A 3500 Calorie Deficit = Approximately 1 Pound of Weight Loss. If you are trying to lose weight through calorie counting, you will need to know how many calories it will take to lose a pound of weight. Creating a calorie deficit of about 3500 calories should result in about 1 pound of weight loss. That is, if you consume 3500 calories less than you burn over a given period of time, you should lose around 1 lb of weight. To get an idea of how many calories you burn, take a look at our article on how many calories do I burn in a day.
My mother's cat went into Congestive heart failure about a year and a half ago and she is still with us. There are a fair number of us on here that have dealt with cats with this condition. Please do not hesitate to start a thread of your own if you have any questions or just need some support.
A strong genetic background for longevity can't be discounted. Given proper care, nutrition, and regular veterinary visits, a cat kept indoors can live as long as 21 years or more. (The average age of cats is 12-15 years) This is, of course, barring any serious medical conditions or untimely accidents.