After the appearance of a furry friend to the family the thoughts immediately arise the following reasonable questions.
How long do indoor-outdoor cats live on average? How long do indoor cats specifically live? What about the lifespan of an outdoor cat? And what factors affect a cat’s lifespan?
Today, let’s talk about the lifespan of cats.
Did you know that the longest-lived cat is Creme Puff? It is recognized as one of the longest-lived known domestic cats. Creme Puff has lived a respectable 38 years.
And of course, we would all like our feline friends to be with us as long as possible, just like Creme Puff.
Actually, we have researched the average life expectancy materials for cats and we have a lot of information to answer your question, “How long do cats live?”.
We will give you information on everything from the general issue of cat longevity to average longevity for different breeds. We will also discuss the influence of some of the main known factors.
We have tried to back up our reasoning precisely with reliable facts and studies from reputable analyst groups.
Here we go – our vision on “How many years do cats live”.
In today’s materials:
- How many years on average do house cats live?
- How do you determine a cat’s age?
- When do cats stop growing?
- Cat life cycle: from kittens to older animals
- What factors affect the longevity of cats?
- What are the most common causes of death in cats?
- Top 5 long-lived cats
- The cat’s age in human terms
How Many Years Do Domestic Cats Live on Average?
One of the saddest parts of our love for cats is recognizing the fact that the average lifespan of a cat is much shorter than the average lifespan of a human.
Unfortunately, this means that your pet will likely die before you do.
The relatively short average life expectancy of a cat is sometimes very hard to accept, but such is life.
Our beloved cat Lolochka went to the rainbow a few years ago after a complicated surgery. And to this day we still miss that distinctive creak of the closet door when she climbed out of it to purr at us before bedtime. Lolochka was our best friend and family member for 12 years. I wish she could have lived with us at least that long longer.
When it comes to determining the average lifespan of a cat, there are several important factors that can come into play (more on that later).
While genetic factors do affect a cat’s average lifespan, the influence of other factors and the pet’s lifestyle maybe even more important.
And this is actually good news for us, as it means there is a lot we can do to make sure your pet lives a long and happy life.
There is a lot of thought being voiced on the internet that with access to modern medical and dietary advances, the ideal cat could live to be 20 years old or older. However, according to a survey of 10 reputable sites that discuss the average domestic cat, the numbers are more conflicting: 10 to 20 years.
It is believed that the average lifespan of domestic cats is 14-15 years.
How Do You Determine the Age of a Cat?
If you’ve adopted a stray cat or adopted an animal whose age is unknown, there are several ways to determine its age in cat years.
Here are some things veterinarians check to get a rough idea of how old a cat is:
1. The teeth of a cat.
Teeth are a great indicator of a cat’s age in cat years.
In kittens, teeth appear after two to four weeks after birth.
And already permanent teeth appear at around four months of age.
So, if you open a cat’s mouth and see permanent white teeth, the cat’s age is likely to be about a year old.
The presence of some yellow teeth can already indicate an age of about one or 2 years old.
However the presence of plaque or calculus on all teeth indicates that the cat may be about 3 – 5 years old.
Older cats tend to have duller or yellow teeth.
Well, of course, missing teeth or parts of teeth can mean that you have a fairly old cat – 7-10 years old or older.
Veterinarians also note that older cats may have duller teeth.
2. Muscle tone of the cat.
Young animals are more likely to have more toned muscles. They will be taut, wiry, and playful, so to speak.
Older cats, on the other hand, tend to have flabbier muscles and skin. You can also look for hanging or protruding skin on the cat’s shoulder blades.
3. Animal hair.
The condition of a cat’s coat is another great indicator of the animal’s age. Kittens and young cats usually have soft, thin layers of fur. Whereas older cats have thicker, coarser coats.
Older cats may have gray or white (gray) areas.
4. Cat’s eyes.
Bright, clear eyes with no tearing characterize cats of a young age. A cat with some “cloudiness” in its eyes, on the other hand, is likely to be 10 years old or so.
