How Long Do Cats Live For Indoors

Which Cat Breed Lives The Longest

They say the Manx and Siamese are the breeds that, on average, live the longest but that surely wasnt the breed of the oldest cat on record. Below is a cat breed lifespan chart from PetCareRX:

Having a pet carries a big responsibility.

Certainly, giving her the best life is a top priority. Keeping your cat indoors is the best way to ensure she has a good quality of life.

As long as he has plenty of stimulation and opportunities to exercise, it is the wisest choice.

And with a little creativity and flexibility, you can help almost any cat live a longer, happier, healthier life.

What Is The Average Life Expectancy For An Outdoor Cat

The average outdoor cat lives between two and seven years old, according to WebMD. The reason outdoor cats face shorter lifespans is that they face greater challenges. As Rover previously reported, outdoor cats can be attacked, leaving them with scrapes and scars, and theyre more likely to contract viruses like the feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia virus.

How To Make An Outdoor Cat’s Life Happier

Some outdoor cats simply can’t adjust to indoor living. But you can still enjoy taking care of them and watching all their playful antics outdoors. You can make your outdoor cat’s life happier with a few small changes. When the weather is warmer, help her stay cool by leaving treats and food in a shaded area, like a covered patio. Try leaving out a cool bed for her, like the Coolin’ Pet Cot with a canopy for shade. Dehydration is also a worry, so set out a Coolin’ Bowl in the summer and the Thermo-Kitty Cafe in the winter.

Don’t Miss: Is Egg Yolk Good For Cats

Which Breeds Live The Longest And Shortest

Surprisingly enough, theres not much reliable data on this point. Different sources will give you different answers, but the breeds that are commonly cited as living the longest include the Siamese, Burmese, Balinese, and American Shorthair.

It should be noted, however, that mixed breeds often live longer than their purebred counterparts. We wouldnt be surprised if a mix of any of the above breeds outlived them all.

On the other side of the spectrum, theres no definitive answer to the cats with shortest lifespans question either. Typically, though, Manx, Singapura, and Munchkin cats all have fairly short lives, as they rarely live past 14.

These lifespans assume that the cat is kept indoors and is well taken care of. If you let your cat roam around outside or feed them junk food and never give them any exercise, their life expectancy will plummet.

The Benefits And Drawbacks Of Outdoor Cats

While it may be risky to let your cat outside, outdoor cats do get some benefits from being able to experience life in nature. They have shorter average lifespans, of course, but maybe you find that consequence to be worth it for your cat to be able to roam as they please.

Cats outside enjoy:

• More stimulation from the outside world
• The pleasure of fresh air and sunshine

With those benefits in mind, its also important to understand the drawbacks of letting your cat roam outdoors. Cats who roam outside face far more dangers than indoor cats, and they often die much earlier often in painful ways.

Outdoor cats might:

• Face attacks from dogs, other cats, or predators
• Eat poison left out by unthinking or malicious neighbors
• Pick up parasites like fleas and ticks
• Suffer from diseases spread by other cats

Recommended Reading: Is Blue Buffalo Good Cat Food

How Long Do Cats Live

Pet parents want to know how long they can expect their cats to live. The information helps with practical planning and emotional readiness. And while nobody can tell you exactly how long an individuals lifespan will be, statistics do allow us to answer the question How long do cats live? in a general way.

The feline life expectancy that is quoted in reference texts varies, but a good, average figure is 10 to 15 years.Another statistic that veterinarians commonly use in practice is the following:

Cats who spend significant unsupervised time outdoors tend to survive to be about 7 years old, while indoor-only cats can be expected to live to around 14 years of age.

These numbers may seem low, but they represent an average of the lifespans of ancient, well-cared-for kitties unfortunate individuals who died early from disease or accident and everybody in between.

Heres an example using a rather typical litter of four. The senior citizen of the group makes it to 18 years old, with another sibling dying from an age-related disease at a very respectable 15. So far, so good. However, one littermate succumbed to an infectious disease as a kitten and the fourth cat was killed by a car at the relatively young age of 10. If you look at the litter as a whole, they fall on the low end of that 10- to 15-year life expectancy range, despite the longevity of two of the cats.

Average Lifespan Of A House Cat

A common question cat parents have when deciding if they should let their cats explore the great outdoors is, do indoor cats live longer? According to the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, the average lifespan of a house cat is 10 to 15 years, while outdoor cats may only live on average 2 to 5 years. While every cat is different, indoor cats generally live longer due to fewer threats in their environment.

Read Also: What’s The Cat’s Name In Alice In Wonderland

Indoor Vs Outdoor Cat Life Expectancy: Sum Up

Sad to say, but inside/outside cats live an average of only two to five years.

There are dangers and environmental factors outdoors that can severely shorten the life of your cat.

You may think your cat is happier spending time outside, but if you want them to live the longest, healthiest life, then keeping them safely indoors is the best thing.

