As a cat owner, you may often think, how long do cats live? It’s one of the most common questions because as a cat parent, you are always curios about how long you are going to get with your furry little friend.
It’s a difficult question to give a straight answer to because the life expectancy of a cat depends upon a number of different factors.
This includes their environment, health, diet, the breed of the cat, and if they are an outdoor or indoor cat. With so many variables involved, it’s close to impossible to pinpoint how long a cat will live.
With that being said, it is possible to have an estimated idea on the average lifespan of a domesticated cat, based upon the breed and their lifestyle. How long do cats live? We have done all of the research and everything will be revealed.
How Long Do Cats Live?
What is the Average Lifespan of a Cat
The average lifespan of an indoor cat is around 10-15 years, with some even living up to twenty years and beyond. The average lifespan of an outdoor cat is just 2-5 years. This is due to all of the dangers that come with being outdoors such as disease, attacks from other animals, and being hit by cars and other vehicles.
The old saying of cats having nine lives is just a myth. In reality they have just one life like every other living creature on the planet. As previously mentioned, there are a lot of variables that have a factor on how long a cat will live. This includes environment, health, diet, the breed of the cat.
Average Lifespan of Different Cat Breeds (years)
The breed of the cat plays an important factor in how long a cat will live. Take a look at the chart below which will show you many different cat breeds along with their average life expectancy.
Average Lifespan of Cat Breeds | ||
Breed | Average Lifespan | More Information On The Breed |
Abyssinian | 9-15 | - |
American Bobtail | 13-15 | - |
American Curl | 15+ | - |
American Shorthair | 15-20 | - |
American Wirehair | 7-12 | - |
Australian Mist | 14-19 | - |
Balinese | 18-22 | - |
Bengal | 12-16 | |
Birman | 12-16 | - |
Blue Chartreux | 12-15 | - |
Bombay | 15-20 | - |
British Shorthair | 12+ | - |
Burmese | 16-18 | - |
Burmilla | 10-15 | - |
California Spangled | 9-16 | - |
Ceylon | ~15 | - |
Chantilly-Tiffany | 14-16 | - |
Colorpoint Shorthair | 12-16 | - |
Cornish Rex | 11-15 | - |
Cymric | 8-14 | - |
Devon Rex | 9-15 | - |
Domestic | 12-14 | - |
Egyptian Mau | 13-16 | - |
European Shorthair | 15-22 | |
Exotic Shorthair | 12-14 | - |
German Rex | 9-14 | - |
Havana Brown | 12-15 | - |
Himalayan | 15+ | - |
Japanese Bobtail | 15-18 | - |
Javanese | 10-15 | - |
Korat | 15+ | - |
LaPerm | 10-15 | - |
Maine Coon | 12-15 | - |
Manx | 8-14 | - |
Munchkin | 12-14 | - |
Nebelung | 15-18 | |
Norwegian Forest | 14-16 | |
Ocicat | 10-15 | |
Oriental | 10-15 | - |
Persian | 15+ | - |
Peterbold | 12-15 | |
Pixiebob | ~12 | - |
Ragdoll | 12-17 | - |
Russian Blue | 15-20 | - |
Scottish Fold | ~15 | - |
Selkirk Rex | 10-15 | - |
Siamese | 15-20 | - |
Siberian | 11-15 | - |
Singapura | 9-15 | - |
Snowshoe | 12-15 | - |
Sokoke | 9-15 | - |
Somali | 10-12 | - |
Sphynx | 13-15 | - |
Tonkinese | 10-16 | - |
Toyger | 10-15 | |
Turkish Angora | 12-18 | - |
Turkish Van | 12-17 | - |
Life Stages of a Cat
Just like humans, cats go through various different life stages depending upon their age. Let’s break it down and take a look at each stage: Take a look at the infographic below for a quick breakdown of the stages.
Provided by caredicat.com
How old is my cat in ‘human’ years?
You will see some data in the infographic above, but in the chart below you will see a full list of cat ages that have been converted into human years.
Age of Cat | Human Age Equivalent |
0-1 month | 0-1 year |
2-3 months | 2-4 years |
4 months | 6-8 years |
6 months | 10 years |
7 months | 12 years |
12 months | 15 years |
18 months | 21 years |
2 years | 24 years |
3 years | 28 years |
4 years | 32 years |
5 years | 36 years |
6 years | 40 years |
7 years | 44 years |
8 years | 48 years |
9 years | 52 years |
10 years | 56 years |
11 years | 60 years |
12 years | 64 years |
13 years | 68 years |
14 years | 72 years |
15 years | 76 years |
16 years | 80 years |
17 years | 84 years |
18 years | 88 years |
19 years | 92 years |
20 years | 96 years |
How to Help Your Cat Live Longer
There are a number of different things you can do to increase the life expectancy of your cat. Let’s take a look:
- Have regular checks with a veterinarian: Doing this will increase your cats life because any health issues will be detected early.
- Get your cat vaccinated: This will protect them from diseases.
- Get them neutered: The reason why neutered cats live longer is because it prevents them from picking up diseases. It also makes them less likely to run away from home which is an advantage because they will avoid the dangers of the outdoors.
- Exercise: Have a number or short play sessions with your cat each and every day. If you are a busy person, then you should invest in as many interactive cat toys as possible that will allow your cat to play on their own.
- Diet: A cat should be eating a health diet to allow them to consume all of their required daily nutrients. A combination of both wet cat food and dry cat food is ideal. You should also provide clean fresh water. Cat water fountains are an excellent option, as cats are more attracted to flowing water.
- Keep your cat indoors: The average lifespan of an outdoor cat is just 2-5 years, so it’s a complete no-brainer that keeping a cat indoors is going to drastically extend their life.
- Creating the cat environment: As well as cat toys that we previously mentioned, you should also have a number of cat trees & towers, cat furniture, wall-mounted options, and both vertical and horizontal climbing frames. Not only are these great exercise for your cat, but they also provide mental stimulation.
Most Common Causes of Death In Cats
According to the Royal Veterinary College, here are the most common causes of death in cats.
Common Causes of Death in Cats | |
Cause | Percentage |
Trauma | 12.2% |
Renal Disorder | 12.1% |
Non-specific Illness | 11.2% |
Neoplasia | 10.8% |
Mass Lesion Disorder | 10.2% |
Neurological | 7% |
Respiratory Disorder | 5.5% |
Cardiac Disease | 4.2% |
What is The Oldest Cat Ever Recorded
The oldest cat ever recorded by the Guinness World Records was a domesticated shorthair cat called Crème Puff that lived 38 years and three days. Crème Puff was from Austin Texas, and was born in 1967 and died in 2005.
Common Questions
Can cats live up to 20 years?
Sometimes it’s possible for a cat to live up to 20 years old, especially if you follow all of the tips on the section above on how to help your cat live longer. Although like many things in life, this is not guaranteed. You may also need a bit of lucky and a cat with great genetics.
Can a cat live 30 years?
The average lifespan of an indoor cat is around 10-15 years with some living up to 20 years. 30 years is extremely old for a cat with only a few extraordinary cats living until 25-30 years of age. The oldest cat ever recorded was 38 years and three days, so it is possible.
How Long Do Cats Live Conclusion
How long do cats live? To summarise, an indoor cat has the average lifespan of 10-years, with some reaching 20 years and beyond. Things such as regular medical checks, vaccinations, exercise, and a healthy balanced diet can all help extend the life of your cat.
How old is your cat? Let us know in the comments section below.
