How long do cats live

How long do cats live?

How long do cats live?

The average lifespan of a cat overall in the UK is 14 years, according to a study carried out by the Royal Veterinary College. The study, which looked at the deaths of 4009 randomly-selected deceased cats in 2015, found that crossbreed cats had an average life expectancy of 14 while purebred cats had a lifespan of 12.5 years. However, this is only an average age — some cats can live past 20.

A domestic cat’s life expectancy can be influenced by several factors including whether they are vaccinated, whether they are a healthy weight and whether they are indoor or outdoor cats (as well as a stroke of luck).

How long do outdoor cats live?

Over 90% of domestic cats in the UK are free to roam outdoors every day and these ‘outdoor cats’ generally live shorter lives than cats that are kept indoors all the time. This is because they are exposed to dangers such as road traffic accidents or attacks by other animals.

A study using Vets Now data found that autumn is the worst season for cat road traffic accidents, with young, male and crossbred cats most at risk.

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What do cats usually die from?

Some of the most common causes of death in cats in the UK include trauma (particularly road traffic accidents), kidney disease and cancer.

Is my cat sick or just old?

Cats are great at hiding illness so owners should pay attention to any changes in behaviour. Changes such as moving around less, difficulty jumping as high and weight gain or loss could be put down to ageing but they could also be a symptom of illness. If you’re concerned at all it’s best to contact your vet or out of hours your nearest Vets Now for advice.

Some subtle signs of illness in cats to look out for include:

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Cat age chart

Just like humans, cats may experience different health issues at different stages of their lives. Kittens may be more at risk of certain diseases until their immune system is fully developed and cats under five are significantly more likely to be involved in road traffic accidents than older cats. As they enter the more mature stage of life they may be more susceptible to weight gain and eventually decrease their level of activity as they relax into their senior years (although cats love playing at any age). Our cat age chart below will give you an idea of the different stages of your cat’s life.

About the Author

Vets Now Team Member

Our emergency vets, vet nurses and support staff are all encouraged to provide insightful, evidence-based advice and content for our website. This article is one of many written by a member of our frontline team.

About the Article

Vets Now assumes no liability for the content of this page. This advice is not a substitute for a proper consultation with a vet and is only intended as a guide. Please contact your local veterinary practice for advice or treatment immediately if you are worried about your pet’s health — even if they are closed, they will always have an out-of-hours service available. Find out more about what to do in an emergency.

How long do pet cats live? | Cat lifespan and lifecycle

Better vet treatments and care mean that our pet cats are living longer than ever. Learn about a cat’s average lifespan, their lifecycle and more

If you’ve got a pet cat, or are thinking about getting one, you might be wondering; how long do pet cats live in human years?

A cat’s life expectancy will depend on many factors, including health, diet and their environment, but the average lifespan for a domestic cat is about 12-14 years. However, some pet cats can live to be around 20 years old. The breed is also often considered a factor in determining a cat’s life expectancy, but this is no guarantee.

The world record for the oldest cat is held by Crème Puff, a cat from Texas in the USA who lived to be 38 years and three days old, the longest lifespan of any known domestic cat! However, living to this age is incredibly rare.

The good news is that advances in veterinary care and awareness of good cat welfare mean that domestic cats are living longer than they used to. According to our Cats and Their Stats 2020 report, almost half (43%) of the UK’s owned cats are considered ‘old’.

Sadly though, cats in our care aged 11 years and older take an average of one month to find their new forever homes, over three times longer than kittens who take just eight days.

To show that these senior kitizens still have a lot to give, Cats Protection has launched Mature Moggies Day on 16 June, encouraging people to share inspiring stories of their older cats with #MatureMoggiesDay.

What type of cat has the longest lifespan?

While there is no guarantee that a cat will live a long and healthy life, there are some breeds that are known to live longer than others. Siamese, Burmese and Ragdoll are just a few of these breeds. But remember, a healthy diet, good exercise and other external factors are all vital for ensuring a long life for your pet cat.

How long are cat years?

Similarly to dogs, cat life stages can be roughly equated to human years, meaning that we can calculate a cat’s age both in cat years and human years. However, this is complicated, as cats mature much more in their first human year than they do for the rest of their lives. This is much like humans, who age slower and slower as years go by. Below you will find ages in terms of cat years equated roughly to human years.

After three years, your cat has developed as much as a 28-year-old human will. After this stage, every cat year equates to around four human years. So, an 11-year-old cat is 60 in human years.

When are cats considered ‘old’ in their lifecycle?

