Age...just a number?

One of my favourite things is seeing someone asking for help to enhance
their 'older' pet's life. Society so often dictates to us what aging looks like, and that it is something to be feared. With our pets, we are conditioned to believe that as they get older, they are destined to suffer from various conditions and diseases. But what is older?

If you ask the average person what the lifespan of a cat is, they say 15; some push it to 20. A cat living over the age of 20 is shocking to people. With dogs, they say 15 is a ripe old age for a little dog, while many large breeds are only given 10 years before being considered at the end of their life. 

Although attaching these life expectancies to pets helps the average human understand the level of commitment they are signing on for, these numbers create a mind set that is not healthy for your pet. 

If you think your cat is old and dying at 15 years old, you are attaching that energy to your pet. When their health starts to deteriorate, you think "well, Fluffy is old now, so it is to be expected". In contrast, if you believe your cat can easily live to 30, you are expecting longevity and health. Your actions reflect this energy and often more is done to promote whole health. 

So instead of expecting your pet to live for 10-15 years, expect 30, and ask how your pet can achieve this age in grace and health. They may not live to 30, but maybe they will live past their 'life expectancy', or at least age in grace. It's never too late to make a difference!