[PA Engineer]

How about a simpler suggestion. Keep your cats inside. That will limit the number you have and increase dramatically the health and life expectancy.

I just put down my buddy of 19 years today. He was an ARDS survivor 9 years ago and I appreciated every moment with him since then.

I have been searching and searching for geriatric care requirements for very old cats. I found this is unchartered territory, because the need is very new. Cats are living much longer and I believe it is because we are keeping them indoors, away from accidental risks, disease and predators. Vet care probably also adds to it.

Just don't leave them wild outdoors, but maybe in a confined property area.

Funny, today was one of the hardest decisions of my life.

Keep them indoors.

A picture of him from exactly a year ago. He is a cat and loves when we change bedding. Why? He is a cat.

[Hetty_Fauxvert]

I’m so sorry about your cat. It’s very hard to lose a friend of so many years, especially when they’re so affectionate and engaging. I’m sure your beautiful kitty had a wonderful time with you!! I hope another exceptional kitty comes into your life when you’re ready for it.

[Slings and Arrows]

My deepest condolences on the loss of your buddy. Losing them hurts so much.

[fatnotlazy]

I agree. Keeping them indoors is best. They stay healthy and tend to live longer. And no one has to be concerned about cats destroying wildlife.

I’m on my third cat. All of my cats preferred the indoors. They were former strays who were happy to have a comfortable home so they didn’t have to fend for themselves in often harsh weather.

My condolences on the passing of your little buddy. He resembled my first cat, Peaches. And yes, Peaches thought my bed was the “cat’s meow” too.

[Celtic Conservative]

Sorry for your loss. I had to put the sister of the one I mentioned in the above post down last winter. It sucks. It will get better, I promise.

CC

[Paul R.]

How about a simpler suggestion. Keep your cats inside. That will limit the number you have...

Except for the occasional crazy cat lady (or guy, or couple). I once knew a couple who had over a dozen cats in a medium size trailer. The guy later fell into cocaine / alcohol abuse & ended up (permanently, I believe) in an institution. His girlfriend, I have no idea.

We have 3 cats now (one, a stray, is a recent addition.) One is a "mostly indoors cat" who rarely goes over 30 ft. from the house. 2 are 99% "outside" cats. All are "fixed". But it's impossible to keep any of them from going in or out if they really want. In my situation I am often carrying large, heavy items in or out, and there's just no way...

Even the 2 outside cats rarely leave our (somewhat rural) property. They seem to know the road is dangerous / stay away from it except when walking with us to our neighbors, and even then our cats stay on the shoulder. (They definitely don't sit out there the way some cats do.) Ours don't seem to get many birds, but they do get mice, moles, and occasionally, a squirrel - which latter is fine with me, as the squirrels are a nuisance. I rather doubt the cats get many HEALTHY squirrels, though, and I've never seen them get a young one. I suspect the nests are higher in the shagbark hickory trees than the cats will climb, and now that I think of it, I don't think I've ever seen a cat try to climb a large shagbark hickory tree...

[Paul R.]

BTW, sorry to hear you lost your kitty. Some years back, a fave of ours died and my wife cried for hours. Then she said she never wanted one again — and soon we were adopting our 1st of the present 3. :-)

[BuffaloJack]

Sorry to hear about your loss. We had to put down our 24-1/2 year old tan and white tabby a couple of years ago. He started having heart attacks every few days and was in so much distress it was painful to see. We have two cats right now.

[CAluvdubya]

So sorry for your loss. These felines weave their way into our hearts and it's very hard to let them go. The only thing harder is watching them suffer with an illness you can't make better anymore.

I certainly miss the furries that taught me about Feline Diabetes, Hyper-thyroidism, heart disease, arthritis, gallstones, and administering care that I never thought I could manage (subcutaneous fluids, for one).

It definitely gets better but you never forget and are grateful for the knowledge you gained that will benefit your next furry love.

[CatherineofAragon]

I’m so sorry. What a beautiful boy.

[Black Agnes]

What a sweet looking moggy.

My dad had a barn cat that lived to be 20. She was very frail but loved to get scratched. Concrete floored barn, totally enclosed. She had a small doghouse to sleep in with a pillow and everything. When it got cold my dad would put a lightbulb on a timer near the little house. She had vet care her whole life. And he fed her the expensive cat food. She could get outside on sunny days as he’d leave the barn door cracked about 6 or 8”. She’d lay on the driveway and sun.

My cats are totally inside cats, unless there’s a frantic escape. They’ve learned, though, that repatriation involves a bath.