The British cats have long been legends, which explain the origin of these pretty creatures. Most versions converge in the fact that the ancestors of this breed on the UK islands brought with them Roman legionnaires during conquering campaigns. However, felinological scientists argue that the British breed was removed in the UK no earlier than in the XIX century. Truth, as always, is in the middle: cats were really brought in Roman ships, they settled in England, their wool over time became sufficiently thick to resist the fogs and rains. As for the breed, its distinctive features were formed only by the XIX century and on the first cat exhibition, which was held in London, the cats with a plush firm became recognized by the favorites of British aristocrats. The British did not cross these cats with other rocks, so the British Cat stores its genetically caused data for decades.
What is the lifespan of life?
The life expectancy of the British breed depends on the totality of factors - it is no secret that street cats do not live even up to 10 years, and those individuals who live at home can live to 15-16 years. The life of a domestic cat depends on the following nuances:
- balance and regularity of nutrition;
- timely vaccination;
- Prevention of helminthiasis;
- Regular veterinary inspection;
- Prevention of obesity, constant monitoring of the state of teeth, hearts, vessels;
- Timely castration or sterilization of pet;
- the presence of physical exertion and active lifestyle at the pet;
- good care, providing comfortable living conditions and pet hygiene;
- The absence of stress factors and situations.
Any breed, including British, contains not only positive properties, but also a genetic set of features consisting in predisposition to certain diseases. It is known that the British do not suffer oncological diseases, but they are inclined to obesity, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and the cardiovascular system. In addition, the breed revealed weak kidneys, liver and musculoskeletal system.
To extend the years of life to your fluffy favorite, the owner needs to take into account the peculiarity of the breed and contain their cat or cat correctly.
On the duration of the life of your pet, among other things, indirectly affects the painting. Traditionally, the cats of the British breed were gray, however, now we can see various color options that were brought by a breeding way. There is a pattern at which it was revealed that the more exotic color of the British, the greater it is subject to disease, even the fact that its breed was not originally characteristic.
Explains this pattern the science of genetics is quite simple - if the genes responsible for the color of the wool and genes responsible for their health are close, they enter the so-called adhesive inheritance. The resulting offspring at the same time inherited not only color, but also diseases - bad hearing, vision (up to the development of blindness), skin dermatitis, deformation of the skeleton, the locality to the appearance of benign and malignant neoplasms.
Average indicators
Cats and cats of the British breed live on average for 15-16 years, but this is possible only with the right care for them. If there are errors in the diet or there are other adverse factors, then on average, the British live up to 11-12 years.
There is a scientifically proven view that if the animal was neutered or sterilized, the duration of his life increases by an average of 2.5-3 years. In addition, it is believed that those individuals who have a thin structure of the body live longer than their larger and remedy counterparts. The British breed, unfortunately, does not apply to thin specimens, which means that they do not have to count on a couple of overnight years of life. British cats are larger and genetically prone to obesity.
If you do not pay due attention to this circumstance, the length of the pet life will be significantly reduced by the owner's fault, incorrectly caring for his fluffy friend.
Excessive stress loads also reduce the life of the British breed of cats. For this reason, they are not released into the street, and walks are arranged in an isolated garden courtyard, where there is no access to foreign dogs, cats, and there is also no threat from moving cars or people. Sharp light flashes, sound signals, attention of foreign people - all this causes stress at the British. If you protect it from such impacts, then with proper care, the cat of this breed can live for more than 15 years, as there are data on long-livers who have reached even 20 years. If you compare the age of the cat and the age of a person, it can be conventionally assumed that 15 years of cat life is equated to 75 years of life of a person, so at the age of 8 years, the Briton is already considered to be an elder, requiring a special care and nutrition regime.
How to care?
Correct care for the British breed of cats not only extends the life of the pet, but also makes it comfortable. The basic principles of care are as follows.
- Proper nutrition. Considering that the cats of British blood weak liver and kidneys - and special attention for this reason require sterilized cats and castrated cats - the diet of the animal is consistent with these features. Feed the pet can be natural food or balanced industrial cooking feeds.
The basis of natural nutrition is the feeding of a cat with meat chicken, rabbit, beef or veal, low-fat lamb.
