How Long Do Cats Live Desexed Versus Intact
Cats who have been spayed or neutered tend to live longer than cats who havent. And, its not just by a little bit. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, desexed female cats in the US tend to live 39% longer than intact cats, while desexed male cats live 62% longer on average than non-neutered ones. There are a few reasons for this.
On the one hand, both male and female cats who are looking to breed are at high risk for injury. Male cats can roam large distances looking for a mate, despite the danger of predators or traffic. And both males and females have been known to fight for a mate or territory during their search.
Even cats who live inside will do everything they can to leave, potentially injuring themselves in the process. And, indoor cats who do manage to escape may be less experienced around cars and other animals.
There are also unique health risks related to mating and having kittens. Cats who havent been desexed are vulnerable to contracting Feline Immunodeficiency Virus and pregnancy complications. Having offspring also increases the risk for certain types of cancer later in life.
Whats My Cats Age In Human Years
As for how to translate cat years into people years, the American Animal Hospital Association and the American Association of Feline Practitioners have a handy chart . For a felines first 2 years, its human age equivalent grows exponentially. But once its 2 years old24 in human yearsit ages four human years for every year of its life. For example: A 3-year-old cat is 28 in human years a 4-year-old cat is 32 and so on. So 31-year-old Rubble lived to be 140 in human years.
How Long Can Cats Live
I can hear you saying, But my cat These numbers are all averages. My cat, Klesko, has always been an outdoor cat and shes 15 years old. There are always outliers that defy averages when it comes to answering How long do cats live?
The Guinness Book of World Records lists the oldest recorded cat age was attained by Creme Puff, a cat who passed away in Austin, Texas, at 38 years and three days old, a truly grand, almost incomprehensible age. The age of the current oldest living cat is much more variable because that information can go out of date at any given moment.
Related: How to Increase Cat Life Expectancy
Reviewing the last several years worth of information, Ive seen the current oldest cat have ages ranging from 23 to 36. In the last decade, the average oldest living cat is 29.857 years old. Who is the current record holder? Rather than risk our own obsolescence, we suggest that you check with the Guinness site. Its page on Oldest Cat Living wisely and expressly states that the current record holder is a flexible and changeable position.
Tell us: How long have your cats lived? We want to hear how old your cats are! What is the longest-lived cat youve ever owned, heard of, or seen? Share your stories and memories in the comments!
This post was originally published in 2017.
Read Also: Can You Bathe A Cat With Dawn
Presence Of Wear And Tear In The Teeth
Examining its teeth is often a good indicator of a cat’s age. It takes six months for a cat to have a complete set of teeth. So, if you see some missing teeth, you’ll know what you have is a precious kitten.
For an adult cat, you can tell its age by looking at signs of wear, plaque, and tartar in its teeth because the more a cat eats, the more the stain will build up.
If your pet has pearly white teeth, then you have a younger cat, but if it has older teeth with more visible stains, chances are you are looking at an older feline.
Cat Health And Lifespan
Of course, a cat that doesnt eat a healthy diet may develop health issues, but parasites and diseases can also affect their health. Some diseases have long term effects on cats and may also shorten their lifespan.
Poor genetics, immune-compromised cats, and cats that have compromised organ functions might not live as long as healthy cats.
Also Check: How To Keep Cats Off My Car
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.
Lifespans Of Popular Breeds
Are you thinking about adding a cat to your family? Here are the average lifespans of some of the most popular breeds:
- Siamese: 12 to 20 years
- Calico: 12 to 15 years
- Bengal: 14 to 16 years
- Burmese: 16 to 18 years
- Savannah: 12 to 20 years
- Ragdoll: 15 to 18 years
- Russian Blue: 15 to 20 years
- American Shorthair: 15 to 20 years
- Sphynx: 10 to 15 years
- Manx: 8 to 14 years
- Persian: 10 to 17 years
- Maine Coon: 10 to 13 years
- Munchkin: 12 to 15 years
The Vet on 4th helps pet owners in the Longview, TX area take great care of their pets by providing exceptional medical care and expert advice about all manner of proper pet care. If youre in the Longview area, make an appointment to meet our vets and see our facility. Wed love to become your partners in your pets healthcare!
Also Check: Why Is My Cat’s Paw Swollen
How Long Do Maine Coon Cats Live
Maine coons, with their unmistakable tipped ears, are prone to several genetic problems that result in a shorter lifespan than other cats.
Hip dysplasia, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and polycystic kidney disease can all shorten your Maine Coons lifespan.
On average, Maine Coons only live 11 years, but these larger than life cats certainly leave an impression.
