How Old Is Your Cat In Human Years
Since our kitties rate of aging isnt the same as ours, it is sometimes hard for us to grasp just how old they are. For example, during the first year, a kitten goes from an infant to a teenager, but things slow down after that. You may have heard that you can just multiple your cats age by five to get the human equivalent, but thats not quite true. The chart below from the American Animal Hospital Association does a great job of translating your cats age to the human equivalent.
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Life Stage |
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116 years |
Calculating The Equivalent Of The Cats Age:
How old is a 13-year-old cat in human years? Theres a formula by which you can calculate the equivalent age. Its very simple: The first two years are equivalent to 24 human years, and every year afterward is equivalent to 4 human years. So if we do the math correctly: 13 years would be equivalent to around 68 human years.
How old is a cat in 7 human years?Knowing that during the first two years the kitty ages tremendously fast, 7 human years would probably be equivalent to a 6 months old kitty.
How Long Do Obese Cats Live
According to The State University of New Jersey, indoor house cats live for an average of 15-17 years, and its not uncommon for healthy cats to live for 20+ years. However, the life expectancy of overweight cats will be reduced by 5 years, and chronically obese cats will die up to 10 years earlier.
Obesity leads to various health problems. These place additional stresses on the body and lead to a reduced lifespan. In part, this is because fat itself is not a benign collection of excess calories. Fatty tissues are active and release hormones that cause inflammation of the bodys tissues.
A new perspective on obesity suggested by some vets is to consider it a chronic, low-grade inflammatory condition. In allowing your cat to remain obese, you are effectively culling its life expectancy by about 1/3. This could be as much as 1/2 when a cat is chronically obese.
It is estimated that 30-35% of domesticated cats in North America are obese. Other studies suggest that almost half of house cats are overweight.
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Dont Smoke Around Your Pet
Secondhand smoke affects cats, too! VCA Hospitals says that cats who live in a smoking household are at a much higher risk of developing lung cancer. Cats living in smoky homes are also 2x more likely to develop lymphoma , which is often fatal. Because cats spend so much time grooming themselves, licking off toxic particles that land on their coats are also likely to develop tumors in their mouths.
If you are a smoker and want to protect your cat from secondhand smoke, avoid smoking inside the home. The longer cats live in a home with smoke-filled air the more likely it is that they will develop any of the above-described cancers. Help your cat live a long, happy life by giving them a smoke-free home!
Our furry friends cant live forever. But, we can do everything we can to make sure their time with us is the best it can be! Along with the above tips, take your cat into the vet for yearly checkups. Early detection of dental disease, kidney disease and other common maladies is another great way to extend the life of your pet and increase their quality of life to boot!
Check out how old your cat is in human years with this cat age calculator!
Madeleine Brown is a student at the University of Chicago studying English literature. When shes not studying, her passions are reading, baking, and spoiling her two kitties, Harper and Mr. Bingley.
Improving Your Maine Coons Diet
The number one thing you can do to help your cat live longer is by feeding him/her high-quality foods.
The best diet for your Maine Coon cat should meet the felines unique nutritional requirements without causing obesity.
Precisely, a Maine Coon diet should have:
- A High Protein Concentration
- Moderate Amount Of Fats
Importantly, Maine Coons are prone to obesity, so make sure not to overfeed your pet.
These are my favorite Maine Coon dry foods. I particularly the first product listed, as it has been produced with the Maine Coon cat breed specifically in mind.
If you would prefer your Maine Coon kitten follows a raw food diet, make sure you read my article first.
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Oldest Cat In The World
The oldest known cat in the world is Creme Puff, who lived for 38 years and holds the Guinness World Record! This feline record breaker was a tabby mix who had a blend of indoor-outdoor lifestyle, with a screened outdoor enclosure.
Creme Puff lived with her owner Jake Perry and his many other cats. Her diet consisted of dry cat food, supplemented with some fairly eclectic snacks which we wont go into here!
- Age. 38 years and three days
- When. August 3, 1967 August 6, 2005
- Breed. Tabby mix
Watch this video to see Creme Puff in action:
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.
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Longevity Benefits Of Indoor Cats
The “normal” life expectancy for an indoor cat is significantly longer than that of felines who live outside full-time or part-time. A cat who stays inside all the time is protected from a lot of dangers.
For example, she won’t be run over by a car. She won’t get into a fight with a neighborhood cat. Hazardous weather won’t imperil her. She won’t be snatched up by a stranger. She probably won’t catch an infectious disease — such as rabies or the feline leukemia virus — from a stray or feral cat.
Cat Years To Human Years
According to International Cat Care , there are six stages of life for cats, but it can be hard to tell a cat’s age by the usual features we would consider for a human, such as greying hair or arthritis.
IAC said: “What these stages let us do is to appreciate how old the cat is inside, since, as has been pointed out, this is often not very obvious from the outside, as cats seldom go grey or show outward signs of pain or illnesses.”
Here’s how convert your pet’s age from cat years into human years.
- Six months = 10 in human years
- Two years = 24 in human years
- Five years = 36 in human years
- 10 years = 56 in human years
- 12 years = 64 in human years
- 14 years = 70 in human years
- 21 years = 100 in human years
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So How Long Do Cats Live What Is The Average Lifespan Of A Cat
How long do cats live? Environment, maintenance, health, and whether the cat is spayed or neutered all of these factors matter when thinking about the life expectancy of a cat. Sterilization can be a significant factor. Spaying and neutering removes the risk of developing diseases that can affect a cats reproductive system in old age.
