How Long Do Cats Live? Most of our cats spend some of their time outside. Many are outdoors nearly all of the time, and others are completely feral. And then there are our indoor cats. These are all important factors considered when calculating the average lifespan of a cat.
Outdoor cats are more prone to accidents and injury with the greatest risk being hit by a car. Other dangers include attacks by other cats, contracting diseases, and ingestion of poisons or toxic materials. Without these hazards, indoor cats tend to live longer than outdoor cats. So, what is a cat life expectancy? Read on…
A typical domestic cat lifespan of 12-15 years is governed by a range of factors and these include:
Your cat’s pedigree can help determine the risk factors. The health of the parents of your cat can determine your cat’s lifespan. This may be reduced by inherited heart disease due to breeding or genetics.
Purebred cats often have a shorter lifespan than mixed breed cats due to selective breeding. Look at some popular breeds and life expectancy below:
How old is my cat in cat years?
At the end of the first year, your cat is about 10 to 15 years old. By two this will have increased to 25 years. Every year from then on will be about four years in human terms. So, your 15-year-old cat will be 76 and your 16-year old cat 80.
How many cat years are in one human year?
It’s thought that the first two years of a cat’s life are the same as the first 25 in a human. After that, every extra year is about four cat years.
How long do outdoor cats live?
Because there are so many challenges for an outdoor cat life expectancy ranges from three to ten years. Increased exposure to parasites, illness, fights, and location all limit the average lifespan. But once a cat reaches one they can live into their teens.
How long do indoor cats live?
If they’re fed and watered regularly, and get sufficient playtime and exercise to prevent them from becoming overweight, an indoor cat can happily live from 14 to 20 years, with the average lifespan being 16.
The longest living cat was Crème Puff who was born in Texas in 1967. She died after 38 years and three days in 2005. The oldest living cat today is reported to be Scooter who is just 30 years old and also living in Texas. This is obviously a changeable position!
The average age of a cat is getting longer. This is due to the ease of getting veterinary care, the benefits of understanding diseases in cats and how to treat them, alongside vaccinations that control infectious diseases. Keeping cats indoors has also contributed to raising the average lifespan.
Your cat will go through many changes due to age. These may be physical or behavioural. Look at a range of signs of ageing here…
Careful observation of your cat alongside regular exams at the vets will help detect other illnesses such as:
There may come a time when you have to make the heart-breaking decision to let your cat go. Putting a cat to sleep in your own home can be a gentle and kind way to say goodbye. Get help and advice from a fully qualified and experienced end-of-life practitioner. And all the support you need during this sad time.