Among the 8 cat breeds of the Siamese-Oriental group, the Siamese is the most famous and popular. This oriental beauty has a graceful physique, almond-shaped bright blue eyes and an original color point color: light beige hair on the body and dark brown or black on the face, paws and tail. The Siamese cat is friendly, playful, easy to train, and can be an excellent companion in any family. How long Siamese cats live depends not only on their hereditary characteristics, but also on other factors.
About the breed of Siamese cats
On the Internet, on TV, in newspapers and magazines you can often hear an amazing fact about the life of Siamese cats who lived to be 20 years or more. The Siamese cat breed originated in Thailand, which was formerly called "Siam". Some royal families used Siamese to perform certain rituals. Thai cats are descended from Bengal cats. Now there are about 40 varieties of “Bengals”.
Blue-eyed representatives of the cat world weigh about 3-4 kilograms, have a pointed muzzle, and long thin paws. Siamese cats love attention, care, and especially love to talk to people. They are also considered the smartest pets among other felines.
Nutrition
Rational feeding is an important point to ensure a happy life for a pet. Every living creature needs proteins, fats and carbohydrates. In the first weeks, proteins are of greatest value, as the most important building material.
Over the years, the need for proteins gradually decreases. An older animal will need a gentle diet. These should be foods that are easy to digest.
There are several feeding options:
- ready-made food,
- natural food,
- mixed.
At an early age, natural products . These are meat, vegetables and cereals, with the obligatory addition of vitamin complexes. The most important supplement for Siamese babies is often cottage cheese and milk porridge. These are important sources of calcium for the body, which quickly gains weight. Meat and offal must be of high quality and low-fat varieties. It is not advisable to feed your mustachioed ward pork and pork by-products, as they contain an excessive amount of fat.
Store-bought food is convenient because it does not need to be prepared. You just need to open a new package. They contain all the essential minerals and vitamins, so no additional nutritional supplements are required. Dry granules can be left in a bowl all day - it will not spoil. Canned food, on the contrary, should not be stored in the fresh air for more than two to three hours. They are more expensive than dry ones, but do not have their disadvantages: when eating a dry product, the wards must drink a lot. This is important for complete digestion of dried granules.
Mixed feeding is not recommended by veterinarians, as it will cause an excess of certain vitamins. Industrial feeds have a balanced composition, which the wards need depending on the number of years they have lived. The addition of natural substances leads to an excess of nutrients in the body, for example, cottage cheese - to excess calcium, liver - fat-soluble vitamins.
This is interesting: Photo of a Siamese longhaired cat
Long-lived cats
Siamese cats are also known for their longevity. Representatives of this Asian breed live on average from 15 to 20 years, but there have been cases where Siamese lived up to 30 years. Unfortunately, like other members of the cat family, many pets die before reaching the age of 15. Siamese cats can live a long, rich life, but they can die before their time, it all depends on the pet’s owners and the pet’s quality of life. They say that Thai cats are not ready to survive loneliness; they die for this reason. Such an exotic pet should be given a lot of attention. The main criteria that will lead to longevity of the Siamese:
- quality care, visits to veterinary clinics;
- genetic predisposition;
- love, care of the owners.
What affects the lifespan of a Siamese cat?
In felinology, this cat breed is considered to be a long-livers: living in its homeland, in the tropical and subequatorial countries of Asia with a changeable climate and high humidity, Siamese cats have acquired exceptional endurance. However, due to the high risk of becoming someone's prey or being injured, getting sick and being left without help, the wild ancestors of the Siamese cat lived a maximum of 4-5 years.
The life expectancy of Siamese domestic cats, according to statistics, is much longer, averaging 14.2 years. The longest-living record holder was the Siamese cat Scooter, listed in the Guinness Book of Records, who lived for 30 years to the delight of his owners.
How long a Siamese cat will live at home is, of course, influenced by its genetic predisposition to certain diseases. For purebred representatives of this breed, the respiratory, visual and genitourinary systems are considered weak points. Thus, Siamese often suffer from glaucoma, retinal atrophy, strabismus, mammary tumors, urolithiasis, renal failure, rhinotracheitis, and calcivirosis. Older animals often develop bronchial asthma and bronchiectasis.
In addition, heredity influences the lifespan of cats, and genetic characteristics can be decisive. Therefore, before you take a kitten from a breeder, you should find out how long the parents of your future pet lived. But perhaps the most important factor, which directly determines how many years any pet will live, is the conditions of its keeping.
What can affect the health of a Siamese?
General health is undoubtedly the main factor in the longevity of any animal. Pedigree cats are usually more prone to diseases and disorders than mixed-breed or mongrel cats. Accordingly, such pets require additional, more careful care. Asian cat breeds are often susceptible to diseases such as:
- glaucoma;
- labored breathing;
- cholelithiasis;
- strabismus;
- renal failure.
How long do cats live after sterilization?
Sterilization is a surgical operation that can prolong the life of a pet by 3-6 years, according to average data. When the ovaries and uterus are removed, the animal becomes more affectionate and kinder, aggressiveness and temper disappear.
On a physiological level, a decrease in stressful situations for the body is revealed, due to the absence of the stage of excitation of the sexual cycle - estrus.
It is mandatory to sterilize animals that are unsuitable for reproduction! This is good for their health, increases life expectancy, and helps reduce the number of homeless animals.
Our Masha lived 19 years! And until recently she was a very active cat. I know this is very rare. Yes, we really took very good care of her.
And my girl is already 20 years old, we are active, full of energy and have no plans to die, and all this with a normal diet, without special care, although she was sterilized at the age of 7 years!