It has become a truism on the Internet, that, with access to current medical and dietary advancements, the ideal cat can or may live to up to 20 cat years and older. Based on a survey of 10 reputable sites that discuss the average domestic cat, the numbers are more inconsistent, ranging from 10 to 20 years. The average domestic cat lifespan comes out to 15.1 years.
Cat breed is certainly a factor when it comes to answering the question, How long do cats live? We could list out the lifespan of each cat breed, but then wed be here forever. Our research suggests that mixed breed cats are, in general, hardier and live longer than purebred cats. Have a question about a specific breeds longevity? Please consult our list of purebred and hybrid cat breeds.
When answering, How long do cats live? were concerned, like Lord Chesterfield, with the average cat. On average, female cats live one to two years longer than male cats. On average, indoor cats live longer than outdoor cats. On average, wild, homeless and feral cats live dramatically shorter lives than domestic cats.
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.
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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 To Help Siamese Cats Live Longer
Cat parents are willing to do almost anything to increase the lifespan of their furry friends. But, we need to understand that their lifespan still depends on different external factors along with their heredity.
The lifespan of each individual cat varies.
Yet there are a few Dos and Donts that you need to follow throughout the life of your Siamese cat to add some extra years to it. Start following them as early as you can!
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Help Your Cat Have A Happy Healthy Life For Years To Come
Finally, its important to maintain a clean litter box to keep your cat healthy. Scooping litter should be part of your daily cat care rituals. It will keep your house smelling fresh, help you notice any changes in bowel or urinary habits, and help reduce accidents outside of the litter box.
Dont have time to scoop litter daily? Solve your problem easily with the Litter-Robot 3 Connect! This self-cleaning litter box will separate waste from the clean litter after your cat exits. When you download the app, youll be able to effortlessly monitor your cats waste habits with updates sent right to your phone.
The average lifespan of a house cat is different for every situation. But following these guidelines can help your cat live a longer, healthier, and happier life!
What is the oldest cat on record?
The oldest cat ever recorded was named Cream Puff and hailed from Austin, Texas. Cream Puff was born on August 3rd, 1967, and lived for three days past her 38th birthday, passing away on August 6th, 2005.
Why do cats live longer than dogs?
While there is no definitive answer to that, its believed that over time the amount of massive variation of breeds within the canine species produced more complications in the animals and faster growth rates. Cats genetics have been altered very little throughout history.
Do indoor or outdoor cats live longer lives?
Cover photo by Madalyn Cox on Unsplash
How Can You Diagnose Kidney Disease In Cats
The only accurate way to diagnose kidney disease in cats is through diagnostic testing. Your veterinarian will often perform diagnostic blood work and urine analysis testing.
The threat of kidney disease in cats is one of the main reasons why routine exams and senior diagnostics are so important. By performing diagnostics at their recommended time, you can catch this disease in the early stages. Catching kidney disease in cats early will help to prolong your cats life, and prolong their quality of life.
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How Lond So Cats Live
The worlds oldest domesticated cat to have ever lived is Crème Puff, from Texas, USA, who reached the staggering age of 38 years old. Keep in mind that it is an extreme age! In cat years, that is the equivalent of over 160 human years! In comparison, the oldest recorded human to have ever lived reached 122 years old.
Read more: Oldest cat ever
Do Most Cats Die Of Old Age
First off, dying of old age isnt a thing, at least as far as vets are concerned. A cat who dies at an old age will have died from something, and that something wont be the turning of the pages on a calendar. Dying of old age usually means that they passed due to a natural ailment, like heart disease or cancer, when they were extremely old.
Even with that clarification out of the way, this question is hard to answer. It depends on the cats level of care.
If your cat spends most of their time outside, then no, they wont die of old age. Sadly, outdoor cats often die violently, usually by being hit by cars or eaten by predators.
Indoor cats have much better prospects. Most indoor cats die of something like kidney disease, heart disease, or cancer, and these usually happen toward the latter stages of their lifespan.
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How Long Can A Cat Live With Chronic Kidney Disease
The life expectancy of a cat with chronic kidney disease will vary with each cat. With proper management of the disease, life expectancy can range anywhere from a few months to several years.
Early diagnosis of the disease truly makes a difference when it comes to prognosis. As long as you follow your veterinarians recommendations for management, you have all the tools needed to prolong their life.
Tips For Helping Your Cat Live A Long Life
If you want to increase your cats life expectancy, there are things you can do as a loving cat owner.
Since we are also cat owners, we can attest to the desire to want our sweet friends to live forever. Since they cannot, its encouraging to know our cats can live a very long and happy life through the use of excellent care and veterinary medicine.
For more information on the lifespan of cats, or to schedule an appointment, please contact us.
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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!
Signs Of Obesity In Cats
A cats physical weight alone isnt always an indicator that it is overweight. Your cats weight may be the average for its breed. However, if it is small for its breed but weighs the same as an average specimen, it may be overweight. These signs of weight gain in cats are useful for identifying obesity early on:
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How Long Do Cats Live In Human Years
Cats age differently than humans, and with age often comes behavioral and physical changes. The below chart shows all the stages of a cat’s life and also the equivalent human age. Cats do not look the same as their age, so this chart will let you appreciate how old the cat is inside, which is not very obvious from the outside.