What Is Considered Old Age For Cats
That depends on who you ask and it varies from breed to breed. If you have one of the short-lived breeds, like a Manx, the cat may be considered elderly as early as 7 or 8 years old. On the other hand, a breed like the Balinese may not get old until theyre 14 or 15.
Most people consider cats to be senior once they turn 11. However, the number isnt as important as the cats behavior, and a better rule would be that the cat becomes a senior once they start slowing down.
As long as your cat is active and alert, you shouldnt consider them old and enfeebled. That said, we still recommend taking your cat in for a checkup after they turn 11, and you should also consider switching them to a senior cat food around that time.
Recommended Reading: Blue Wilderness Cat Food Calories
History Of Domesticated Cats
Cats have been kept as pets for thousands of years. They originate from the Near East countries where they were domesticated from wild cats to help control rodent populations. These cats spread throughout the world as pets, and we eventually started selectively breeding them for specific traits, thus creating different breeds. The primary cat breeds were originally bred using cats from four major regions the Arabian Sea, the Eastern Mediterranean, South Asia, and Western Europe. These four regions have produced cats that have different genetic markers based on what region, or race, they are from.
Indoor Vs Outdoor Cats: The Pros And Cons
Outdoor cats face more dangers than indoor cats, and this is why their lifespans tend to be shorter. They’re in danger of being hit by cars, ingesting something hazardous or encountering predators. You’re also more likely to notice health issues with your cat sooner if she’s living indoors.
However, indoor life isn’t without disadvantages. Indoor cats are more likely to gain weight because they aren’t as active as their outdoor counterparts. That weight gain can lead to all sorts of health issues, so you need to watch her food intake closely. Indoor cats are also more likely to get bored, so they need lots of mental enrichment in the home.
Recommended Reading: How Do You Determine A Cat’s Age
What Is The Maximum Cat Lifespan
Its rare to find a cat that lives past 20 years old. Thats akin to a human living to be 100 it certainly happens, but dont count on it.
That said, there have been cats that have blown well past the 20-year mark. As far as we know, the oldest cat to ever live was a mixed-breed named Crème Puff that passed away at 38 years old, which would be like a human living to be 170 or so.
What was Crème Puffs secret? Her owner, Jake Perry, said he fed her dry food supplemented with turkey bacon, broccoli, coffee , and the occasional eyedropper full of red wine. You wont find many cat experts that recommend a diet like that, but then again, you wont find many cats living to be 38 years old either.
You shouldnt count on your cat living that long, of course, but that represents the outer limit of what we know that a cat can do.
How Long Is A Cat Year Compared To A Human Year
The short rule of thumb is that a human year is equal to 5 cat years. If youre in a pinch, that will give you a pretty good approximation of how old your cat would be if they were a person.
Its certainly not a perfect indicator, though. Cats mature much more quickly than humans do, and a cat would reach adulthood somewhere around 18 months old. As a result, 6 months for a kitten could be equivalent to 10 years for a person.
As the cat matures, though, the difference slows down dramatically. After the cat turns 2, each year becomes equivalent to about 4 human years for the rest of the cats life.
Read Also: When A Cat Head Bumps You
Converting Cat’s Age To Human Years
Another way to answer how long cats live is through converting their age into human years.
But there’s a massive discrepancy between human and feline pet’s age because cats experience infancy, childhood, and adolescence in their first year.
So, multiplying a cat’s age into five, a commonly used formula to determine a cat’s age in human years, is simply unreliable and inaccurate.
To know how old your cat is in human years, AAHA’s provides insight through comparing human and feline life stages:
| Cats Life Stages | |
| 20 years | 96 years |
As you’ve noticed, when cats live beyond two years which is equivalent to 24 in humans, you need to add four years every year to convert it into our age.
How Long Do Fleas Live A Fleas Life Cycle
Image source:
First of all, you should know that this text will mostly talk about the common cat and dog fleas, which are by far the most prevalent kind in the U.S. Regardless of their names, they can be found on either animal, as well as many other furry mammals, and even birds. Human fleas and rodent fleas also exist, but theyre much rarer.
As far as the lifespan of the common flea is concerned, it can be anywhere from a few months to a year. It all depends on the conditions and the availability of food, i.e., blood. The perfect conditions for the development of fleas include high humidity and low temperatures .
In addition, from the moment the female flea lays the eggs, it takes them about 2 to 3 months to grow into adults. During that time, they will go through four stages. In order to learn how long can fleas live without a host, you should first get to know the average fleas life cycle:
Recommended Reading: Is Blue Buffalo Good Cat Food
How To Keep Your Cat Healthy
While some factors of a cats health are out of your control, like genetics and accidents, there are plenty of things you can do to keep your cat as healthy and long-lived as possible.
