The Abyssinian, also often called the “Aby,” is a medium-sized cat with a brief coat and a lean but muscular body. They’re known for being playful, incredibly energetic, and sociable. Nevertheless, when you’re considering bringing considered one of these cats into your loved ones, you may wonder how long they live. We’ll discuss the Abyssinian’s lifespan and every thing that may affect their quality of life.
Abyssinian Cat Average Lifespan
The common lifespan of the Abyssinian is 9–15 years, but they’ve also been known to live longer than 15 years with proper care and a focus. After all, there are some aspects that you simply won’t have any control over, similar to inherited health problems. But there are various areas of a cat’s care you may have total control over, similar to their environment and nutrition.
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The way to Take care of Your Abyssinian Cat for a Long Lifespan?
Abyssinians are considered one of the oldest cat breeds, potentially related to cats of ancient Egypt. Or they might have descended from eastern Asia. Regardless of the real story, these cats clearly share a protracted history with humans. So, it probably doesn’t come as a giant surprise that they’re pretty healthy cats as breeders have worked hard to decide on the healthiest felines to pass on their genes.
It’d appear to be the common lifespan of the Aby has a big discrepancy, with some living for nine years while others surpass 15. So, let’s take a more in-depth take a look at every thing that may affect the lifespan of your Abyssinian.
Feeding & Food regimen
Feeding your Aby a proper weight loss program will help ensure they’ve the fitting fuel to support them. Your Abyssinian would require a meat-based weight loss program, which is able to provide them with the energy they should play, chase, and climb to their heart’s content.
Ideally, their weight loss program should be a minimum of 26% protein and 20% fat 1. You’ll need to limit the variety of excess calories that you simply feed as these can result in weight gain and obesity, which may, in turn, can lead to numerous other health problems similar to diabetes and joint issues. Serving a weight loss program based in your cat’s specific needs, age, and activity level can be vital. If you happen to are confused about where to start out, contact your veterinarian.
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Environment
The Abyssinian can be often called the “Aby-silly-an” because they’re incredibly energetic and all the time as much as something. They like to be up high, so expect to see them sitting on a shelf or countertop. A sensible purchase is the tallest cat tower yow will discover.
As an intelligent breed, investing in mentally stimulating games can be a superb idea to maintain them busy. This is especially essential when you plan to depart them alone for longer periods. Typically, they don’t do well with being alone, so hide some treats across the house for them to search out or leave extra toys to play with. In case your Abyssinian gets bored, they’ll develop into destructive.
Care
Abyssinians are relatively low-maintenance pets since they’ve short coats and are inclined to shed lower than other breeds. A weekly brushing will help remove debris, dander, and loose hair. It’s best to also check their ears weekly for debris, dirt, or any signs of infection. Never stick anything into your cat’s ears; use a soft cotton ball or cloth to remove dirt or waxy build-up.
As with all cat, taking care of your Aby’s dental health is crucial. Every day brushing is essentially the most helpful to stop plaque and take away tartar. At a minimum, it’s best to brush your cat’s teeth once every week and have regular veterinary dental checkups to assist prevent dental disease. Moreover, you will have to trim their nails two to 3 times a month, however the timeframe for each cat differs.
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Training
Because of their intelligence and curiosity, Abyssinians are considered probably the most trainable breeds. You may even teach them to perform tricks or walk on a leash using positive reinforcement techniques.
They may be trained to resolve puzzles, jump through a hoop, and run through agility courses. Training might sound unrelated to your cat’s lifespan, but keeping this smart kitty’s mind busy is essential for his or her mental health.
Healthcare
Abyssinians are generally healthy, but there are some conditions they might be vulnerable to. This doesn’t mean they’re definitely going to get something on this list; it just means there could also be a better likelihood, so it’s essential to pay attention to them.
- Patellar luxation: This hereditary condition results from the patella (kneecap) moving out or dislocating from its normal position (luxates).
- Dental disease: It’s believed that over half of all cats over 3 years old have some type of dental disease which may affect a cat’s food consumption.
- Progressive retinal atrophy: This can be a degenerative eye disease that can lead to blindness.
It’s essential to maintain up so far along with your scheduled vet visits, as the earlier an issue is caught, the higher the final result. Moreover, when you are ever concerned about your cat’s health, speak to your vet.
The Life Stages of an Abyssinian Cat
There are six life stages of the Abyssinian. Since they’ll live for over 15 years, there’s a final stage that not all will reach but have the potential to. Knowing what to anticipate from each stage may give your Aby the longest, happiest life possible.
1. Kitten (As much as 1 12 months)
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Abyssinian kittens are stuffed with energy and like to play. This mix could make them accident-prone, so make sure you supervise your kitten. Introduce a grooming routine and veterinary visits early so that they are used to them and aren’t as anxious about each as an adult. This can be the perfect time to introduce them to children, other people, and pets.
2. Junior (As much as 2 Years)
A junior cat is like an adolescent human. They’re still stuffed with mischief and can test your boundaries at this age. Make sure you get in numerous playtime and put money into toys to maintain their minds and bodies energetic.
3. Adult (As much as 6 Years)
You’ll notice your Abyssinian still retains some kitten-like qualities into maturity. They may proceed to be interested in their environment and want you to advertise good behavior with positive reinforcement. Abys are incredibly agile, and with a must please their owners and spend as much time with them as possible, they’ve been likened to small, agile dogs.
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4. Mature Adult (As much as 10 Years)
You may notice your Abyssinian starts to decelerate, and a few minor health conditions might creep in. You may also notice changes to their behavior and weight, so encourage movement and be mindful about how much and what they’re eating.
5. Senior (As much as 15 Years)
They shall be much less energetic and won’t need to play as much as they did, even when you tempt them with something they once loved to do.
This calls for a change of their environment and routines. You may adjust the portion sizes of their food, as they won’t be burning as much energy and switch them to a senior formulated weight loss program. Moreover, provide comfortable spots for them to rest and make sure you sustain so far along with your vet visits.
6. Geriatric (15 Years and Above)
Not all cats will reach this stage, and it’s truly an honor to like a cat for this long. They may sleep more and most probably be happiest after they’re with you because their love of being near you won’t disappear. Ensure your Aby eats and drinks enough and may access their litter box.
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The way to Tell Your Abyssinian Cat’s Age
If you may have adopted your Abyssinian, you may must take an informed guess at their age. Your vet may have the ability to offer you a more accurate guess based on some behavioral and physical markers.
Ways to estimate a cat’s age include:
- Eyes: Across the age of six or seven, it’s possible you’ll notice some cloudiness. This can develop into far more obvious when the cat is around 10.
- Grooming habits: Cats are meticulous about grooming, and also you’ll notice younger cats will sport pristine coats while older cats may not do as thorough a job. This may be because they’ve placed on weight as they grow old or develop arthritis, so it’s trickier to achieve the spots that were once easy to get to.
- Teeth: Kittens have deciduous (baby) teeth which might be replaced by adult teeth across the 6-month mark. An older cat’s teeth may even often show general wear and tear, similar to tartar and plaque build-up.
- Weight: As an incredibly energetic breed, the Aby shall be the fittest after they’re of their prime. As they age, they might move less and be more vulnerable to obesity.
Conclusion
The Abyssinian typically lives 9 to fifteen years, but some have been known to live for longer. The lifespan of a cat is affected by many aspects, similar to inherited health problems, lifestyle, nutrition, and environment. It’s essential to maintain up so far with scheduled vet visits, as your vet can catch many issues early. With the right care and a focus, you may make sure that your Aby shall be with you for a very long time!
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