I wonder if cats & dogs could be genetically engineered to live as long as we do?

[raccoon]

I can easily imagine someone working on that. Science isn't my strong suit, so I don't know if it could be done or not.

[Jamastiene]

1. Normally, I hate the idea of science fucking around that much, but

on this, I really hope that is possible and some good scientist is reading this...Maybe they will decide to work on it.

Cats and dogs save human lives, enrich human lives, give nothing but unconditional love (well dogs do anyhow), lower blood pressure and did I mention the unconditional love (a true rarity) part?

One caveat though: They should make it so that the only way to get one of the long-living animals is that they are spayed/neutered first. No exceptions. If irresponsible pet owners are allowed full access to them without that rule, it could end up being a tragic nightmare.

Other than that, I do think it would be a good idea.

K&R

[Deep13]

3. Fucking around?

:wtf:

[ThomasQED]

19. Regular dogs do all that stuff already, you know?

We already have millions being put down in shelters from irresponsble people, dogs being given up because they're the wrong color, too big, too small, too old, too young, because the family is moving, because the dog got sick... and you want to make the problem much worse?

[Deep13]

2. We could make it so the owner dies when the dog or cat does.

:shrug:

That's probably not what you had in mind.

[chillspike]

9. LOL

[Warpy]

4. My 17 year old kitty started to slow down about 5 years ago

Oh, she'll still chase a string from time to time, but only for about 2 minutes at a time, then she flops down and needs a rest. She's in tiptop condition, stable early renal failure which is common in geriatric cats, but she's definitely not a kitten any more.

If we could prolong their youth and health, maybe prolonging life would be a good idea. The idea of prolonging their old age is cruel, though.

Since she's already starting to cling to my lap in the cool mornings, I suppose I'll have to set up either a heating pad or the electric blanket for her old kitty bones this winter.

Getting old sucks.

[Botany]

8. Getting old sucks

But your friend will be napping in comfort on the heating pad in your house .....
it is the little things that make you rich.

[stuntcat]

15. I swear cats are living longer now

Well my greatest cat ever, Tonka, died when he was 15 :( But I've had cats live to 18 & 19, and I've know cats who lived to 21 & 22, and I've heard of some living to 28!
Renal failure or something, SOME kind of failure, always comes when they're in their teens. It sucks to have to take shots and pills every day for like TEN years.

Housecats are living so long, they'll have to change the old- 1 of our years = 7 for them thing. I have two 13-year-olds who run and play every day :)

[Warpy]

21. The record for a domestic cat is 34 years

but I can't imagine much was left of that poor kitty for the last ten. The average age for an indoor cat is 17 years. Many make it to 20. They're tough, long lived little buggers once they're neutered and kept inside.

[yella_dawg]

5. If they did...

If they did, the fix would be adapted to humans and the relative life spans would still differ significantly.

[superduperfarleft]

6. We're already starting to see increasing numbers of animals developing dementia

due to them living longer. I think that the idea of genetically engineering them to suffer through the debilitating effects of an unnaturally old age for the sole benefit of humans is grotesque.

[The_Commonist]

7. How about raccoons?

I don't think this is a good idea.

[peace13]

10. Certainly would screw the animal adoption folks.

Where people today may adopt three dogs over a lifetime, only one will be needed in the future. Hope they improve cat/dog contraceptives before this happens.

[raccoon]

12. Yeah, ITA.

Actually, I think it shouldn't be done, though I have had lots of pets over the years and hate to lose them.

But it seems like--what was it they used to say in Grade B horror movies--there are things humankind shouldn't fool around with? That's the gist of what they said.

[get the red out]

13. True!

I would hate to see more animals put to sleep because they couldn't find homes. Of course this is coming from someone with a puppy rather than an elderly dog.

[The2ndWheel]

11. We just can't let things be what they are, can we?

Does there come a point where our inability to accept death doesn't allow for an ability to let life live? Did we already pass that point a long time ago?

[Gaedel]

14. What do you think we have done?

Through selective breeding, we have taken gray wolves and bred them into dachshunds, chihuahuas, and great danes. All of those dogs share a genetic match with wolves, though they have different physical characteristics. If you want longer-lived dogs, just start breeding for longevity instead of some freakish shape or size to win a dog show.

We have taken collies and labradors, dogs originally bred for intelligence, and by over breeding for a certain popular look have produced dogs which get lost at the end of their own leash.

[MadHound]

16. Umm, think through the consequences of what you just said before advocating for it

I can think of several horrible consequences, like the feral pet population exploding, shelters overrun, oh and let's not forget that these genes could pass over into the wild canine and feline populations, especially wolves, coyotes and bobcats.

Why can't we be happy with nature just the way it is. After all, nature seems to have worked out a pretty decent system overall, and it seems as though when mankind fucks around with it, some seriously nasty side effects occur.

[hunter]

17. Anyone want a parrot?

For twenty years our parrot's been upset that my wife and I decided to have kids, which knocked her down in the household pecking order. Now that the kids are in college so she's a little less upset about that, being back to #3, but now she's bored because she doesn't have a houseful of kids and their mob of friends to entertain her anymore.

A long lived dog with our parrot's personality would be unbearable.

In our family once we've got a dog it's our dog for life even if it's a Marley. Every critter has a natural lifespan, long or short, every critter gets old and dies. Dogs live faster than humans but looking at them sometimes I think they can be much more intensely happy and joyful than we are, at least seven times worth.

[driver8]

18. Your description of your parrot cracked me up! n/t

[valerief]

20. Don't say things like that. Rick Santorum may claim you want to marry one.

Or even worse--live in sin!!!!

Also, if we can't feed everyone on this planet now (due only to the greed of a few), just imagine how many dogs and cats will procreate and be hungry. They'll come after us, if they have to.

[McCamy Taylor]

22. Check out the naked mole rat, lives for 30 years, feels no pain, gets no cancer.

Has no insulin or Vit. D.

[Bragi]

23. They'll probably outlive us as a species, though

Humanity has what, maybe 50-100 years before we ruin the environment sufficient to do ourselves in?

I'd wager that cats and dogs will be around long after we're gone.

[GoneOffShore]

24. My cat is cranky at 14

Can't imagine if she was 60.