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A cat’s longevity depends on many factors including breed, veterinary care, nutrition, lifestyle, and more. With optimal care, it’s possible for cats to reach 20 years or even older ages. For owners looking to maximize their time with their kitties, promoting excellent health and adapting as cats age are key. Cat owners often wonder – how long will my feline friend be with me? While it’s impossible to predict any individual cat’s lifespan, understanding the average cat life expectancy can help set realistic expectations. Most domestic cats live between years, with plenty of variation above and below that typical range.
The importance of a safe and stimulating environment for a cat’s longevity
All cats will get older eventually, and you will begin to see the changes in them that show this process. Physical changes may include reduced ability to taste, smell, and digest certain foods. They may also experience reduced hearing, lower immune function, changes in skin elasticity, and stress intolerance. Your cat may begin to lose their vision or change their coat coloring.
Indoor vs Outdoor Cat Life Expectancy: Sum Up
Injuries and diseases, such as FIP in cats, can also play a role in how long your cat lives. Keeping your cat indoors is one of the most effective ways to increase its life expectancy. Cats that are kept outdoors and allowed to roam tend to live significantly shorter lives than their indoor counterparts. Cats are unique individuals and each lifespan depends on a variety of factors. So while cats may generally be expected to live within a certain range of years, your cat’s life may be longer or shorter than average.
The Longest Living Cat
“Indoor cats who are allowed out are also put at a higher risk for trauma, acquiring an infectious disease from another outdoor cat or ingesting toxins, which can be fatal. These risks can potentially shorten their life span despite receiving treatment after returning home,” Rutherford says. While we never have complete control over our cat's lives, we can be sure to offer them a safe, healthy, and loving environment to increase the odds of them living a long life. Indoor cats are not exposed to as many risks since they are sheltered inside a secure home. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, an Austin, Texas cat named Creme Puff lived longer than any pet cat in history.
Changes in behavior may be noted with regards to litter box use and nighttime activity levels. For example, some older cats will be more active late at night when they didn’t used to be and then sleep more during the day. Or, cats that were once fastidious about their bathroom habits may no longer cover their poop or may go outside the litter box. A kitten’s job is to grow and to learn how to interact with his environment.
How long have your cats lived?
Best Cat Flea Treatment: Top 5 Medicines Most Recommended By Feline Experts - - Study Finds
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Posted: Thu, 07 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Indoor cats tend to live the longest, 13 to 17 years on average. Indoor cats are not only less prone to injury or trauma, but also have less exposure to parasites and infectious diseases. However, your cat’s breed, genetics, diet and activity level can also impact its lifespan. While it is impossible to know exactly how long a cat will live, some breeds of cats are known to often live longer than others.
What Factors Affect How Long Indoor Cats Live?
A memory foam bed provides spacious and supportive bedding for your cat. A clean and tidy space isn’t just good for your mental health; your cat will benefit too. If your cat is not very active and likes to lounge, watching how much they eat can balance out their lack of activity.
Generally speaking, the first two years of a cat’s life is considered to be the equivalent of 25 years. From that point onward, each additional year is counted as 4 “cat years” on their life. Creme Puff’s owner even claimed to give her an eyedropper full of red wine once per week to “help her circulation.” It may not sound like your typical cat diet, but there must be some merit to it. Although, you definitely should consult your vet before adding coffee or wine into your cat’s diet. There are six simple steps you can take to help increase the life expectancy of your cat.
Indoor cats generally reach the higher end of that spectrum, with some living to 20 years or beyond when provided with attentive care. As previously mentioned, whether your cat is an indoor-only cat or not can significantly impact its lifespan. Indoor cats tend to live twice as long as outdoor cats, and they also usually outlive cats that are allowed outdoors part time without supervision. The average kitten owner can expect healthy domestic cats to live for more than a decade with an appropriate diet and healthcare regimen.
Dental disease and loss of olfaction are common as cats age, affecting eating habits. How a cat's health is affected by aging may be managed through modifications in a cat's diet, accessibility adjustments, and cognitive stimulation. Outdoor cats tend to live far shorter lives than their more domesticated counterparts.
Cats are curious animals that need mental stimulation, physical activity, and a sense of security to thrive. Regular exercise and mental stimulation are vital for a cat’s overall well-being and can significantly impact their lifespan. Cats are natural hunters and need opportunities to engage in physical activity and mental stimulation. The study also discovered a difference in the average life span of crossbred and purebred cats. Crossbred cats had a life expectancy of 14 years, while purebred cats had a shorter life expectancy of 12.5 years. Overbreeding adds to the outdoor cat population and makes it difficult for shelters to keep up with all of the animals that come into them.
Routine weigh-ins, body condition checks, and dietary counseling help set cats up for longevity. Burmese cats typically live 16-20+ years, significantly exceeding the year average for mixed breed cats. To ensure the prolonged health of your cats, limit their outdoor time, neuter them at the right age and have regular check-ups with their veterinarians. They may sleep more and be less active, and may begin to put on weight. They might also show signs of declining vision, hearing loss or joint stiffness. Some elderly cats lose weight as they become more susceptible to common old-age illnesses like kidney disease.
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