1. Keep your cat indoors
As we already discussed, a cats average lifespan increases dramatically when theyre kept indoors, away from diseases and physical trauma. If you want your cat to get some outdoor time, consider an outdoor enclosure such as a catio, or training your cat to enjoy leash walks.
2. Keep your cat at a healthy weight
Obesity in cats is associated with several diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and osteoarthritis. It also more than doubles their mortality rate compared to lean cats, according to VCA Hospitals. Keep treats to no more than 5-10% of your cats daily diet, advises the ASPCA.
3. Get your cat plenty of exercise
Exercise helps keep your cats weight down, helps her burn off excess energy, and gives your brain something to do. PetMD recommends bursts of playtime that last 10-15 minutes, using toys like feathers, strings, and lasers, as well as providing climbing opportunities on cat towers.
4. Spay or neuter your cat
Spaying prevents several cancers, including uterine and breast, especially if you spay your cat before her first heat . Male cats benefit from neutering by preventing testicular cancer. Altered cats are also usually better behaved. Female cats wont go into heat and seek out a mate, and male cats tend to mark less.
How Long Does A Domestic Longhair Cat Live
Domestic long hair catster american longhair cat breed size appearance personality domestic longhair cat information and pictures petguide types of domestic longhair cats lovetoknow
Domestic Long Hair Catster
American Longhair Cat Breed Size Appearance Personality
Domestic Longhair Cat Information And Pictures Petguide
Types Of Domestic Longhair Cats Lovetoknow
Domestic Longhair Vs Maine Which Fluffy Cat Is Right For You
25 Cat Breeds With The Longest Life Spans
Persian Cat Life Expectancy How Long Do They Live Corner
How Long Do Persian Cats Live Ways To Improve The Lifespan Catstourguide
Top 10 Cat Breeds That Live The Longest
How Long Do Cats Live A Guide To Cat Lifespan And Living Longer
Persian Cat Lifespan How Long Do Cats Live Purr Craze
Domestic Longhair Cat Information And Pictures Petguide
Top 10 Long Haired Cat Breeds Holidogtimes
Persian Cat Lifespan How Long Do Cats Live Purr Craze
All About Persian Cats Cost Personality Shedding More
How Big Do Persian Cats Get Cat Corner
The Persian Cat Get To Know Princess Of World
Top 10 Cat Breeds That Live The Longest
Long Haired Tabby Cats Coat Patterns Breed Variations Grooming Tips
Domestic Longhair Cat Vs Maine What S The Difference With Pictures Excited Cats
Domestic Longhair Cat What You Should Know The Mama
8 Facts About Persian Cats Kings Of The Lap Nappers Howstuffworks
How To Care For American Longhair Cats With Pictures Wikihow
Learn About The Persian Cat Breed From A Trusted Veterinarian
Recommended Reading: How To Stop Cat From Scratching Door
Cat Lifespan In Conclusion
It isnt nice to anticipate about the afterlife of our favourite artful but there are things that we can apprentice to accommodate our bodies with the longest, happiest and healthiest activity possible. If you accept absent your cat and are disturbing I am so apologetic and amuse do apperceive that there is a Blue Cantankerous Pet Afflication Support centre.
Far beneath analysis than I would accept accepted has been done in the breadth of how continued bodies live. However, the assignment that has been done shows that boilerplate cat lifespans are on the access acknowledgment to medical advances. Accustomed we apprentice added about how to accumulate our bodies advantageous and bethink annihilation can booty the abode of an alert and admiring owner.
What Can You Do To Help Your Cat Live Longer
The good news is, Cat Owners have control over many of the things that help cats live longer. In addition to keeping an eye on our cats if they go outside and preventing them from mating, there are many other simple changes that will have a big impact on their life expectancy:
- A healthy diet. Obesity is a major health risk for cats, and the right feeding practices can help prevent unhealthy weight gain. First, make sure that Fluffy is getting a high-quality cat food. There are pros and cons to dry versus wet food, but a combination of both is generally the best option. And, think about meal sizes. Instead of free feeding, your vet can recommend how many grams of food your cat should eat to remain healthy.
- Plenty of playtime. For cats who spend the majority of their time inside, play is a necessary activity for their physical and mental health. Most cats wont be content to play alone, so invest in a few cat toys that you can use to get them jumping, stalking, and pouncing.
- Social interaction . Theres a misconception that cats couldnt care less about us humans. But the truth is that cats dont just like our company, they actually seek it out. Too much time alone can be stressful to a cat, so make sure that your kitty has ample social time with you. And if youre going to be away from home, leave your feline friend in the care of a friendly Cat Sitter.
You May Like: Do Dachshunds Like Cats