How Long Do Cats Live? 4 Interesting Facts

Has the question—how long do cats live ever occurred to you? Well, I’m sure a lot of us love cats. Don’t we? But do we know our pet cat’s life expectancy?

Getting to know your cat might take longer than you’d have imagined, but it is all worth it in the end. Isn’t it? Cats are such lovely creatures that you would watch them do silly things the whole day and still not get bored.

Without a doubt, we are indebted to the brilliant veterinary care for our cat’s health and well-being. But what is the average lifespan of our cat?

With the advances made in medical care and nutrition, our cats are living longer lives than before.

As per authentic reports and research, the answer to—how long cats live, is 13-17 years. This is the life expectancy of indoor cats. However, there are many factors affecting the life expectancy of cats. We shall have a look at it later.

The average life expectancy of domestic cats is 12-14 years. However, in some cases, they live up to 20 years!

According to research by the Royal Veterinary College, crossbred cats have an average life expectancy of 14 years. Whereas, purebred cats live up to 12.5 years.

The world record for the oldest cat ever was set by Creme Puff, who died at the age of 38 in 2005 (As per the Guinness World Records Book). Crème Puff was owned by Jake Perry from Texas, United States.

When researching—how long cats live, it comes to light that female cats live one or two years longer than male cats.

1. How Long Do Indoor Cats Live?

Upon research, it has been found that indoor cats live almost three times as outdoor cats. This is mainly because home cats are vaccinated, and sterilized, they do not have to search for food and face the stress of the outside world.

As discussed, the average lifespan of an indoor cat is 12-14 years. Home cats are fed regularly by their owners and they have access to clean water.

Apart from that, the environment plays a massive role. An indoor cat gets to sleep in peace and uses the toilet as per the convenience and arrangements made by the owner.

On a lighter note, indoor cats are the real owners of the house, whereas, humans are just their servants.

2. How Long Do Outdoor Cats Live?

Outdoor cats tend to have shorter lives than indoor cats. Unfortunately, outdoor cats survive only for 2-5 years in the world.

This is because their lives on the outside are always on the edge. Road traffic accidents, predators, and fights with other cats or animals are some of the greatest dangers to a cat living on the streets.

On the contrary, these outdoor cats have more freedom and space than the ones inside, which allows them to move freely and stretch more. But because of unfavourable conditions outside, the number of cat deaths isn’t promising.

3. Factors Affecting the Life Expectancy of Cats

While talking about—how long cats live, here are the things you should keep in mind if you want your pet cats and kittens to live longer.

3.1. Routine Care

There are multiple factors affecting the average cat’s lifespan, but routine medical care is an extremely important point you need to consider.

It is difficult to notice when your cat is not feeling well, even though actions. You might get to know about it in the later stage, but it could be too late for an effective treatment.

Apart from vaccination and other preventive measures, vets may also carry out annual tests to check a cat’s overall medical condition.

3.2. Good Diet

A healthy diet should be the priority for your pet. You need to make sure your cat is consuming enough nutrition. You may also consult your vet for quality cat food advice.

3.3. Neutering

Neutered cats can live longer as it helps them to be safe from multiple diseases. In some cases, neutering changes the appearance of a cat, it may also increase weight.

3.4. Exercise

We all know cats are lazy. Right? And making them work out a bit can be interestingly complex. One option is to try and interact with them. Our cats tend to resist less when we point a laser toward them or in a particular direction that they can spot.

While trying to chase the laser dot, our cat unintentionally exercises. Also, it is fun to watch them act cute. Other than these, you may also think of investing in a treadmill or cat wheel. Remember, enough supervision is required with these.

3.5. Other Physical Activities

You need to prevent boredom at all costs. Keeping your cat engaged in some other physical activity can extend his/her life.

You may need to bring new toys regularly for your cats if they get bored with the older ones.

Also, interacting with them freshens them up. In addition, cats love climbing. You need to bring such toys or arrange furniture in a way that they feel the urge to climb.

In addition to these, health issues, mental stimulation, and time spent indoors play a pivotal role in deciding the length of our cat’s life.

4. Life Stages of a Cat

Having answered the question of how long cats live, let us now look at the different life stages of a cat. Here is the cat age chart:

4.1. Kitten (0-6 Months)

This is the age when our cat learns most things about his/her safety and the environment. This is when you should acquaint your kitten with new things like other pets, household noises, brushing, and introducing it to children. A kitten is 10 years old in human years.

4.2. Junior (6 Months- 2 Years)

At this age, the cat reaches full size and has sexual maturity. During this period, they also learn important skills like playing and hunting. A two-year-old cat is 24 in human age.

4.3. Prime (3-6 Years)

These are the prime years of your cat’s life. Physical fitness is at its peak. However, it is still important to check up on vaccinations and seek expert advice for a healthy weight. A prime cat is 24-40 in human years.

4.4. Mature (7-10 Years)

It is safe to call our cat old at this age. The pace may get affected drastically and the weight might up a bit. At this age, your cat is the human equivalent of 40-50 years.

4.5. Senior (11-14 Years)

These are the senior years of your cat. At 14, they reach the human age of 70 and tend to relax a lot more. You will need to maintain close monitoring at this age, along with vets.

4.6. Super Senior/Geriatric (15 Years or More)

This is the ultimate age for our cute pets. Some may have the same energy that of a kitten (rare case), while most will have a slow pace, a habit of only watching birds all day, relaxing, and laying on their favourite pillows.

At 15, a cat reaches 76 human years, and if they get to 21, they’re 100 human years.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Cats Can Live for Up to 30 Years?

Cats now live to be over 15 years old, and in some cases over 20, thanks to advancements in diet and veterinary science, such as immunizations and therapeutic drugs. Life expectancy is influenced by a variety of factors, one of which is whether a cat spends its lifetime outside or inside.

2. When Do Cats Start to Slow Down?

Your cat starts to get less active and loses their desire to play between the ages of 7 and 10. Your cat’s activity level has changed naturally since they are accustomed to its surroundings and routine. It’s important to keep an eye on your cat’s eating patterns when she slows down.

3. Does Ageing Make Cats Angrier?

Age-related behavioural changes in cats can include forgetting where their litter box is, becoming less active, and becoming more aggressive. Your elder cat may be exhibiting signs of ageing issues including feline cognitive loss if it starts acting differently.

Final Note

It may get emotional for cat owners when they realize how long their cats might live in reality. Older cats face common diseases like kidney failure and arthritis. It is always a painful sight to see animals in pain. Absolutely no doubt, we feel this sudden sense of emptiness after the departure of our pet, but the least we could do is make sure they have a great time during their journey on earth.

Hope you’ve learned—how long cats live and the several factors deciding their time on this earth and how to take care of these little angels while they spend their time.

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