antics.

Some breeds to consider:

-- Cavalier King Charles spaniel. My writing partner, Kim Campbell Thornton, loves these dogs for good reason. They’re small -- but not too small -- and they’ll adjust their activity level to yours. Be aware that the breed has heart problems.

-- Greyhound. It seems counterintuitive to recommend one of the fastest dogs in the world, but greyhounds are happy with a nice walk around the block or a few minutes of running flat out (in a safely fenced area), then they’ll be a couch potato with you.

-- Keeshond. As an adult, this medium-size spitz breed (weighing 35 to 45 pounds) is typically satisfied with a couple of walks on a leash and some playtime in a yard. He can be a barker, so plan on teaching the “quiet” cue.

-- Lhasa apso. Calm and watchful, this former Tibetan temple dog enjoys one or two brief walks daily or some indoor or outdoor playtime. He’s a nice size at 12 to 18 pounds.

-- Shih Tzu. An in-your-lap kind of dog, the Shih Tzu is a toy breed that will appreciate a short daily walk. He may also get his zoomies out by racing through your house -- but that’s on him, not you.

Both the Shih Tzu and the Lhasa require frequent grooming or a short pet trim. -- Dr. Marty Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Pet prep tips for

emergency bug-outs

-- There’s always the possibility of having to evacuate with pets due to fire, flood, hurricane, earthquake or other disasters. Pack a pet go-bag containing vaccination or titer records and other important medical history; medication; food; food and water bowls; a carrier marked with your name and phone number; a photo of your pet -- especially one of you together in case you become separated; a sheet listing medication regimen, food and amount fed and your contact info; a blanket or bed; a favorite toy; and for cats, a litter box, litter and scoop.

-- A therapy used to treat overdoses in humans is reversing signs of toxicity in sea turtles exposed to Karenia brevis algae, which cause toxic algal blooms that kill many sea turtles annually. The treatment, intravenous lipid emulsion therapy, involves injecting a fatty solution into the bloodstream. It causes toxins to bind to fats instead of organs. "This therapy has been used in dogs and cats for more than a decade. It's been very successful in treatment of ivermectin toxicity. Ivermectin and similar drugs are familiar to most people as a key component in many heartworm preventive medications and they're very safe, but sometimes pets can overdose if they eat lots of preventive at once or get into products used in horses," says Dr. Kelly Diehl, senior scientific programs and communications adviser at Morris Animal Foundation.

-- A 25-pound cat named Cinderblock has gone viral after videos of her weight loss routine -- including using a water treadmill -- were released by veterinarian Brita Kiffney, who is supervising the cat’s diet and exercise program. As many of us have done, Cinderblock complained about using the treadmill, meowing plaintively while dabbing at it with a single paw. Dr. Kiffney hopes the videos will raise awareness about the importance of keeping pets in shape. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts headed by “The Dr. Oz Show” veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker, founder of the Fear Free organization and author of many best-selling pet care books, and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. Joining them is behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.

Researchers are seeking to better understand the aging process in dogs and humans with the hope of delaying onset of age-related diseases

By Kim Campbell Thornton

Andrews McMeel Syndication

Sophie Cobb, a Shetland sheepdog in Omaha, Nebraska, recently celebrated her 20th birthday. That’s an unusually long life for a dog. Our best friends are more likely to live a measly 10 to 12 years, with some making it to 14, 15 or older.

Have you ever wished dogs lived longer? A good diet, exercise and regular veterinary care are pieces of the puzzle that make up a long, healthy life for a dog, but are there other ways to extend the lifespan and improve quality of life?

Scientists with the Dog Aging Project are seeking answers to those questions with a long-term study of how dogs age and the genetic and environmental factors that affect aging and disease in dogs. In the process, they’ll also learn important things about the biology of aging in humans -- after all, dogs closely share our lives, from the air we breathe to the food we eat to the beds we sleep in.

“Dogs get the same diseases we do,” says Matt Kaeberlein, Ph.D., one of the co-directors of the DAP. “The health care system in dogs is second only to our own in sophistication. What we learn about how genes and the environment shape the risk of age-related disease in dogs is likely to be related to the genes and environmental risk factors for age-related diseases in humans as well.”

For the longitudinal study -- a yearslong look at dogs’ lives and health -- some 10,000 dogs will participate. Big dogs, small dogs, mixed breeds, purebreds -- all are important in teasing out the secrets behind canine aging. Because of the compressed nature of the dog lifespan, much can be learned in a decade, both environmentally and at the molecular level.

“The dog provides us with a really terrific opportunity to ask how those molecular changes differ between long-lived and short-lived individuals within the same species,” says Daniel Promislow, Ph.D., DAP co-director. “They provide us with a kind of magnifier of diversity that we don’t have in humans, where we don’t know who’s going to be long-lived and who’s going to be short-lived.”