The iris of the eyes can also tell us the age of the cat. Young animals have a smooth shell, while an older cat may have a slightly jagged one.
When Do Cats Stop Growing?
Most experts agree that cats reach maturity at 12 months of age. However, they may not reach their full size (growth) until 18 months to 4 years of age.
Murmeo’s comment. For example, Maine Coons (one of the largest cat breeds) don’t reach their maximum size until they are 3-5 years old.
Some cat breeds are known to grow faster than others.
Other factors also play a role, such as whether the cat eats a lot and at what age it is sterilized, but more on that later.
Cat Life Cycle: From Kittens to Older Animals
The life cycle of felines can be broken down into 4 stages:
Kitten (0-12 months): cats grow the fastest and change the most at this early stage of development. It is also their most impressive phase. How we all love these beautiful kittens.
Young adult (1 to 6 years): cats continue their growth and maturity. It is important to continue to play with your cat during this stage to make them feel comfortable and confident. During this time period, cats are at the peak of development in their lives and they usually have excellent health.
Mature adult (7-10 years): like most people, cats become less active at this age. They are more likely to gain weight and develop health problems such as kidney disease and diabetes.
Senior (>10 years): the life expectancy of cats can be quite variable. However, from this point on, their health often starts to deteriorate.
What Factors Affect the Lifespan of Cats?
Let’s try to identify the most significant reasons affecting the life expectancy of cats. We counted 7 factors.
Factor 1
Cat breed – are there any long-lived cats out there?
While it’s impossible to know exactly how long your pet will live, some cat breeds, often live longer than others.
For example, Siamese cats, Balinese, and other cat breeds often win the competition in longevity.
At a minimum, we can cite 15 breeds that live longer than their other relatives.
Keep in mind that both purebred and mixed-breed domestic cats can live quite a long time.
However, VetCompass says in one of its studies that mixed breeds of cats live several years longer compared to purebreds.
Life expectancy of the cat breeds that live the longest
If you’re looking for a companion from the feline family that will share several decades with you, consider one of these breeds today.
Table of cat breeds that live the longest
| # | Breed | Life expectancy, years |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Shorthair | 15-20 |
| 2 | Balinese cat | 15-20 |
| 3 | Bombay cat | 12-16 |
| 4 | Burmese cat | 18-25 |
| 5 | Egyptian Mau | 15-18 |
| 6 | Maine Coon | 17-18 |
| 7 | Manx | 15-18 |
| 8 | Oriental Shorthair | 15-18 |
| 9 | Persian cat | 15-20 |
| 10 | Ragdoll | 15-20 |
| 11 | Russian blue cat | 15-20 |
| 12 | Savannah | 15-20 |
| 13 | Siamese cat | 15-20 |
| 14 | Sphynx cat | 15-20 |
| 15 | A common domestic cat (pedigree) | ??? |
Keep in mind that regardless of breed or no breed at all, your pet will always remain a loyal friend.
Factor 2
Cat nutrition and impact on life expectancy
Cats primarily eat meat, which is why they are considered obligate carnivores. This means that they fulfill their nutritional needs with a diet containing animal proteins.
Exactly, animal proteins (think of what a field mouse is made up of) is the diet to aim for.
Much research has been done to determine the dietary needs of cats, so dietary options can affect the longevity of cats.
Comment from Murmeo. We feed our animals a natural, balanced diet. They get only natural animal proteins from chicken and turkey meat, giblets, pork hearts and other things. By the way, it is no more expensive than feeding super-premium class dry food.
Keep in mind that not all foods (feeds) are the same.
Adult cats cannot digest large amounts of the same carbohydrates or lactose; therefore, these are not necessary ingredients in their diet.
Cats require large amounts of exact protein compared to dogs because of their unique digestive system.
Essential amino acids are also very important for cats. Taurine, methionine, and cystine are some of these essential amino acids. And without them, or in inappropriate amounts, a cat’s health can suffer greatly.