Before applying, the meat must be frozen at low temperatures at least two weeks in order to destroy eggs and larvae of helminths. In addition to the protein, the Briton is needed and fiber, therefore, vegetables and fruits have been driving in the diet. From carbohydrate products allowed by the reception of cereals cooked from any croup, except oatmeal and manna. To improve the opening of the intestine, admission of skimmed varieties of cottage cheese and kefira is allowed. In the form of a source of minerals a cat can be given in small quantities of yolk of the boiled egg.
- Castration and sterilization - If you do not plan to explore the British breed, and keep your pet for the soul, then at the age of 7-8 months the kitten needs to be castrated or sterilization. Such a procedure will save a British from regular physiological stresses associated with the reproduction instinct, and also keeps the worsening of his health and reduce life expectancy.
- Hygiene - An important factor that affects all spheres of cats and requires regular and strict implementation. Weekly, the British should be deleted so that the pet is not clogged with the stomach lumps of wool, if it is forced to lick himself. Monthly, the cat must be trimmed with claws, while it is necessary to pay attention to the integrity and health of the nail plate. The eyes of the animal wipe with a soft cloth moistened with warm water - to do it at least 1 time per week. Ear shells are cleaned 1 time in 2 weeks, the procedure is performed using cotton wick.
The cats of the British breed, as a rule, suffer from a dental stone, while their dear bleeding, and teeth are loosened. Hygiene of the oral cavity requires regular cleaning of teeth and childcare, to teach it any veterinarian, the main thing is that the procedure is performed regularly.
The pet should have their sleeping place, a tray for a toilet and dishes for eating.
All these items must be kept clean. Pet wool need to be inspected from time to time for the presence of fleas, and if you are suspected of their appearance, you will need to immediately carry out insecticidal treatment of the litter and the wool of the pet.
- Veterinary inspection - This procedure needs to be held regularly, and for young cats, it is enough to visit the doctor once a year, and after 8 years of age, a hike to the veterinarian must be made 2 times a year. In the first visits to the veterinarian, the kitten perform all the necessary vaccinations - just so you can protect the baby from dangerous diseases. In addition, the pet will prescribe anthelmintic drugs in order to prevent helminthosis.
British cats are not picky and do not require any special conditions for the content.
Choosing a sleeping place for them, try to arrange it so that the pet with his thick and dense wool is hot, but it is not necessary to place it on the draft. Small kittens to equip the place where they could play, place toys there and install the bracket, which is necessary for them to maintain the health of the claws and the development of the paws.
Older British Cats
Despite the fact that the life of the British cat, as a rule, does not exceed 20 years, there are completely unique events, the confirmation of which are long-livers in the world of cats. So, at the end of 1999, a record about a spike cat, a resident of Great Britain was recorded in the Guinness Book of Records. This red-white representative of his breed was famous for the fact that he guailed 29 days of birth and for all this time he managed not to lose a single tooth. Moreover, an amazing cat was able to survive with an incident with a large rottweiler, which is pretty spike pretty.
The owner of the cat believes that his longevity the cat is obliged to natural naturalize - gelet from Aloe Plants. This gel spike was treated every day, and in addition, in his daily diet were Omega-3 fatty acids, which he received, across the ocean fish and trout. In addition to natural food, the owner of the cat feed and the balanced food of industrial production. Spike has always been an active and movable cat and spent all day in walks through the home garden.
In 2001, according to eyewitnesses, the cat noted the 31st birthday, becoming one of the oldest representatives of the Feline family on our planet.
Another unique example of a long stay of the Cats of the British breed is a gray-spotted cat named Ma. This special also lived in the UK and became famous for the fact that there was a winner of cat exhibitions, and in addition, she was fine with mice. The life expectancy of this cat at the time of 2001 amounted to 32 years. The long-life was also listed in the Guinness Book of Records and, it was possible that Ma would have lived for some time, but due to the heavy sickness of the hosts were forced to put their pets.
The cases described are not single - long-livers in the cat family are found from other breeds. It should be assumed that good genetic heredity and proper care for the pet are a guarantee that it will be completely able to live a long life. Take care of your pets and let them please you with their presence as many years as possible.
Video review of British cats See below.