Cat Expert Shares 5 Ways Pet Parents Can Extend Their Kitty's Life

There are so many magical things we get out of life when we have a pet in our lives. They do so much good for our health, that of course, we want to do what we can to keep them alive as long as possible.

Jackson Galaxy (@jacksongalaxy), who calls himself a “cat expert,” shared five things cat parents should to that will extend their life. It’s an important video so take a watch!

The video is just under a minute long where Jackson walks through his five tips to extending your cat’s life and gives context to each point.

“Number one, proper nutrition,” he said. “Get rid of that junky dry food. Go for a raw or wet diet. Your cats are obligate carnivores, they need meat and nothing but.”

His second tip is to ensure you’re taking your cat to the vet. “Gotta go at least once a year. Their health can change on a dime,” he explained.

“And speaking of the vet, go in for dental exams at least every year and a half,” was his third point. “You don't know how prevalent tooth loss decay and gingivitis is in cats. It's painful and unless we catch it early it can spread to their whole mouth.”

Jackson’s fourth tip is to make sure you’re taking time to play with your cat each day. “It's not just about bonding with them. Exercise and that's what it is,” he notes.

The final point he brings up sounds very familiar for anyone who is also a human parent. “Cat proof your home,” he said. “Cats are like toddlers that can reach the ceiling. So anything you would do for a toddler, do it for your cat as well.”

According to AKC Reunite, the nation’s largest non-profit pet microchip and recovery service, other things you can do to lengthen your cat's lifespan is to ensure their litterbox stays clean, keeping them indoors, get them neutered or spayed, and don't smoke near your pet.

"Our furry friends can’t live forever," the site notes. "But, we can do everything we can to make sure their time with us is the best it can be!"