Cats go through six life stages as they grow, and they start to be considered ‘old’ when they reach the ‘mature’ stage at age seven. However, they typically don’t start slowing down until they reach the ‘senior’ stage at 11 years old. The six life stages of a cat’s lifecycle are:

How to tell the age of a cat

If you do not know the date a cat was born, then it can be difficult to determine their exact age. For the best estimate of a cat’s age, take them to a vet who will be able to examine their teeth, eyes, coat and other factors to do with their health and body condition to determine roughly how old they are.

How long do indoor cats live?

Cats that go outdoors are more likely to encounter risks such as road traffic accidents, fights with other cats and other dangers that could affect their life expectancy. However, they are also likely to get more exercise as they have more space to roam, which helps to keep them fit and healthy. Currently there is limited evidence to suggest that adopting either an indoor or outdoor lifestyle results in a significantly long lifespan. If you do keep your cat indoors, they’ll need plenty of opportunities to exercise with fun toys they can chase and catch. There are still other risks to pet house cats, so you’ll need to monitor them closely to keep them healthy for longer.

How to help your cat live longer

There are six simple steps you can take to help increase the life expectancy of your cat.

Сколько в среднем живут кошки в домашних условиях

Говорят, что у кошек 9 жизней. Возможно, это и так — но с человеком кошка разделяет всего одну из них. Как долго будет длиться совместное путешествие и есть ли шансы в нём задержаться?

Сколько в среднем живут кошки в домашних условиях

Домашние кошки живут в разы дольше, чем уличные, ведь им не приходится самостоятельно добывать пищу, искать убежище от непогоды и сражаться с конкурентами. Развитие ветеринарной медицины, появление витаминов и разнообразных сбалансированных и полноценных кормов увеличило их среднюю продолжительность жизни до 15–17 лет.

Влияет ли порода на продолжительность жизни

Такая взаимосвязь научно не доказана. Однако каждая порода имеет свои генетические особенности, а значит, и разные предрасположенности к заболеваниям. Зная о повышенном риске, вы сможете распознать болезнь на ранней стадии и максимально продлить жизнь кошки.

Средняя продолжительность жизни и особенности популярных пород:

А вот беспородные кошки до сих пор являются предметом ветеринарных дискуссий. Некоторые специалисты считают их менее приспособленными к жизни, чем потомство от породистых родителей. Другие утверждают, что у беспородных котов формируется сильный иммунитет, который способствует долголетию. Ясно одно — на продолжительность жизни в первую очередь влияет её качество.

Как продлить жизнь питомцу

Волшебных таблеток долголетия для котов, увы, не существует. Чтобы продлить любимцу жизнь, потребуется целый комплекс мероприятий:

Берегите ваших питомцев и проводите с ними время качественно — в любимых играх, прогулках и даже лёжа на диване, почёсывая любимого котика за ушком.

How long do cats live?

Understanding your cat can take time. Cats have a complex set of behaviours that can leave even the most experienced cat owner baffled.

However, the one question that can be answered with some certainty is how long on average a cat can live.

Average cat lifespan

Cats may not really have nine lives, but factors such as diet, healthcare and environment can have an impact on how long a cat can live. Neutered cats tend to live longer because neutering prevents reproductive diseases and neutered cats are less likely to roam.

While dependent on many things, including luck, some domestic cats can live to up to 20 years old. During their life they will go through six key life stages which may help owners understand certain health/behavioural problems that could arise and things to keep an eye on.

Life stages

Kitten (up to six months)

This is the best stage to introduce your cat to lots of new things such as other pets, household noises, being brushed and handled, as well as familiarising them with children.

You’ll see them go through their most rapid growth spurt during this time. This is also a good time to neuter your pet to stop unwanted litters.

Junior (six months – two years)

Your cat will reach full size during this period of time and will have reached sexual maturity.

It is important to play appropriately with your pet as this will teach them how to play nicely with people. This means ensuring not to play rough and tumble games with your cat; instead, use toys to engage with them.

Playing with your hands can encourage biting and scratching, which may seem cute when they’re a kitten, but remember that they soon grow up and the bites and scratches will get harder.

Prime (three – six years)

As the name of this phase suggests, your cat will be at its prime in life during these years. While they are young and healthy it’s still important to ensure that your cat remains up to date on their vaccinations and health checks to help prevent any diseases or illnesses.

Mature (seven – 10 years)

At this age your cat will be the human equivalent of someone in their mid-forties to mid-fifties.

