Saluki

A healthy Saluki typically lives 12-14 years, though the breed's range is wide (about 10-17 years depending on the line and what it dies of). Salukis are generally robust day to day, so the things that end their lives are usually specific: dilated cardiomyopathy, hemangiosarcoma, osteosarcoma, or a bloat episode that is not treated in time. None of those are slow general decline, which is why cardiac screening and knowing the line's cancer history matter more than 'good care' alone.

Realistically, no — not in any open or unfenced area. A Saluki was bred for millennia to chase fast-moving prey at up to ~35 mph, and once it sights and locks onto something it is effectively unable to hear you until the chase ends. This is hard-wired prey drive, not poor training, and it is how Salukis get hit by cars and lost. Off-leash freedom is limited to fully fenced 6-foot enclosures or formal lure-coursing venues; everywhere else it is leash or long-line, every single time.

Cautiously and individually, at best. A Saluki raised from puppyhood with a specific cat can learn to accept that cat indoors, but the breed's coursing instinct means a running cat, rabbit, or small dog can trigger a chase even in an otherwise gentle Saluki, and the outcome can be fatal to the smaller animal. Strange small animals outdoors are prey. If you have or want cats or small pets, treat lifelong management — separation, supervision, never trusting the instinct off — as the requirement, not the exception.

No — a fit Saluki is supposed to look lean to a pet-dog eye. The breed evolved as a desert endurance courser with very low body fat; visible ribs, hip points, and a deep tuck-up are the correct, healthy condition, not signs of underfeeding. 'Fattening up' a Saluki to look like a Labrador creates real obesity, which strains the heart and joints. Feed measured meals, keep the lean working outline, and weigh monthly. If body condition genuinely drops below lean toward gaunt, then investigate with a vet.

Yes — sighthound-aware care specifically. Because Salukis carry so little body fat, they metabolize anesthetics and certain drugs differently and can have heightened sensitivity, so anesthetic protocols and dosing must be adjusted. Their bloodwork also differs from other breeds: higher red-cell values and a naturally lower thyroid baseline are normal for sighthounds and can be misread as disease against standard reference ranges. Always tell a new or emergency vet 'this is a sighthound' before any sedation, surgery, or thyroid interpretation.

Surprisingly, they can be — with one hard condition. Indoors a Saluki is quiet, clean, low-energy and content to lounge on soft bedding, so a flat suits the temperament. The non-negotiable is that an apartment Saluki must still get regular hard galloping in a securely fenced space several times a week; a sighthound that only ever walks on a leash is under-exercised. So: fine for apartments physically and behaviorally, but only if you have realistic access to a safe place for it to truly run.