{"id":9819,"date":"2022-03-09T09:02:17","date_gmt":"2022-03-09T09:02:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/?p=9819"},"modified":"2023-02-10T16:07:13","modified_gmt":"2023-02-10T16:07:13","slug":"how-long-do-cats-live","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/how-long-do-cats-live\/","title":{"rendered":"How Long Do Cats Live and Other Interesting Cat Life Stats"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although cats aren\u2019t immortal or have nine lives, they do live quite long, as long as dogs. Of course, the lifespan depends on each individual cat, but we\u2019ve collected some average numbers to give you the bigger picture.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, let\u2019s go.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='how-long-do-cats-live'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How Long Do Cats Live?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Domestic cats have an average life expectancy of 12\u201316 years. However, their lifespan depends on many factors, such as the living conditions and breed. While some can live for more than 20 years, others die before reaching adulthood.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(AZ Animals, 2021)<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='interesting-cat-life-expectancy-statistics-you-should-know'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Interesting <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cat Life Expectancy<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Statistics You Should Know<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019ve gathered some interesting stats showing how different factors affect your cat\u2019s lifespan. So, let\u2019s get to it.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='indoor-cats-live-for-10%e2%80%9315-years-on-average'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Indoor cats live for 10\u201315 years on average.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(WebMD, 2021)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They live much longer than outdoor cats due to their comfortable and low-risk lives. But, since they move less, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/pet-obesity-statistics\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">they can become obese more easily<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. So, if you want your cat to live longer, taking care of its weight is essential.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='the-average-lifespan-for-outdoor-cats-is-only-2%e2%80%935-years'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The average lifespan for outdoor cats is only 2\u20135 years.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(WebMD, 2021)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your outdoor cat could live as long as an indoor cat, but their lives are much more dangerous. Outdoor cats easily<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7070728\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">catch diseases, pick up parasites, or even get hit by a car<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. They can also get hurt by other animals and people.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All of this significantly lowers their average life expectancy.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='many-stray-cats-die-before-the-age-of-1'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many stray cats die before the age of 1.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(The Conversation, 2021)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">average lifespan of a cat<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> living outdoors on its own is much shorter due to food shortages, harsher living conditions, and a higher possibility of getting hurt. Although feral cats that don\u2019t need humans to survive might live longer, abandoned stray cats are not as lucky.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, if they\u2019re a part of a colony with a human caretaker,<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/cat-statistics\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">they might live up to 10 years<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='an-obese-cat-lives-five-years-less-than-a-normal-sized-cat'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An obese cat lives five years less than a normal-sized cat.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Senior Cat Wellness, 2019)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Research shows that even if a cat is slightly overweight, it\u2019s more likely to live a shorter life. Unfortunately, studies also show that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7316328\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">most owners don\u2019t recognize that their cat is overweight or obese<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='an-11-year-old-cat-is-considered-old'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An 11-year-old cat is considered old.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Blue Cross, 2021)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once they turn 11, that\u2019s around 70-years-old in human years. This is when they start getting more health problems and don\u2019t move as well as before.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once your cat turns 11, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/emergencyvetsusa.com\/signs-your-cat-is-dying\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">you should watch out for stiffness, decreased mobility, weight loss, and changes in appetite<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which could all be due to old age but could also be signs your cat is dying.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, although insurance is essential for all ages, having <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a reliable insurance policy<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is bound to pay off when your cat gets to this age.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='american-shorthair-and-russian-blue-are-the-longest-living-cat-breeds-%e2%80%94-15-to-20-years'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">American Shorthair and Russian Blue are the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">longest-living cat breed<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">s \u2014 15 to 20 years.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(The Vet on 4th, 2019)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other long-living cat breeds are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Burmese \u201416 to 18 years<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ragdoll \u2014 15 to 18 years<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Siamese \u2014 12 to 20 years<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id='the-oldest-cat-ever-was-38-years-and-three-days-old-when-it-died'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The oldest cat ever was 38 years and three days old when it died.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Guinness World Records, 2021)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">world&#8217;s oldest cat<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> record is held by Cr\u00e8me Puff from Texas, who was born in 1967 and died in 2005. There\u2019s also a record for the oldest living cat siblings \u2014 Pika and Zippo are almost 22 years old.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s no current record for the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">oldest living cat,<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> but there are some pretenders for the title.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='conclusion'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Conclusion<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As you can see, cats are pretty long-living. But to help them live as long as possible, keep them fit to prevent obesity-related problems. Also, consider keeping your cat inside, as quite a few factors can endanger their lives outside.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='sources'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sources<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/a-z-animals.com\/blog\/how-long-do-cats-live\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AZ Animals<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bluecross.org.uk\/pet-advice\/how-long-do-cats-live\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blue Cross<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.guinnessworldrecords.com\/news\/2021\/10\/worlds-oldest-animals-cats-dogs-deep-sea-creatures-and-more-678003\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Guinness World Records<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.seniorcatwellness.com\/how-long-do-fat-cats-live\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Senior Cat Wellness<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/street-life-aint-easy-for-a-stray-cat-with-most-dying-before-they-turn-1-so-whats-the-best-way-to-deal-with-them-164796\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Conversation<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevetonfourth.com\/how-long-do-indoor-cats-live\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Vet on 4th<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pets.webmd.com\/cats\/features\/should-you-have-an-indoor-cat-or-an-outdoor-cat#1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WebMD<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Although cats aren\u2019t immortal or have nine lives, they do live quite long, as long as dogs. Of course, the lifespan depends on each individual cat, but we\u2019ve collected some average numbers to give you the bigger picture.\u00a0 So, let\u2019s go. How Long Do Cats Live? Domestic cats have an average life expectancy of 12\u201316 [&#8230;]<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/how-long-do-cats-live\/\">Read More&#8230;<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> from How Long Do Cats Live and Other Interesting Cat Life Stats<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":9820,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9819","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-stats-and-facts"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9819","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/28"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9819"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9819\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9820"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9819"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9819"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9819"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}