Everyone knows the phrase, Cats have 9 Lives… But with some upcoming discoveries, science is working on a way to add a few more. A new injection could soon extend your cat’s lifespan, meaning they could live up to 30 years!
The Science Behind the Extra Lives
Let’s be real… Cats don’t literally have nine lives, but they do have remarkable survival skills. Unfortunately, even the most agile cat can’t escape the effects of chronic kidney disease (CKD), which affects about 30% of cats by the time they turn 10. CKD causes their kidneys to fail, leading to a shorter lifespan. But Dr. Toru Miyazaki from the University of Tokyo has been hard at work on a solution. He discovered that a protein in cats, called AIM (Apoptosis Inhibitor of Macrophage), is supposed to help flush out the toxins that cause kidney problems. The catch? It stops working properly as cats age, leading to CKD. Now here’s the exciting part—Dr. Miyazaki has developed an injection that can fix the AIM protein and help your cat’s kidneys do their job. In trials, this injection showed wonderful results on experimented cats.. And if all goes well, it could be available to cat owners as soon as next year.
So, Why 9 Lives?
So where did the whole “9 lives” thing even come from? Well, the saying can be traced all the way back to ancient Egypt, where cats were highly respected for their balance of grace and ferocity. Some legends even tie it to the sun god, Atum-Ra, who gave birth to eight gods. So take those eight gods, plus Atum-Ra, and you get 9 lives. Again, cats don’t literally have nine lives, but this new treatment could help them live a little longer—and that’s worth celebrating!
A Future For Felines
If you’re a cat owner, here’s what you need to remember: If Dr. Miyazaki’s work pans out, cats with CKD may have a much better chance of living a longer, healthier life. And who wouldn’t want their furry friend to live as long as possible? This injection could be affordable and available for all cat owners by next year. The saying “Cats have 9 lives,” could be doubled, to 18.
