Although cats aren’t 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’ve collected some average numbers to give you the bigger picture.
So, let’s go.
How Long Do Cats Live?
Domestic cats have an average life expectancy of 12–16 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.
(AZ Animals, 2021)
Interesting Cat Life Expectancy Statistics You Should Know
We’ve gathered some interesting stats showing how different factors affect your cat’s lifespan. So, let’s get to it.
Indoor cats live for 10–15 years on average.
(WebMD, 2021)
They live much longer than outdoor cats due to their comfortable and low-risk lives. But, since they move less, they can become obese more easily. So, if you want your cat to live longer, taking care of its weight is essential.
The average lifespan for outdoor cats is only 2–5 years.
(WebMD, 2021)
Your outdoor cat could live as long as an indoor cat, but their lives are much more dangerous. Outdoor cats easily catch diseases, pick up parasites, or even get hit by a car. They can also get hurt by other animals and people.
All of this significantly lowers their average life expectancy.
Many stray cats die before the age of 1.
(The Conversation, 2021)
The average lifespan of a cat 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’t need humans to survive might live longer, abandoned stray cats are not as lucky.
However, if they’re a part of a colony with a human caretaker, they might live up to 10 years.
An obese cat lives five years less than a normal-sized cat.
(Senior Cat Wellness, 2019)
Research shows that even if a cat is slightly overweight, it’s more likely to live a shorter life. Unfortunately, studies also show that most owners don’t recognize that their cat is overweight or obese.
An 11-year-old cat is considered old.
(Blue Cross, 2021)
Once they turn 11, that’s around 70-years-old in human years. This is when they start getting more health problems and don’t move as well as before.
Once your cat turns 11, you should watch out for stiffness, decreased mobility, weight loss, and changes in appetite, which could all be due to old age but could also be signs your cat is dying.
So, although insurance is essential for all ages, having a reliable insurance policy is bound to pay off when your cat gets to this age.
American Shorthair and Russian Blue are the longest-living cat breeds — 15 to 20 years.
(The Vet on 4th, 2019)
Other long-living cat breeds are:
- Burmese —16 to 18 years
- Ragdoll — 15 to 18 years
- Siamese — 12 to 20 years
The oldest cat ever was 38 years and three days old when it died.
(Guinness World Records, 2021)
The world’s oldest cat record is held by Crème Puff from Texas, who was born in 1967 and died in 2005. There’s also a record for the oldest living cat siblings — Pika and Zippo are almost 22 years old.
There’s no current record for the oldest living cat, but there are some pretenders for the title.
Conclusion
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.
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