The pet life expectancy map of America

Mississippi revealed as worst state for cat survival rates (while Montana is the best place for your dog to live) 

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We love, feed, and sometimes even go so far as to clothe them, but would you ever relocate for a pet? A new study shows that where you live can impact the lifespan of your cat or dog. 

The study, released by Banfield Pet Hospital, shows that four legged companions live longer in Western states, and have the shortest lifespans in Southern states. 

In addition to regional health factors that include heartworm disease, lyme disease and heat stroke, the biggest factor in determining lifespan is whether your animal is spayed or neutered.

According to the study dogs live longer in South Dakota, Montana, Oregon, New Mexico, and Colorado, and have shorter lifespans in Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Delaware, and Massachusetts. 

Cats live longer in Montana, Colorado, Rhode Island, Illinois, and Nebraska, and have shorter lifespans in Delaware, Ohio, Louisiana, Kentucky, and Mississippi.

The study reports that 20 per cent of the cats in Louisiana and Mississippi, states with shorter life expectancy, are not spayed or neutered, but in Montana and Colorado, states with longer life expectancy, 8 per cent of cats are not spayed and neutered.

The statistics also show that neutered male dogs live 18 per cent longer than unneutered male dogs, and spayed female dogs live 23 per cent longer than unspayed female dogs. Neutered male felines have a 62 per cent longer lifespan, and spayed female cats a 39 per cent longer lifespan.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2321364/States-highest-lowest-life-expectancy-pets.html#ixzz2SjryDWBs
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