With creativity and toys, they can satisfy their needs to hunt and stalk indoors and be happy healthy indoor cats.

Outdoors, they face such dangers as fights with dogs or other cats, cars, poisoning , predators, illnesses from other animals, or being picked up by animal control and subsequently euthanized.

Yes, for a cat, being outside also means being in danger.

The shortest lifespan of all is that of an outside-only cat.

These poor guys live an average of just two years.

They face all of the above dangers, with the addition of starvation.

The life of stray or feral cats is short, starving, and scary.

This is why it is important to make sure you spay and neuter your cats, because there are so many homeless ones, and to find good homes for any you come across who dont have one.

Even feral cats can have longer, healthier lives as barn cats horse owners are happy to have cats to keep down on rodents in the feed, and the feral cats have a safe barn for shelter, food, and water.

Cat Nutrition And Lifespan

Cats primarily eat meat, so they are considered obligate carnivores, and this should be reflected in the food we feed them. A lot of research has been done to determine the dietary needs of a house cat, so the food options that are available to cat owners are plentiful.

But not all foods are created equal. Adult cats cannot digest large amounts of carbohydrates or lactose, so these are unnecessary ingredients in their food. Carbohydrates can even decrease how much protein is digested, so they are, in fact, harmful to a cat. Proteins, on the other hand, are very important to a cat. Cats require a large amount of protein when compared to a dog, due to their unique digestive system. Adult cats should receive at least 5.5 g/kg of protein a day. This means the average eight-pound cat needs to consume at least 20 grams of protein each day and often much more.

Essential amino acids are also very important to a cat. Taurine, methionine, and cystine are some of these essential amino acids, and without them, important vitamins, and the proper amount of protein, a cats health may suffer greatly.

Recommended Reading: Is Blue Buffalo Good Cat Food

Cat Breeds And 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. The Siamese and Manx cat breeds are two that often outlive their cat competition, but other breeds have been recorded as living into their 20s and even 30s. Both purebred and domestic mixed-breed cats have the potential to surpass the average lifespan of the species.

How Long Do Wild Cats Live

With all this talk about how indoor life, veterinary care, and nutrition can extend the lifespan of a cat, what about the cats that live in the wild? Unfortunately, the pressures to surviving in the wild are even greater for wild cats. The lifespan of a wild cat is drastically shorter. While tigers in captivity commonly make it into their 20s, the average lifespan in the wild is far less at 10 to 15 years. Its pretty typical for half of a litter to not make it more than two years as well. Lions follow along the same lines as the tiger, while mountain lions experience a slightly shorter lifespan at 8 to 13 years. On the smaller side, a bobcats life expectancy is only around seven years, while the wildcat is closer to 14.

Also Check: How Long Do Tuxedo Cats Live

Spaying Or Neutering Your Cat

Cats that are spayed or neutered typically live longer lives and are at less risk of contracting certain diseases, so its a good idea to get your cat fixed as early as possible. On top of potentially keeping your pet around longer, you can play your part in lowering cat overpopulationdosomething.org estimates there are 70 million stray cats in the United States.

Do Outdoor Cats Have More Health Concerns

Your cats lifestyle increases their risk of certain health conditions, so whether she’s an indoor or outdoor kitty will change the kind of risks she’s exposed to. Indoor cats are typically less active, which increases their rate of diabetes, obesity, arthritis, and heart disease, Douglas Payne, DVM, medical director of VCA East Penn Animal Hospital in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, says. But cats that spend a significant amount of time outdoors are at a much higher risk of a completely different set of problems.

Being out in the elements, the environment, and having contact with other animals and people creates a long list of concerns, including:

• Heatstroke and hypothermia

You May Like: How To Get Mat Out Of Cat Hair

How Long Do Cats Live Average And Maximum Life Expectancy

Nicole Cosgrove

Its the thing that no cat owner wants to think about: Someday, your cat will die.

But how long do you have with your furry little friend? You understand that there are no guarantees, but on average, how long will your cat live? Whats the best-case scenario?

Well answer all these questions and more below.

Keeping Cats Safe While Letting Them Experience The Outdoors

If you want your cat to get the benefits of going outside without facing the risks of true outdoor cats, your best bet is to build an enclosure in your yard. That way, your cat can watch birds and squirrels and do some climbing, yet be safe from many of the dangers theyd face outside of the enclosure.

Take a look at catio enclosures. Theyre screened in areas for cats, and some will connect to a window or cat door so your kitty can come and go from the house as they please. Outdoor playpens for cats can present another option.

If you want to let your cat enjoy the whole yard, you can install special fencing to keep them safely enclosed. These solutions arent always perfect for keeping wildlife out of your yard, but they might work for your particular area and living situation.

You can also train some cats to walk on a leash. This will let you spend time outside with your cat while keeping them safe and under control.

