Cats should retain their ability play and jump when they age even if it is slightly reduced. What is the difference between a sick cat and an old cat?Īs your cat ages it will experience changes in behaviour, appearance and in its physical health. Also, female cats tend to live 1-2 years longer than male cats. Spaying and neutering remove the risk of developing diseases that can affect a cat’s reproductive system in old age. On average, a cat’s lifespan is reduced by six months for every 1kg increase in adult bodyweight. Weight is also an issue when it comes to a cat’s health. Also, as your cat ages, there are formulations of cat food designed to support older cats and their common health issues. When your cat encounters health issues, there are many different types of cat foods specially formulated to help cats that need to gain weight, constipated cats, and many other health issues. Although some human foods aren’t toxic, a cat’s digestive system was built around proteins and not designed for what we eat which can cause problems. Cats are also prone to dehydration so having several drinking options for your cat is a good idea. An optimal diet is moisture-rich and high in nutrients. Just like humans, diet is a critical factor in a cat’s lifespan. This is the best chance of finding any problems early enough to allow for effective treatment. Therefore, regular medical checkups with a vet are particularly important for cats. Often by the time that an owner has noticed something is wrong, it may be too late to help the cat. And cats tend to keep their ill feelings to themselves. Here are the current views on the average lifespan for some of the most common cat breeds:Ĭats aren’t able to tell you when they aren’t well. The second oldest cat on record, Creme Puff, was a mixed breed and lived to 38 years. The oldest cat ever recorded is a Tabby cat called Lucy who lived to be 39 years old. However, pure breeds like the Manx and Siamese cats are also known for their longevity. Mixed breed cats like say American Domestics tend to live longer than purebreds as their genetic diversity protects them from some hereditary diseases. Cat Breedĭifferent cat breeds have different average life expectancies. It is estimated that an outdoor cat’s lifespan can be 2 to 3 years shorter than that of indoor cats. These include traffic accidents, attacks from other animals, and certain diseases. This is because they are open to several dangers that indoor cats are not. In general, outdoor cats who are allowed to roam during the day have shorter lives than indoor cats.
Indoor vs Outdoor CatĪccording to the ASPCA, the average lifespan of an indoor cat is 13 to 17 years and cats who live up to 20 years are not uncommon. Key Factors that Influence the Life Span of a Cat 1.
Mature Cat (7 to 10 years) – the equivalent of a middle aged human eg in their 40s and 50s.Prime (3 to 6 years) – the equivalent of a human in their 20s and 30s.Junior Cat (6 months to 2 years) – equivalent of human adolescence.Kitten (0 to 6 months) – the equivalent of a human infant.When looking at how long do cats live it helps to take into account the classic cat life stages. These days cats are considered to be geriatric at the age of 15 years but are living into their late teens and early 20s. The study acknowledged a lack of research in this area that means no one really knows how long cats could live a healthy life. This study was conducted in 2016 so of course, it doesn’t take into account medical advances for cats in the last five years. The experts believe that cats are living longer because medical advances are helping to prevent diseases in cats. The study found that an estimated 20% of cats were 11 years of age or older. Just a few decades ago the average lifespan of a cat was single digit. A study that has been published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery found that the average lifespan of a cat is now around 15 years. The good news is that it appears that domestic cats are living longer. Different studies come up with different results but when they’re taken together and averaged 15 years sounds like a sensible benchmark. Taking out all of the factors that we are going to cover, the average age for a domestic cat appears to be around 15 years. There have been several major studies across the US and the UK that have looked at how long cats live.
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