To extend the life of an adult cat by at least a year, veterinarians recommend getting a kitten in the house. This was reported by veterinarian Marianna Onufrienko.
“I came across an interesting study. An experienced veterinarian discussed an experiment conducted and came to the following conclusion: if an owner has a mature cat that is already showing signs of aging, then, of course, the animal should be treated, but it is also necessary to convince the owner to get a young cat. At first, this may cause shock, as it is unclear what the kitten will do with the older cat. The older cat will get nipped on the nose and ears, but then there is a renaissance in the relationship between the two pets, which increases the average lifespan of the cat by about a year,” said Marianna Onufrienko.
The veterinarian noted that she decided to test the results of this study on her own example. “The cat did indeed live longer, even though it was already very ill. In the last weeks, the younger cat took care of him like a nurse. She even chewed his food, spat it out, and nudged him with her paw, hinting: ‘Eat,’” shared the veterinarian.
Animal psychologist Olga Koroleva adds that an active kitten can indeed awaken an older cat. However, each situation is unique. “Some adult cats happily accept interaction with a little relative, take on the caregiving role, and enjoy grooming them, playing together, and sleeping in the same basket. This is the ideal situation, and it’s wonderful if it happens. But there can also be undesirable consequences,” notes the animal psychologist.
She explained that the older cat is used to a certain daily routine. Excessive attention from the kitten can cause stress for the adult cat. “She wants to rest, but the kitten is nibbling at her tail. Just when she sits down to quietly observe what is happening in the room, someone jumps up from behind. And the adult pet, instead of enjoying the interaction, starts to get nervous, trying to show that she is not in the mood for this right now – she may hiss, swat with her paws, or hide. Some become less active, trying to move around less to avoid being seen by the lively companion,” she explains.
As a compromise, Marianna Onufrienko recommends in such cases to choose a less active kitten, not to switch the little one exclusively to play with the adult cat, and to also play with the kitten herself. Additionally, it is necessary to provide the adult cat with a space where she can rest alone without the risk of being “attacked” by the agile little one.
