The lifespan of domestic cats
How long do cats live – this is a question every pet owner asks themselves, or anyone who is only just thinking about getting a pet.
In recent decades specialized veterinary medicine has advanced powerfully, and new approaches to producing animal food and caring for animals have appeared. That is why it is now possible to provide a cat with all the conditions for it to live as long as possible. If a pet's owner is seriously concerned about a cat's lifespan, then they have the means for proper care: this includes proper nutrition, vaccination, veterinary care in case of illness, and hygiene of the mouth, teeth, and ears.
However, no matter what the care is, it is hard to fool nature – no one has done away with genetics and natural physiology. And to the question of how long cats live on average, veterinarians usually give a figure of 12-15 years. This is not about how long cats live on average as a species, but about the lifespan of domestic cats, since the lifespan of street animals is much shorter – 5-7 years.
However, there are exceptions everywhere – record-holding cats can live more than 20 years.
120 years of a cat's life: Russia's oldest cat has passed away To find out how long domestic cats live, it is worth understanding that it is not only about the breed as such. The lifespan of cats in domestic conditions is influenced, in addition to care, also by the breed and by spaying, if the owners deemed it necessary to do it.
Photo: Quang Nguyen vinh from Pixabay
How long purebred cats live on average
If you are planning to get a cat and want your pet to live as long as possible, then it is worth paying attention to representatives of the following breeds – their lifespan is often higher than that of others.
- Sphynx – 15-20 years
- Siamese cat – 15-20 years
- Russian Blue – 10-20 years
- Bombay cat – 15-20 years
- Persian cat – 15-20 years
The longevity record is held by a cat of the Burmese breed and stands at 35 years, with the average lifespan of cats of this breed being 18-25 years.
But future owners of cats of such breeds should not count on their pets being guaranteed to live a long, happy life and never get sick – you will have to take care of them in any case. After all, a pet's longevity is not only a fortunate combination of genes, but also the influence of the environment in which they live.
Photo: wirestock/Freepik
How long mixed-breed cats can live
It is hardly possible to give a definite answer to this question, since no large-scale statistical studies have been conducted on this score.
There is an opinion that mixed-breed cats suffer less often from hereditary diseases than purebred ones, and their immunity is also higher, since their genetic diversity is broader – therefore their lifespan may be greater.
But by no means do all purebred cats have hereditary diseases, and their mixed-breed kin may also not boast ideal health. Therefore it can be said that the lifespan of mixed-breed cats falls within the range of the average feline lifespan of 12-15 years.
How long spayed cats live
The question of whether it is worth neutering a cat answers itself once you find out how long spayed cats live. Definitely longer. The reason for this lies in the peculiarities of feline health: if a cat experiences barren heats over a long period of time, then in 80 percent of cases, after 5-7 years, it will develop endometritis or polycystic ovaries – these are extremely serious diseases that can be fatal.
The lifespan of a cat is also affected by birthing – too-frequent pregnancies wear out the cat's body and lead to many diseases.
Spaying eliminates the risk of problems with a cat's reproductive system. Therefore, to the question of how long spayed cats live in domestic conditions, veterinarians and breeders often give a figure of 14-17 years, whereas the lifespan of domestic unspayed cats is shorter – 12-15 years.
Photo: ArthurHidden/Freepik
Factors affecting a cat's lifespan
The following factors affect how long cats live in domestic conditions.
Living conditions
If a cat lives permanently in an apartment, then it is less prone to the risk of injuries and diseases than an animal with partial or constant outdoor access.
Nutrition
The right choice of food will preventively support a pet's health and help cope with illnesses.
Body condition
It is better not to allow a pet to become obese, since this often becomes the cause of serious malfunctions in the internal organs.
Genetics
Representatives of some breeds, as we have already written above, are distinguished by a greater lifespan.
Sex life and pregnancy
Frequent births cause a cat's body to age and wear out faster.
Veterinary care
Timely treatment, vaccination, and routine visits to the veterinarian can extend the life of your pet.
And if you decide to take a cat from a shelter, it would not be amiss to find out its age. The life of a whiskered, tailed creature can be divided into these stages:
- Infancy – the first 6 months of a kitten's life;
- Adolescence – from 6 months to 2 years;
- Youth – from 2 to 6 years;
- Maturity – from 7 to 10-11 years;
- Old age – after 10-11 years.
