Cats Live Longer Than Dogs Because They Are More Independent
Many people appreciate the sociability of dogs, as opposed to cats, who have a more independent character. However, there are recent studies that ensure that cats live longer than dogs for this reason, since the way of being independent of cats helps them live longer.
Why do cats live longer than dogs?
The cat is a solitary animal by nature, on few occasions it will be touched or caressed by anyone. They are distrustful and in the face of any fear they tend to defend themselves with very sharp claws.
It is precisely this characteristic that allows felines to live an average of 3 years longer than dogs. While their canine friends live for an average of 12 years, cats go up a little longer, to an average of 15 years.
Theory of aging and defense mechanisms
There are many theories regarding this advantage of cats. One of them is the one that affects the safety of animal species as a condition of their maximum age. Accordingly, the defense options of cats for their claws and their agility reduces both their capture and the spread of diseases.
This so-called “evolutionary aging” theory is based on the fact that living beings live longer according to the safety conditions in which they are found. Although dogs are fierce, they do not have the claws of felines or their agility. If we try to capture a cat, we will observe that it is much more difficult than catching a dog. Cats have more resources to defend themselves than dogs.
Breed mix diversity influences age
Other theories suggest that the average age of dogs is also conditioned by the creation of different breeds, which could lead to poor health. Although there are also a lot of variety of cats, the differences between them are not so bulky. Let’s think, for example, how different a Chihuahua and a Mastiff are.
Dependence of a home and an owner
Another factor that can affect the age of cats compared to dogs is that, although felines prefer to be with their owner, they do not have much dependence on it to calm down if they are in a strange place, where they have never been.
Cats react better than dogs to unfamiliar environments thanks to their nature as independent and solitary hunters.
In the case of dogs, everything changes. With a time of coexistence, dogs will be very similar to their owner, their preferences, habits, and even attitudes and postures. If the owner is very introverted and not sociable, his pet will be increasingly jealous of his privacy. If it is an outgoing person, the animal will be comfortable leaving the home in parks, squares, etc., full of people and other dogs.
The care they receive also has a decisive influence on the lives of these animals. With a little vigilance and control, we will make sure our pets stay healthy, have no accidents and can live as many years as possible.
Dangers to the cat’s life
The independence that we have discussed of cats, as well as their curiosity to discover new things, makes them prone to dangers of all kinds. It is very likely that when you start to leave the home there is a road to cross, and you are not aware of the danger of cars, because you have never lived with it. Dogs are more at home and do not seek to leave the home.
Another danger for cats is the case of traps if the environment is rural, or the attack of a stray dog, or if they enter without knowing it in a property guarded by dogs.
Also, they can suffer accidents when crossing from one roof to another, or if they get locked up or eat poisoned foods. Let’s not forget the saying “curiosity killed the cat.”
There are more drawbacks for a cat leaving the house. Contagious diseases for example, or fights between males because of a cat that is in heat. In these fights they can suffer very serious injuries.
In the case of females, a bitch in heat will wait at home and suffer her moment until it passes. In contrast, a cat in heat will have a great need to get out of the house and mate with other cats.
