How old does an average cat with a great vet live?… by debli
My cat is 16, had her since she was 5 weeks. I have a great Vet whos one of the best Cat Vets in the world. She goes to him 3 times a year. She gets full blood work done.He says shes very healthy.
She has a thyroid conditon which she takes pills for.
Its hard for her to jump, but can get around by climbing on her own.
How long can I expect her to live?
Had her teeth cleaned last year, cost $1, 200, but the vet said it needed to be done for her health.
With the teeth cleaning, she had to be put out, on IV, have heart monitored while they cleaned the plaque, it was very bad with pus inside.
Best Answer:
I had an elderly cat with similar problems. My vet only gave her 6 months at best. She had hyperthyroidism, and required daily medication (methimazole). She was considered a poor candidate for radioactive iodine, the best treatment. It can be costly, requires a 3-7 day hospital stay, but is low risk and very effective.
She lived for another 3-1/2 years, but I found that the medication lost effectiveness and peaked often, and the dosage continued to increase over time.
Those meds can cause other health problems, as well. I found that my cat had acid reflux, which affected her ability to eat. Along with the thyroid meds she needed 2-1/2 mg of famotidine (pepcid AC) daily to control the stomach acid.
I would ask your vet about radioactive iodine therapy. If she's still relatively healthy, I would do it. That would eliminate the thyroid problem. In the long run it would pay for itself. I think it's less than a $1,200 teeth cleaning and it could give you a few more good years with your cat. You wouldn't need the constant blood tests and daily meds.
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As for the high cost of your teeth cleaning, I'm guessing that she had an abcess in the jaw, which would explain the pus. This would have required surgery, far more complex than a simple teeth cleaning. I also wouldn't be surprised if she had one or more teeth pulled.
At her advanced age, she would've needed a full blood chemistry panel run, before going under anesthesia. They also may have run T4/T3 tests, to make sure your thyroid meds are still dosed properly.
If it was only a teeth cleaning… you got ripped off.
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According to many sources, 15 years is the “natural lifespan” of a domestic cat. Some live well into their 20's.
I believe age span can vary depending on so many factors, like breed, environment, health and nutrition. With all of the advances, I can only assume they're living longer, just like we are.
I hope you and your cat have many good years ahead. Good luck to you both!
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