Editing Cat (section)

==Health==

[[File:Youngkitten.JPG|thumb|A very young kitten. Its eyes are just open, but it cannot yet see properly.]]In 2023, pet cats lived for around 13 years.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=O'Neill|first1=Dan G|last2=Church|first2=David B|last3=McGreevy|first3=Paul D|last4=Thomson|first4=Peter C|last5=Brodbelt|first5=David C|date=2014|title=Longevity and mortality of cats attending primary care veterinary practices in England|journal=Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery|volume=17|issue=2|pages=125–133|doi=10.1177/1098612X14536176|pmid=24925771|doi-access=free|pmc=10816413 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Montoya|first1=M.|last2=Morrison|first2=J. A.|last3=Arrignon|first3=F.|last4=Spofford|first4=N.|last5=C.|first5=H.|last6=Hours|first6=M.-A.|last7=Biourge|first7=V.|date=2023|title=Life expectancy tables for dogs and cats derived from clinical data|journal=Frontiers in Veterinary Science|volume=10|pages=1082102|doi=10.3389/fvets.2023.1082102|pmc=9989186|pmid=36896289|doi-access=free}}</ref> This has increased from an average of seven years in the 1980s.<ref name="Kraft19982">{{Cite journal|last=Kraft|first=W.|date=1998|title=Geriatrics in canine and feline internal medicine|journal=European Journal of Medical Research|volume=3|issue=1–2|pages=31–41|pmid=9512965}}</ref>{{rp|33}}<ref name="Nassar 1984">{{Cite journal|last1=Nassar|first1=R.|last2=Mosier|first2=J. E.|last3=Williams|first3=L. W.|date=1984|title=Study of the feline and canine populations in the greater Las Vegas area|url=https://archive.org/details/sim_american-journal-of-veterinary-research_1984-02_45_2/page/282|journal=American Journal of Veterinary Research|volume=45|issue=2|pages=282–287|doi=10.2460/ajvr.1984.45.02.282 |pmid=6711951}}</ref> [[Creme Puff]], the oldest cat that ever lived, died at the age of 38.<ref name="G2010">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec00vari/page/320|title=Guinness World Records|author=Glenday, C.|date=2010|publisher=[[Bantam Books]]|isbn=9780553593372|edition=reprint|page=320|url-access=registration}}</ref>

Cats that roam outside will get [[flea]]s at some time. Cat fleas will not live on people, but fleas will not hesitate to bite anyone nearby. Vets have a good product which they put just behind the cat's upper neck, where it can't be licked off.

Cats kept indoors most of the time are kept from danger from the outside. That is obvious, but its own nature is be free to wander. 

House cats can become overweight through lack of exercise and over-feeding. When they get ''spayed'' or neutered ("fixed"), they tend to exercise less. If a male cat is not neutered, it develops a disgusting smell. Neutering can also make cats live longer.<ref name="Kraft1998">{{Cite journal|last=Kraft|first=W.|date=1998|title=Geriatrics in canine and feline internal medicine|journal=European Journal of Medical Research|volume=3|issue=1–2|pages=31–41|pmid=9512965}}</ref>

Kittens are sometimes born with unusual traits. Some are serious problems, many of which are similar to human [[Genetic disorder|genetic disorders]]. Others are harmless, like [[polydactyly]]. Most cats have only four to five toes on each paw. Polydactyl cats have six, seven, or sometimes even more. These cats can also be called ''Hemingway cats'' because author [[Ernest Hemingway]] owned cats like these.