這句話是真的，而這要從貓咪進入一個人的生命開始說起。
家裡從小若沒有寵物，在成年離家，或高中、大學時期搬出來後，個性獨立好管理、不用出門溜搭的貓咪就會莫名的有吸引力，接著這個人類有可能就忍不住養了這輩子第一隻貓。
幼貓至成貓時期的寂寞貓咪，可能發生飼主因上課、打工等長時間不在家，或未多了解貓咪習性的狀況下發生致命意外；這類意外可能包含走失、開窗墜樓、中毒、食入異物造成腸胃阻塞壞死等。成貓後就算寂寞，上述還沒發生的意外，發生的機率大幅降低了，但也不是不可能發生。雖然發呆度估的時間可能在成貓後增加，這個時候飼主可能大學畢業了，開始工作，甚至深陷新的一輪的戀愛之中無法自拔，總是沒人在家的話，會發生什麼事也很難說。許多成貓腸胃裡塞住的東西，我們挖出來後飼主們都不敢置信，甚至表示：『原來在這！』
若飼主去當兵，或出國深造，貓咪還可能會經歷環境的大轉變，甚至必須與最熟悉的人類分開，開始和不認識的人住在一起。環境轉變帶來的壓力可能造成貓咪出現泌尿或行為問題，極端的狀況下還可能不吃不喝引發許多嚴重併發症，接手貓咪的人若完全不了解狀況，未即時就醫也可能造成很大的遺憾。這就是為什麼很多送養貓咪的愛心人士無法接受較年輕的朋友領養貓咪，太多的變數對固執不喜變化的貓咪來說，都有可能是壓死他們的最後一絲寂寞。
老貓的寂寞和辛酸，就不是一般貓咪可以理解的了。想要安詳度過晚年對貓咪來說也不是易事，熬過了前面的寂寞，最後這一關是更艱難的挑戰。飼主可能會成家，為了配合另一半，將貓送給老家父母，甚至必須送養等事不算少見；這些又是環境與飼主的大變動，可能發生的事可參照前段。
若挺過這一關，安全保送的話，緊接而來的還有生子，飼主更多的關注力將轉移至人類幼兒身上，這時的貓咪除了要忍耐飼主就在眼前的寂寞，還要承受來自無法控制自己的新成員的龐大壓力。若未生子，飼主也可能遇上了升官加職的時期，一樣是忙上加忙，沒有最忙只有更忙。
寂寞的貓咪呀！這時絕對不能生病，等分心的人類發現，可能已經一腳踏在棺材中。
螢幕前的你，不要再盯著螢幕看了，去剪指甲、去挖貓砂，還有最好再秤一下體重，貓咪的毛毛最會騙人，偷偷地瘦了也不讓你查覺。「不治已病治未病」這不僅適用於人類，也適用於你家的大小貓咪。平常對牠們多付出一點注意力與細心觀察，甚至只是養成一個定期量體重的習慣，都可以降低許多嚴重疾病的發生。
沒有了寂寞，活到18歲對貓咪來說，就是一塊小蛋糕。
All this starts with when a cat stumbles into a human's life.
If one did not already grow up with a cat, one has a good chance of getting a cat when one leaves their parents' home after reaching their civil majority. This may be during their university years, or after getting their first steady job.
This can be the first period of loneliness of a cat; long hours of the new job, or commitment to study and stressful exams can all result in a kitten being neglected unintentionally. If the human has less knowledge on caring for a cat, there may even be fatal accidents. These lethal accidents include falling from open windows, poison, and suffocation or intestinal obstruction from giving the cat a hazardous toy.
If the cat survives the crazy kitten period, and grows out of the hyperactive life stage, these accidents can still be a threat if not managed properly. If their humans have now graduated from university and/or entered some complicated relationships, cats may now be faced with a second period of loneliness.
In countries with mandatory military service, this is also the time of conscription. The poor cat might have to endure huge environmental changes and a temporary new human. These stress factors can lead to behavioural or urinary problems for the cat. Under extreme circumstances, it can also cause serious complications if the cat has been handed to a person who does not know a thing about caring for a cat. A lot of independent rescuers do not give their cat to younger adopters, since there is too much uncertainty. Since cats are animals of habit, any huge changes to their lifestyle can be the last straw.
As the lonely cat enters their senior life stage, their human may be married, or have small children. They may also be the one that’s been left out, because most of the attention will be shifted to the human child. In these situations, the chances of a human noticing the cat’s illness can be slim.
Some people even believe that a human child is safer to grow up without pets, and will give up their pets to achieve this goal. There may be pressure from other family members or financial issues that force many senior cats to be abandoned or change homes in the senior years of their life, around 10 to 15 years of age.
It should be a piece of cake for a cat to live to 20 years of age, as long as their human pays enough attention to the cat. Stop staring at your smartphones or Netflix shows or video games, there is too much to do and too much to watch for leisure nowadays. We do not save enough time and effort for each other and not enough time and effort to our furry family members. Their fluffy coats are a perfect disguise for their slimming bodies, developing a routine for weighing your cat can save you a lot of trouble and money, since many serious symptoms emerge after a period of losing appetite.
Start today, it’s never too late.
Comentários