Our cats are getting older and older on average. But how long do cats live? And do you have any influence on your cat’s life span?
How long do cats live?
When a cat is 10 years or older, he is considered a senior. But that still doesn’t tell us how old a cat can actually become.
An British study shows that the average life span for a domestic cat is 14 years on average, other studies mention an age of 16 to 17 years.
How long do pedigree cats live?
That same English study shows that females live longer than males (15 vs. 13 years) and neutered cats longer than non-castrated (15 vs. 11 years). They also looked at the average age of several different cat breeds. That was 12.5 years, lower than for the “normal” domestic cat. There were also real differences between breeds:
Himalayan: 16.1 years
Burmese: 14.3
Siamese: 14,2
Persian: 14,1
British Shorthair: 11,8
Maine Coon: 11
Abyssinian: 10
Bengal: 7.3
It should be noted that the numbers of pedigree cats were relatively small and thus may give an incomplete picture.
There is also no explanation given in the study for the differences. We do know that some cat breeds suffer more from certain hereditary diseases than others.
The oldest cat
That cats live longer is also demonstrated by the fact that 20-year-olds are becoming more common. One of my cats turned 22, and I know some of my readers have cats that are 23 years old or even older.
According to the Guinness Record Book, the oldest cat ever is Creme Puff. She lived to be 38 and passed away in 2005. Currently, there is no known oldest living cat in the Guinness files, though of course there will be one! However, there are the brothers Pika and Zippo, who are the “oldest living cat siblings” and were born in 2000. Currently, they are both still alive.
Why do cats live longer?
It has everything to do with ever-improving living conditions. Quality food is now widely available, medical care for cats is getting better and better, and owners are becoming more aware of their cat’s needs. There is also a lot more information available to owners.
Big differences
There are big differences between cats of the same age. Some 16-year-olds still play like kittens and go out daily. And there are cats of 12 or 13 who already suffer from osteoarthritis and even look ‘old’.
This is why I have a bit of a problem with those nice diagrams ‘how old is your cat in human years’. They say very little.
The role of genetics
Can you as a cat parent contribute to a long and healthy life for your cat? Yes and no.
Genetics determines to a very large extent how long your cat will live. Unfortunately, that is completely out of your control. We all know the stories of an uncle who lived to be 90 despite a carton of cigarettes and a bottle of whiskey a day. Then there are the people who have always lived a healthy life and die at a young age. That is genetics, and it obviously applies to cats as well.
In addition, the condition of the mother during pregnancy plays a role. We know that malnutrition and stress have a negative impact on the future health and behavior of kittens.
Why do cats live longer? A little help
Apart from genetics, luckily there are some things you can do yourself!
- First of all, nutrition. I know some people put everything down to nutrition, but I won’t go that far. Good nutrition, especially wet food with good quality protein, is important as a basis.
- Obesity has negative consequences for the life span and well-being of your cat. So choose quality food, but not too much!
- Exercise and daily play sessions are important for your cats’ mental and physical health.
- Plan an annual check at the vet, so you can address any problems quickly.
- Small changes in behavior may indicate pain or illness; don’t ignore them.
- Let your cat outdoors only if it is safe to do so, many (young) cats die annually in traffic accidents.
Of course, there are many more things you can do to keep your cat healthy, but that is for a new blog!
Photo: HansLinde @ pixabay