How Long Do Cats Live?

A healthy cat can live for approximately 13 to 17 years; however, the life expectancy of a cat depends on multiple factors that include the gender of a cat, living conditions, and if fixed or not. On the other hand, if properly taken care of and free of a life-threatening health condition, it is not unusual for a cat to live for about 20 years.

The oldest living cat today is a female British tortoiseshell from Orpington, England, named Flossie. She was born on December 29, 1995. Presently, Flossie is 28 years old. However, her age has finally taken a toll on her health because the cat has limited eyesight and deafness.

Despite having a remarkably long life for a cat, Flossie still has ten years to go before she becomes the oldest cat ever. The record is held by a mixed-breed tabby cat named Creme Puff; Creme was 38 years old upon her death in 2005.

It is certain that the breed of a cat may be connected with some of the health problems and genetic conditions it may suffer from, which would limit its life expectancy. Nevertheless, individual cats without any long-lasting diseases may sometimes live much longer than the average lives of their own breeds.

Besides the genetic conditions that some breeds may be exposed to, size also plays a key role. Large cats, such as the Ragdolls and Maine Coons, are more likely to develop joint and muscle conditions than most of the smaller breeds of cats, which would include the British Shorthairs or the Siamese.

These are the average lifespans of the longest-living breeds of cats:

1. Burmese cat (16-20 years)
2. Balinese cat (15-20 years)
3. Russian Blue (15-20 years)
4. Manx (14–20 years)
5. Siamese cat (12-20 years)
6. Savannah cat (12-20 years)
7. British Shorthair (12-20 years)
8. Ragdoll cat (12-17 years)
9. Abyssinian (12–16 years)
10. Bengal (12-16 years)

On average, female cats live longer than male cats; female felines generally have a lifespan that is 1.33 years more than their male counterparts.

Male cats are more likely to die of a physical injury along with a higher risk of catching a life-threatening disease. Similarly, they are also more likely to suffer from Urinary Tract Infections, a serious and fatal condition if not treated properly.

On the contrary, male and female cats raised together live up to the same age, with the male even surviving longer than the female in some cases.

Although not a mandatory procedure, spaying or neutering your cat is a subtle way of avoiding unwanted pregnancies and aggressive behavior. What many don't know is that spaying is also linked with an increase in the average life expectancy. 

Research conducted by the Humane Society showed that cats that are spayed tend to live 3-4 years more than an intact female. This number gets larger with neutered males who can live around 6-7 years longer than cats that are not fixed. Spaying costs for cats are minimal; some non-profits even do it for free before potential pet owners adopt them.

The reduced lifespan of intact male and female cats is normally associated with testicular and ovarian health disorders, including cancer. Similarly, unspayed/unneutered cats are also more aggressive and free-willed who love roaming, thus increasing the chances of accidents and injury.

Outdoor cats are exposed to unfavorable living conditions, predators, and risks of injuries, cutting their lifespan by half. An outdoor cat is often at the mercy of nature, forced to endure extreme weather conditions like excessive coldness during winter and heat during summer.

Meanwhile, indoor cats have a more easier lifestyle, aided by their humans; they are fed well and provided proper vaccinations and health services for potentially fatal conditions.

The huge advantage of living indoors is evident from the fact that while indoor cats can live for 10 to 20 years, the average life expectancy of an outdoor cat is only 2-5 years.

Cats have an average gestation period of around 63 to 65 days. After the pregnancy duration, a female cat will give birth to around 4-6 kittens.

The lifecycle of a cat can be divided into four main stages- Kitten, Young Adult, Mature Adult, and Senior. Let's take a look at each of these stages:

1. Kitten (Up to 6 Months)

The first part of a cat's life, cats are most vulnerable during the kitten phase. During this period, they are dependent on their mother for survival.

Similarly, cats also rapidly grow during this stage; for the first two months, they should be strictly fed only liquid food: mother's milk or milk substitute. At around two months old, you can introduce solid food into their diet.

Give them the appropriate kitten-feeding portion; divide their routine into small but frequent meals, preferably 3-4 times a day.

2. Junior (6 Months - 2 Years)

At this stage, a cat enters young adulthood. While still growing physically and mentally, the rate of growth slows down.

Cats are naturally curious during this phase; they should be properly socialized and trained. Similarly, this stage is also the best time for neutering or spaying.