When getting yourself such a cat, remember that you are getting yourself another family member, with personal needs and desires.
The secret to the longevity of Siamese breeds
It is impossible to predict how long your cat will live. A responsible owner will always check the health of his pet with a veterinarian, give vitamins to his pet, and provide timely treatment. The secret of the long life of the Siamese is love and need for his family, that is, his owners. Cats can be as loyal as dogs. Love and attention, as they say, can save you from any illness. Of course, Siamese, like other cats, count on you very much, and in return for your warmth and care they will give you their devotion and boundless love.
Attitude towards other people, pets, children?
The Siamese are very open and sincere. They treat everyone condescendingly, majestically, demonstrating royal majesty in everything. They will not miss the opportunity to remind the owner of their origin. In the apartment, Siamese are real emperors, requiring a lot of territory for games and royal pastime.
Siamese rarely find a common language with other cats; they are very sensitive and jealous, and do not intend to share the love and affection of their owners with anyone else. With dogs, these cats find a language with fifty percent success.
They are jealous of their owners, but due to different weight categories and size discrepancies, they rarely enter into open confrontation.
Siamese are indifferent to rodents, birds, and other exotic animals. They do not see a competitor and a serious adversary in a creature that is much smaller in size.
The desire to attack a smaller target remains only at the level of instincts when they get too excited. By providing small pets with the proper level of safety, conflicts can be successfully and easily reduced to zero.
Siamese pets treat children politely and affectionately. They will lull babies with gentle purrs, and play with small children without letting out their claws.
Cats of this breed do not offend the small and weak; they live fairly.
Cats are wary of strangers in the house and guests; during a feast they will prefer to hide from prying eyes.
Factors affecting health
The lifespan of Siamese cats is influenced by many different factors:
- Conditions of detention. The pet owner makes sure that he is warm and well-fed. Domestic Siamese cats do not need anything, do not come into contact with sick animals, and do not need to get their own food.
- Peace, no stress. Pets living in the apartment can sleep whenever and as much as they want. Unlike stray cats, they do not engage in fights for territory and live peacefully.
- Nutrition. Domestic Siamese cats receive high-quality food in the right quantity. They don't have to go hungry. Thanks to nutritious nutrition, pets' immunity is strengthened, the functioning of internal organs improves, so domestic cats can live longer.
- Prevention. Owners take their Siamese cats to the veterinarian for routine checkups and maintain a vaccination schedule. If pets are sick, they receive high-quality treatment. Street cats are deprived of such care; any infection can undermine their health and take their life prematurely.
How long do cats live on average without food?
Every creature on Earth needs food and water. These are the fundamental factors of life on the planet. Lack or lack of food and water can cause irreparable harm to the body. If a cat goes without food for several days, how long will it live? Therefore, it is vital for every owner to know the daily intake of water and food for their pet.
How long can a cat live with water but no food? If we consider this situation, then about 10 days. If the pet has to do without food and liquid, then its life expectancy is reduced to 5-6 days. It all depends on the age, gender, and breed of the pet.
If a pet is undergoing treatment and refuses food, then a hunger strike of 5 days is considered the norm. Then the cat’s body will begin to waste energy on the normal operation of all systems. A hunger strike for more than 5 days can lead to dire consequences.
When old age comes
Around the age of 8-9 years, Siamese cats become less active. At this age they begin to get sick more often. Signs of aging Siamese cat:
- the coat loses its former luster and becomes sparse;
- the pet sleeps more often than plays;
- vision and hearing deteriorate;
- claws peel off;
- The character of the cat changes - some become irritable, others become calmer.
Older cats often suffer from chronic diseases, catch colds more often, and many animals have problems with the musculoskeletal system and internal organs.
With good care, the pet will live for another 5-7 years, but now you need to be more careful about its health. You should undergo a routine examination by a veterinarian more often than before - every 2-3 months.
Maintenance and care
The exotic origin of the Siamese breed does not require special rules for caring for animals. The pet is combed out in a timely manner, especially during the molting period. Water procedures are carried out, the schedule of which depends on the conditions of detention and the individual characteristics of the cats. On average, such events are performed 2–3 times a month. The list of required content actions includes:
- Trimming nails using special tools. The overgrown white part of the claw is trimmed: it is insensitive.
- Constant careful care of your gums and teeth. Representatives of the breed often develop tartar and inflammation in the oral cavity, so their teeth are cleaned every day with a brush and toothpaste.
- Cleaning the ears. Performed 1–2 times a week or more. The procedure is not neglected because dirt and wax accumulate in the ears. Cleaning is carried out using a cotton swab, a soft cloth moistened with Vaseline or vegetable oil.
Siamese are taught hygiene from an early age. Do not forget to maintain a stable emotional state of cats, since they are predators. Pets need to play and move a lot. They are lured by new toys, interesting activities, and accessories. Lack of physical activity and a passive lifestyle, especially in old age, negatively affects animals.
They become lazy and gain weight.
For cats, you will also have to carry out timely prevention of fleas and worms. When they appear, the pet is immediately cured. Vaccinations are performed regularly at the veterinary clinic. Siamese are surrounded with attention and created emotional protection. They need such manifestations from a person, because they become strongly attached to him.
- Nutrition. You should create a balanced diet that excludes dry feeding. This type of food is immediately addictive and can cause some diseases. Smoked meats, fatty, sweet, salty foods are removed from food products. Moderate portions are provided and food is prepared independently. This approach will help increase the cat's life expectancy.
- Genetic predisposition. There is a high probability that the animal will suffer from the disease from which its parents and older members of the family suffered.
