It use to be thought one year in a cat's life equaled 7 years in a human's life. This is not very accurate though. The first two years of a cat's life they age quickly, but after that their aging process slows down. And each cat year is about 4 years in human years.
6 Months ~10 Years
8 Months~ 13 Years
1 Year~ 15 Years
18 Months ~ 20 Years
2 Years~ 24 Years
4 Years~ 32 Years
6 Years~ 40 Years
8 Years~48 Years
10 Years ~56 Years
12 Years~64 Years
14 Years ~72 Years
16 Years~ 80 Years
18 Years~ 88 Years
20 Years~ 96 Years
21 Years~100 Years
Ear mite infestation is one of the most widespread and often overlooked affliction of cats. The ear mite infests the external ear canal and can cause intense irritation. The cat constantly shakes her head and scratches her ears, sometimes making a raw, bald spot behind one or both ears. Head-shaking and scratching can be so violent and can cause a blood blister in the ear. The ear swells and then shrinks, becoming permanently crumpled. The mites cause chronic inflammation inside the ear, which produces a dark, tar-like secretion. Not all cats show signs of irritation and seem to have "dirty ears," especially kittens (who pick up the infestations from their mothers). Left untreated, chronic ear mite infestation can lead to middle ear disease (which affects the cat's balance and ability to walk normally) and to hearing loss.
Diagnosed early, ear mite infestations are easily cured by appropriate veterinary medication. Simply cleaning out the ears with oil or soapy water won't help, since the mites burrow into the tissues of the ear canal. All cats with "dirty ears" that have a dark tarry exudate, and all cats who persistently scratch their ears and shake their heads, should be treated by a veterinarian. Since ear mites are highly contagious, all other animals in the household should be examined by the veterinarian and treated as needed.
Dr. Michael W. Fox,
Good nutrition and veterinary care help cats and dogs to live longer. Good news indeed, however, owners of older pets should be on the lookout for cancer, a common problem in aging animals. Here are seven signs that may indicate cancer:
1. Loss of appetite and/or weight; difficulty eating or swallowing.
2. Discharge or bleeding from any body opening.
3. Unusual swelling anywhere on a pet's body that persists or
continues to grow.
4. Offensive odor.
5. Loss of stamina and reluctance to exercise.
6. Persistent lameness or stiffness.
7. Difficulty in breathing, urinating or defecating.
If your companion animal has any of these symptoms, take him to your veterinarian. If diagnosed early, some forms of cancer can be successfully treated by either surgical removal, radiation or chemotherapy. You may wish to also check with a veterinarian about alternative holistic medicine.
by Dr. Micheal W. Fox