How long do cats and dogs live? The answer is not set in stone but can be estimated using past studies that also reveal really important evidence, our pets now live longer than ever before. Apart from the extraordinary stories of longevity of recently deceased
Tiffany 2 and
the mysterious case of Maggie the dog, we can expect
dogs and cats to enrich our lives for an average of 12 and 15 years respectively. This is still probably not long enough for their owners, who may be consoled by the results of recent research published in
Science.
Life expectancy of dogs and cats: the role of man
The lifespans of our dogs and cats have doubled in the last 40 years. This welcome news is partly explained by
the animals' special relationship with man who provides quality food, regular veterinarian check-ups and
an abundance of cuddles, all contributing factors to prolonging their lives. But this ‘domestication' has also inevitably had negative effects that are typical of the modern age. But
João Pedro de Magalhaes, a biogerontologist from the University of Liverpool, is convinced of the possibility that our pets can live even longer: “The same things that allow us to live longer also apply to our pets … Maybe a thousand years from now you could have dog that lives 300 years."
Dogs and cats living longer: and man too?
The idea of
cats, dogs and man living for hundreds of years may seem a bit extreme but certainly this issue is keeping the many scholars who are trying to extend the lives of our beloved pets busy. This is the case of the
Dog Aging Project, a project led by
Daniel Promislow, a geneticist at Washington University in Seattle. This complex study includes research on behaviour, reproduction, evolution and ecology, all useful to discover the secret of long life in animals and more, as Promislow explains: “If we can understand how to improve the quality and length of life, it's good for our pets and good for us. It's win-win." Even the first ever litter of dogs born through in vitro fertilisation recently, positions the dog in a special role where discoveries in the canine species can help improve our health too, and reinforces the multiple benefits of our relationship with our pets, not only with animal lovers but with the whole human race too.
Where a cat is clearly an independent creature; a dog by its nature is a
social animal. In fact, being part of a pack or a family positively affects its psychophysical...
Cats and boxes: the combination is perfect and often viral as shown by themed videos or photos that rage on the web and social networks. But why can't all cats, even the...
Alternative, Green Label and Classic Raw Pack are the three lines of Almo Nature wet food for cats prepared with a unique "Raw Pack" cooking method.Let's look at some of...
Travelling is a great way to relax and unwind for us humans. But it can be stressful figuring out if our four-legged friends can join in on the fun. If you're not sure...
Veterinarians, scientists and animal lovers alike, are forever pondering the nature of the special relationship between man and dog. The pet that earned the name of...
Sometimes we, unfortunately, find that our cat has soiled out of the litter box. It is an
unwelcome predatory behaviour that we need to understand in order to help our...
Almo Nature has formulated its nutritional advice for cats based on the following nutritional philosophy:It’s often believed cats are simple animals to feed because of...
A vegetarian diet for cats and dogs: can the alternative dietary choice of a large percentage of the population be automatically extended to our four-legged friends?...