Yes, not immediately, but over time, a lack of these amino acids is very likely to lead to poor health and disease.
Factor 3
Cat’s health and medical care
Cats can’t tell us when they’re not feeling well. And besides, they tend to keep their hurt feelings to themselves.
Often by the time an owner notices that something is wrong, it may already be too late to help the pet. That’s why regular health checkups with a veterinarian are one important element of contributing to your cat’s longevity.
This is the best chance to find any problems as early as possible to ensure effective treatment.
Some diseases have long-lasting effects on a cat’s health and can also shorten their lifespan.
Poor genetics, immune-compromised animals, and cats that have organ abnormalities may not live as long as we would like.
Factor 4
Physical activity in the pet
Again, this factor will be a sign for humans as well. The more your cat moves, the more likely it is to stay in great shape.
If you have any interactive cat toys, they are perfect for getting your cat moving.
One fun option could be playing with a laser pointer with your cat – but be mindful of safety and possible frustration in your pet.
Murmeo comment!!! One study mentions that the average lifespan of cats is shortened by 6 months for every additional 1 kg of excess weight.
Factor 5
Mental health in a cat
Cats can also be sad – especially if they are bored. Most cats like at least some variety in their lives. And of course, the best entertainment is “hunting”.
Again, toys and special climbing complexes can help keep your cat entertained.
Naturally, the best way to keep your cat in the best mental frame of mind is to give them your time by playing with animals.
Factor 6
Spayed or neutered animals
Spaying has been proven to reduce the risk of diseases that can affect a cat’s reproductive system in old age. Also, female cats tend to live 1-2 years longer than males.
Factor 7
Lifestyle of cats – does it affect longevity?
Some cats are considered specifically “indoor” animals, but others live only outdoors.
Murmeo comment. Yes, all of our pets are strictly pets – they are never outside. But there is a kitty Musya who has been living near our entrance for many years. We sponsor her food, let her warm herself in the entrance in winter and make sure that no one hurts her.
However, it should be remembered that the daily risks of free-range cats are much higher than those of indoor cats. Therefore, the life expectancy of outdoor cats is often shorter.
Reasons that affect the life expectancy of outdoor (free-roaming) cats:
- getting hit by cars;
- deaths from other animals (dogs);
- accidental toxin poisoning (all kinds of poisons, e.g., for rats);
- exposure to various parasites (ticks, fleas);
- physical injuries (fighting for territory with other cats, injuries from people).
Cats that live at home are not exposed to as many risks because they are protected inside their homes.
Wild animals and vehicles pose no threats to our pets, and their diet is usually controlled by their owners.
However, on the diet part, you do have to be mindful of dangerous plants in the house and also – toxic foods for cats: all of which can be eaten, licked, or chewed ๐ฑ.
Risks for outdoor cats (free-roaming)
We found the results of an interesting experiment conducted in a US state (Georgia) regarding the risks posed to free-roaming cats. We believe that the behavior of cats will be the same whether in the USA, in Africa, or in our countryโฆ..
That’s very interesting!
So, in order to understand all the dangers that can arise for street cats a study was done.
Baseline Data. Video cameras (KittyCams) were placed on 55 cats and male cats ranging in age from 0.5 to 19.5 years old to record their activities for one week. Over 2000 hours of video were recorded and provided to veterinarians for analysis.
See further in the table below for the results of the experiment.
Table of hazards (risks) for cats on a self-guided walk – results of an experiment.
| Risk behaviour | Cumulative count |
|---|---|
| Crossing road | 178 |
| Non-aggressive contact with a stranger cat (infectious disease risk) | 28 |
| Contact with other medium-sized wild animal (injury, disease risk) | 20 |
| Entering storm drain | 19 |
| Climbing tree | 13 |
| Climbing on roof | 7 |
| Contact with other medium sized wild animal (injury, disease risk) | 1 |
| Crawling into car engine | 1 |
Let’s try to present the obtained data as an illustrative diagram.
Conclusions. Free-roaming cats are clearly at risk.