If you let your cat roam outside, microchip them for identification and outfit them with a reflective, breakaway collar and current identification tags.

Recommended Reading: Is Blue Buffalo Good Cat Food

Tips For Making The Transition

Many cat behaviorists suggest a gradual approach to bringing an outside cat into the house. If your cat is outdoors most of the day, bring her in for increasingly longer visits. You might time this transitional period as the weather gets colder. Most cats prefer warm, dry places, and by the end of the winter, yours could be converted to life indoors.

If you want your cat to have safe, limited access to the outdoors, consider building an outside enclosure or run. These can be accessible from a window or pet door, and are most entertaining to cats when furnished with tree limbs, perching platforms, boxes and toys.

Cats can be leash-trained so that they may enjoy the outdoors on supervised walks. All you need is a leash and sturdy figure-eight or figure-H style harness from which the cat cannot escape. Never hook the leash to the cats collar, but make sure the cat is always wearing a safety collar with license/ID tags. Your cat may resist wearing a harness at first, so let her become accustomed to it gradually. Put it on for brief periods indoors, and later, attach the leash and walk her around the house. When she becomes comfortable with that, venture outdoors for short trips. Do not tie a cat out on a leash or leave her unsupervised, even for a few minutes.

Does That Mean I Need To Let My Indoor Cat Roam Outside

Not necessarily. Cats who are kept indoors can still get the stimulation they crave without stalking the neighborhood songbirds. You just have to make an effort to create an environment they enjoy, according to the cat experts at the Animal Humane Society in Golden Valley, Minnesota. Cats need to climb, scratch, hide, and jump.

To keep your indoor kitty busy, provide toys, a scratching post, and a cat tower with hiding holes. Cats also love to watch whats going on outside. Encourage the habit by giving your fur baby a window seat or perch. Having a bird or squirrel feeder right outside the window will keep your cat entertained for hours, too. There are plenty of ways to enrich your cats indoor environment!

You May Like: Is Blue Buffalo Good Cat Food

Cats Live Longer Healthier Lives Indoors

Home » Pet Resources » Behavior Help » Cat Behavior Help » Cats Live Longer, Healthier Lives Indoors

To borrow a line from Shakespeare about cats: To be , or not to be , that is the question.

The answer is clear when you realize that the average lifespan of an indoor cat ranges from 10 to 20 years, whereas cats who go outdoors typically live only 2 to 5 years.

Cats who are allowed to roam outdoors face huge safety and health risks, and sadly, some pay for that freedom with their lives.

Some people argue that its natural for cats to roam outdoors. But when you think of all the dangers that your beloved kitty may encounter outside, is it really worth that risk? Indoor cats who have been spayed or neutered live happy lives: sunning themselves on a warm windowsill, climbing cat towers instead of backyard trees and playing with you or other kitties inside your home. And with patience, indoor/outdoor cats can be transitioned to live happily indoorswhile doubling their life expectancy!

Animal Friends asks all cat adopters to sign an agreement stating that they will never allow their new kitty to roam freely outdoors. Your cat is a loving part of your family, and we want you to share a long, happy life togethersafely and indoors!

This article is dedicated to Mattie, a young kitty who died outside as I was working with her to eventually bring her indoors. I hope nobody else suffers that kind of heartache and loss. L.A.S.

Thanks To Better Care And Veterinary Treatments Our Pet Cats Are Living Longer Than Ever Before But What Is A Cats Average Lifespan

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

A cats 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 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, but thats incredibly rare!

The good news is that advances in veterinary care and awareness of good cat welfare mean that pet cats are living longer than they used to. According to our Cats and Their Stats 2020 report, almost half of the UKs 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 is launching Mature Moggies Day on 16 June, encouraging people to share inspiring stories of their older cats with #MatureMoggiesDay.

Read Also: How Long Does Wet Cat Food Last Once Opened

How Do Cats Act When They Are Dying

All things must come to an end, including the lives of our beloved pets. A cat reaching the end of its life will display certain behaviors. Recognizing the signs of a dying cat will enable you to prepare for the inevitable.

Dying cats will become withdrawn and irritable, unprovoked aggression may become more common, the cats appetite will change, and itll spend more time hiding or become clingy as it feels afraid. Heavy breathing, seizures, lower body temperatures, and an unkempt appearance are other signs.

We dont like to think about it, but cats live comparatively short lives compared to humans. A cat aged 15 or over is considered geriatric. Inevitably, illness and the ravages of age will start to take their toll. Understanding a dying cats behavior means that you can provide love and support, enabling your cat to pass away with dignity.

When a cat reaches senior status, its body will start to slow down. The cat will no longer be as energetic as it once was. Your cat may develop arthritis/joint problems, and sickness will be tougher to recover from as quickly. A geriatric cat may start to display signs of cognitive dysfunction as the end of its life approaches.