This means that you may notice your pet starting to slow down and they are more likely to put on some weight. It’s important to carefully monitor their food consumption so that they are having the right amount for their level of activity. If you are unsure as to whether your cat is overweight or unsure on how to cut back on meal times, please speak to your vet.

Senior (11 – 14 years)

This sees your cat reach the human age of 70 years old which means that they may start needing more mental stimulation to keep them happy.

Enriching your cat’s environment should be done throughout their lives, and should be continued into their senior years, especially as cats tend to relax a lot more at this age. Food puzzles are a great way to keep your cat entertained and, if they are slightly overweight, it can keep them busy and active while trying to get their food!

Geriatric (15 years and older)

Some cats can reach this age with no signs of slowing down (lucky for some!) but for others, they may start to live life in the slow lane, happily snoozing the day away on their favourite pillow.

Geriatric cats will need to be monitored more closely for any changes in their behaviour; this can include things like vocalisation and frequency of going to the toilet. If you notice anything out of the ordinary then it’s best to book an appointment with your vet.

How Long Do Cats Live? Average Life Expectancies

Typically a domestic cat that lives primarily indoors will live to an average age of 15 years old.

While street cats live an average of only 5.5 years.

The Oldest Cats on Record

The oldest living cat (as of July 2020) is called Corduroy who entered the Guinness Book of Records in 2015 at the age of 26. As far as records show, he is still alive.

Corduroy lost his previous title as the oldest cat in 2014 when Tiffany Two was discovered at the age of 27, but she has since passed away and Corduroy has resumed the record again.

Previously, the oldest recorded age was held by a cat called Crème Puff who lived 38 years and 3 days, she died in 2005.

Of course, these are only the cats that have been officially recorded.

Cat Breeds That Live Longer

Some cats are predisposed to live longer lives due to their genetics.

Below are some cats which typically live longer lives than the average cat:

Be aware that mixed cats are usually the most resilient in terms of longevity due to their stronger genetic diversity.

If you want to breed a cat that will live a long life try mixing some of the breeds above together.

Lifespan

Feral, street, or stray cats, have generally a 50% mortality rate and are expected to last only two years although figures taken from a number of studies taken together show the average lifespan of stray cats can be between 6-7 years.

Generally, they are smaller than household cats, because of their lifestyle. On the other hand, domestic cats can reach an age of 15 years; 12-15 years is an average in most cases – that is roughly equivalent to 64 – 76 if you convert your cats age to the equivalent in human years.

However it is not uncommon for cats to live far longer than this.

Domestic vs Feral

Domestic cats are sheltered from harsh weather conditions, whether heat or cold, by having a house to sleep in.

Even if they are the prowling kind, they can always slip back into the house when there’s bad weather.

Feral cats have to find a den wherever they can and make the best of it, whatever the weather.

Top Tip:
If you are aware that there are feral cats living in your area then putting out a purpose-made outdoor cat house for them can do a lot to make their lives more comfortable.

Food is a constant preoccupation for wild cats. They have to hunt or scavenge.

Their choices of live prey or other sources of food will depend on their environment. Feral cats on the whole need to use all their senses, like eyesight, smell, and acute hearing, plus their stealth to gather food, if they live in the countryside or wilderness areas.

Urban or suburban strays have all the waste of our consumer and fast food society to scavenge from.

Household cats either have a permanent supply of food on hand or are fed at regular intervals.

Feral cats burn a lot of energy hunting for food, whereas domestic cats may become obese because it is handed to them on a plate.

A domestic cat may face dangers if it likes to roam and explore (which is why we recommend keeping your cat indoors for its safety), but feral cats will be exposed to more.

One of the greatest dangers to all cats is traffic. Urban cats are more likely to be streetwise in that sense than wild cats. It is a question of familiarity. Each cat adapts to its own environment.

Feral cats who live in the wild may not appreciate the danger of approaching a road. Wounds, infections, diseases can be fatal to feral cats as there isn’t anyone to care for their illnesses or injuries.

These cats aren’t vaccinated like household cats. Feral cats are also prone to constant pregnancy, which can be controlled in household cats.

How to Extend Your Cat’s Life

Lots of tender, loving care, is the answer.

That doesn’t mean that you should pamper your cat so much that they become fat and lazy.

Many cats that are constantly fed treats and titbits that aren’t good for them become obese. Obesity brings its own problems.

Read our guide to senior cat insurance to make sure you don’t get ripped off.

In Conclusion

With rudimentary care your cat should live between 12-15 years. With more care and attention to their quality of life, that can be extended, but how far is anybody’s guess.

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