In the case of force majeure situations, the probability of injury or even death arises many times over.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Death in Cats?
The most common causes of death in cats in general are (according to VetCompass):
- injuries: 12,2%
- kidney disease: 12,1%
- cancer: 10,8%
- tumors/enhancers: 10,2%
- brain diseases: 7%
- ะฑlung diseases: 5,5%
- heart disease: 4,2%
The most common causes of death in cats under 5 years of age are:
- injuries: 47,3%
- virus infection: 6,6%
The most common causes of death in cats over 5 years of age are:
- kidney disease: 13,6%
- cancer: 12,3%
Top 5 Long-lived Cats
And, of course, how to do without a list of these famous long-lived cats.
1. Creme Puff (38 years and 3 days)
August 3, 1967 – August 6, 2005
Creme Puff is mentioned in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest cat that ever existed. It was owned by Jake Perry from Austin, Texas (USA).
2. Baby (38 years)
1970 – March 2008
In second place is Baby, a black domestic shorthair cat who lived in the USA and also reached the age of 38.
3. Puss (36 years ะธ 1 day)
November 28, 1903 – November 29, 1939.
The Guinness Book of Records for 1990 lists Puss as the oldest cat ever recorded. This tabby-colored cat belonged to Mrs. T. Holway of Devon, USA, and died the day after her 36th birthday.
4. Ma (34 years ะธ 5 months)
May-June 1923 – November 5, 1957.
The same edition of Guinness World Records refers to Ma, a striped cat owned by Mrs. Alice St. George Moore, also of Devon, USA.
5. Granpa Rexs Allen (34 years, 2 months)
Granpa Rexa Allen, also owned by Jake Perry, was a sphynx-devon-rex who lived to be 34 years old. Perry claims that the secret to his long life was the cat’s diet of eggs, broccoli, bacon, and coffee and cream.
Could your cat be the one to hit with a new longevity record?
The Cat’s Age in Human Years
You probably also have questions like, “If my cat is 5 years old, how old is it in human years?”. We ourselves sometimes find it interesting to make such a comparison – maybe our cat is our peer.
I would like to say that the stages of a cat’s development are not proportional to the length of human life stages.
For example, during the first year of life, a kitten develops faster. Further on, growth slows down a bit and the life path becomes smoother.
We would like to cite one of the popular tables of correspondence between a cat’s age to a human’s age.
| Cat age, years | Correspondence to the age of the human being, years |
|---|---|
| 3 months | 4 |
| 6 months | 10 |
| 1 | 15 |
| 2 | 24 |
| 3 | 28 |
| 4 | 32 |
| 5 | 36 |
| 6 | 40 |
| 7 | 44 |
| 8 | 48 |
| 9 | 52 |
| 10 | 56 |
| 11 | 60 |
| 12 | 64 |
| 13 | 68 |
| 14 | 72 |
| 15 | 76 |
| 16 | 80 |
| 17 | 84 |
| 18 | 88 |
| 19 | 92 |
| 20 | 96 |
| 21 | 100 |
| 22 | 104 |
| 23 | 108 |
| 24 | 112 |
| 25 | 116 |
| 26 | 120 |
As a reminder, these are only very average figures. The average age threshold will certainly vary depending on a number of the factors listed above.
So How Long Does a Cat Live – to Summarize.
Let’s try to summarize our reasoning for the longevity of our feline friends.
Cat life expectancy chart
| House cat | 14-15 years |
| Free-roaming cats | 9-12 years |
| Street cats | 5-7 years |
Keep in mind that this is empirically calculated data and only serves as a basic understanding of the lifespan of cats. But it’s better than nothing, isn’t it?
And the main points of the article:
Perhaps the easiest and most enjoyable way to extend a cat’s average lifespan is simply to give them lots of attention, love, and affection.
And all we have to do is wish many more years to you and your pets ๐ฑ!
Bye!
Murmeo link to the article: https://murmeo.com/en/how-long-do-cats-live/