While a pill to increase canine lifespan is still in the future, the concept isn’t out of the question. Owners can nominate middle-aged dogs to participate in a parallel five-year study, limited to 500 dogs, of a drug called rapamycin. In lab studies as well as some human studies, it appears to slow aging or improve healthy aging, Dr. Promislow says. Cardiologists at veterinary teaching hospitals will follow the dogs’ heart health over time in the double-blind, placebo-controlled study. That means neither owners nor researchers will know which dogs receive the drug and which a placebo. As part of this intervention trial, researchers will also be looking at such things as kidney function, cancer, activity levels and cognition.

Why middle-aged dogs? They are at the age where they are starting to develop age-related diseases. By starting with dogs in that period of life, researchers will be able to quickly detect whether the drug slows aging and improves heart function.

“If we had a large enough sample size, we could know in three years -- certainly in five years -- the extent to which rapamycin did improve healthy aging in dogs,” Dr. Promislow says. “That’s something that’s just not possible in that timeframe in people.”

A 20% to 30% increase in lifespan in dogs isn’t out of the realm of possibility, Dr. Kaeberlein says. A dog who might normally live 10 years might live an extra two years. Smaller dogs with a normal lifespan of up to 18 years could see an extra three or four years of life.

Studying how dogs age has more than academic interest. There’s intrinsic value in improving quality of life for dogs, but making their lives longer and better improves our own quality of life as well.

Q&A

Brush off cats --

in a good way

Q: Why do I have to brush my cat? Don’t cats groom themselves?

A: Cats do a great job of grooming themselves, but brushing has a lot of positives beyond helping cats stay clean. It’s a basic step in monitoring your cat’s physical condition, for one thing.

When you brush your cat, you’re learning how her body looks and feels normally. You’ll notice when brushing feels good to her -- “Ah, yes, right there!” -- and when she flinches away because there’s a painful spot that you otherwise might not have noticed. Brushing is a time to check your cat for parasites such as fleas; flakiness that might be caused by dry skin; and to make sure she doesn’t have any lumps or bumps, especially as she gets older or if she goes outdoors and might have gotten into a scuffle with another cat.

Brushing has benefits for you, too. In cats with long fur, it prevents tangles from forming. You probably remember from when you were a kid how painful it is to have tangles combed or brushed out. Brushing removes loose hairs that would otherwise drift onto your clothing, carpet and furniture. And it keeps your cat from swallowing loose hairs that then form hairballs that she hacks up onto your floor for you to step on in the middle of the night. (By the way, did you know that the scientific term for hairball is trichobezoar? The word comes from Greek and refers to a mass formed from hair.)

Last, but definitely not least, brushing your cat is a way to strengthen your bond with her. It’s time that you spend together doing something that’s pleasurable for her. You can do it while you’re watching TV or as a form of meditation for yourself. Brush on! -- Dr. Marty Becker

Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.

THE BUZZ

Comic sends

cats into orbit

-- Cats inherit the earth -- or at least a spaceship -- in “Captain Ginger,” a new comic book series featuring cats in space. Humans are referred to as “feeders,” feral cats are an issue and Captain Ginger must not only battle space aliens but also deal with undesirable scratching behavior on the bridge, and assign litter box duty. And who could resist a cast that includes a Science Cat and a Chief Mousing Officer? One reviewer calls it “the ultimate cat comic.” Published by Ahoy Comics and created by Stuart Moore and June Brigman, “Captain Ginger” is available for $3.99 from Ahoy Comics and Amazon.

-- At Michigan State University, a new animal-assisted intervention program called “Justice Heals” -- named after a support dog acquired to help survivors of sexual assault -- will pair people with shelter dogs to help them heal from their experiences. The program is a collaboration among MSU’s Veterinary Social Work Program, Center for Survivors and Veterinary Behavior Service. “As a veterinary behaviorist, this program is a unique opportunity to look at the relationships that develop between sexual assault survivors and shelter animals during the healing process,” says veterinary behaviorist Marie Hopfensperger, DVM. “This approach allows us to create programming that is mutually beneficial for both populations."

-- The Tonkinese, originally created by crossing Siamese and Burmese cats, is an outgoing, active and playful cat with a strong desire to spend time with his family and involve himself in everything they do. He greets guests with aplomb, doing everything but offering them a drink. When he’s not riding on your shoulder, the Tonk, as he is nicknamed, enjoys playing fetch, sitting in your lap or just chatting with you about his day. With his friendly, open attitude, he can be a good choice for families with children, other cats or cat-friendly dogs. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts headed by “The Dr. Oz Show” veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker, founder of the Fear Free organization and author of many best-selling pet care books, and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. Joining them is behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.