3. Prime (2-6 Years)

Considered the peak years of a feline's life, cats are at the height of their physical fitness during their prime years. They start transforming into more mature adult cats, losing their restlessness and aggressiveness.

Despite indulging in fewer physical activities, they will still love playing with their owners and exploring the area.

4. Mature (6-10 Years)

This is the middle age of a cat's life; pet parents will notice a significant drop in their energy as these cats learn to enjoy a more secluded lifestyle.

Feeding should be controlled during this phase as, combined with diminished fitness, it can cause significant weight gain, raising the risk of obesity.

The cat may require frequent vet visits to check for any chronic diseases that may affect their heart or kidney.

5. Senior (10+ Years)

Equivalent to old age in humans, cats start showing aging signs at this stage, while also fully embracing a passive lifestyle. Just like humans, aging comes with a diminished immune system and the possibility of long-term health issues.

Cats need a healthy diet and sufficient rest to combat the side effects of aging. Pet owners will also notice joint issues, excessive shedding, and significantly limited mobility.

In recent decades, the veterinarian industry has seen a revolutionary change in medical technology and normal people's access to it. Thanks to this, a condition that was considered fatal 20 years ago might no longer be a significant threat.

Similarly, pet parents have also emphasized the quality of food their cats eat, feeding them the healthiest options available in the market.

While not exclusive, these are some common methods you can apply at home to increase your cat's life by a significant margin.

Proper Nutrition And Balances Diet

Feeding high-quality food in the right amount is a crucial step in lengthening your pet's lifespan; obesity is a notable risk as cats age, so make sure you are not overfeeding them.

Consider planning an effective feeding routine that meets all the nutrient requirements of the cat while also controlling the portion. As cats become older, they may not be able to chew dry food, so consider shifting to a wet food diet to relieve pressure on the cat's teeth and aid in hydration.

Spaying or Neutering

As discussed above, spaying or neutering - based on gender - is not just important for the longevity of life, it is also vital in controlling the rapid population growth of cats.

Spaying/neutering can dramatically reduce the chances of a cat contracting life-threatening conditions like pyometra, ovarian cancer, and prostate issues. By simply going through the process, the cat can achieve 3-7 years of additional life.

Regular Veterinary Care

While young cats don't need frequent vet check-ups unless they show signs of an illness, adult cats should be taken for regular vet checkups, even if they appear healthy.

For adult cats, plan a bi-annual checkup to look for common health conditions that affect older felines. Similarly, regular vaccination should also be a crucial part of a cat's healthcare routine to prevent any major health crisis and stay safe from parasites.

Stress Reduction

A healthy mind is a must for healthy living; in this regard, stress reduction becomes important not only for sound mental health but also for a long life. Providing a comforting and stress-free environment might not seem like a determining factor; however, it often plays a key role in how long a cat can live.

Stress or the lack of it acts like a placebo effect on the cat's health, with anxious or stressed cats often linked with the effectiveness of a therapy or medication.

In human years, the equivalent life expectancy of a cat is expected to be about 68- 84 years old; this age falls around the same category as the average human lifespan which is around 73.6 years.

Converting cat years into equivalent human years is pretty straightforward - a two-year-old cat is about the same as a 24-year-old human. After that, for every year the cat lives, add four more human years. For example, a five-year-old cat is 36 years old in equivalent human years.

Let's take a look at the average life expectancy of different breeds in equivalent human years:

1. Burmese cat (80-96 years)
2. Balinese cat (76-96 years)
3. Russian Blue (76-96 years)
4. Manx (72–96 years)
5. Siamese cat (64-96 years)
6. Savannah cat (64-96 years)
7. British Shorthair (64-96 years)
8. Ragdoll cat (64-84 years)
9. Abyssinian (64–80 years)
10. Bengal (64-80 years)

Considering a cat's hydrophobia, water may not seem like a crucial part of their survival. But, this is not true as felines need to regularly drink water to avoid dying from dehydration.

On average, a cat can go without water for 2-3 days; however, signs of dehydration might be visible after the first 24 hours of no water. While cats do hydrate themselves from the water derived from the meat of their prey and other foods, this water is only enough to sustain the cat for a short period. They will still need to drink fresh water to prevent their body getting shut down from dehydration.

Additionally, the weather conditions also dictate how long a cat can survive without water; these carnivores can remain hydrated for longer during winter than in summer or hotter days.