How long do cats and cats live? Conditions, recommendations, breeds

General information

On that special day, when a small fluffy ball appears in the house, the newly minted owners worry little about how many years he will live. Over time, the baby turns into a luxurious fluffy cat and takes pride of place in the family circle. As adulthood approaches, the owners begin to have disturbing thoughts: “How long will the cat live?”

On average, domestic cats live 10-16 years, but you need to understand that this figure depends on the breed, living conditions, nutrition, heredity and many other parameters.

Wild cats live less than domestic cats, about 5-6 years. The life expectancy of unadapted animals that were kicked out of the house into the street is even shorter – 4 years. This is due to constant stress, the need to fight for existence, poor-quality food, severe weather conditions, illnesses, uncontrolled pregnancies and complications after them.

For your information: on average, cats live longer than cats, which is associated with the wear and tear of the body of the latter after childbirth.

Pets who find themselves in a loving family can live up to 18-20 years. At the same time, the life expectancy of baleen-striped has increased significantly precisely in recent decades, thanks to the development of medicine.

Comparison of the age of a cat and a person

Thinking about the age of a pet, I want to recalculate it in a human way. The simplified formula tells us that one cat’s year goes for our seven years. However, this relationship is actually non-linear.

During the very first year of life, a tiny warm lump goes a long way, turning into a “15-year-old teenager.” In the second year, he lives for 9 years, that is, the cat becomes 24 years old. Each next year adds 4 human years to it. The key moment is considered to be 7 years of age, or 44 years in our opinion, when the cat shows the first signs of aging. If a pet lived for 16 years, then in terms of human years, this is 80 years.

How many years do cats of different breeds live

This question is often controversial. Veterinarians believe that the life expectancy of a domestic cat depends more on the existing diseases and care, and not on its breed. Breeders do not agree with them, who have noticed that representatives of different breeds have different life expectancies.

To begin with, let’s compare thoroughbred and simple cats. Genetically healthy, purebred parents give birth to purebred kittens. Naturally, they have much more chances to live a long happy life in a family than their wandering brothers.

Cats, owing their birth to selection, have relatively poor health. The structure of their body has been artificially altered by geneticists. Other breeds are native, they appeared naturally, adapting to environmental conditions. If we compare “designer” and “natural” thoroughbred cats, then the latter live longer. Selected breeds are prone to genetic diseases and need special care.

Consider the average life expectancy of popular breeds.

British

British cats have developed muscles, strong immunity and lead an active lifestyle. Representatives of this breed live 12-15 years, and some live up to 20, of course, with proper care. British cats rarely have genetic diseases. The risk of cancer is low.

Scottish Fold cats

Plush teddy bears-folds are real centenarians! They have enviable immunity and can live up to 20 years. Regularly inspect your pet, as his weak points are his ears and spine.

Siamese

Siamese cats live 14-18 years. However, this breed has incredible endurance, and among them there are centenarians who live up to 30 years of age. The predisposition to a long life can be passed down from generation to generation, so before choosing a kitten, check with the breeder about his pedigree.

Abyssinian cats

With proper maintenance, Abyssinians live for about 15 years, some cats live up to 20. Representatives of this breed have a predisposition to diseases of the kidneys, retina, blood and teeth.

Persians

Each variety of the Persian breed has its own indicator of life expectancy. Short-nosed cats live longer than their extreme and classic counterparts – 20 years versus 15. It is important to pay special attention to cats that have crossed the 10-year milestone. At this time, the Persian’s immunity weakens, problems with the joints, spine and kidneys may arise. You need to visit the veterinarian regularly, carefully take the cat in your arms, pause in games. It becomes difficult for some Persians to bend down, they should put the bowl on a slight rise.

Russian blue cats

With proper maintenance at home, Russian blue cats live an average of 15 years. It is possible to extend the life of cats as much as possible up to 18-19 years. Starting from the age of 8, the owner must show his pet to the veterinarian annually.

Bengals

Bengal cats live long lives due to their lack of cardiovascular disease. The average life expectancy is 15-16 years. Graceful Bengals are one of the strongest and hardiest breeds.

Sphinxes

The average life expectancy of a sphinx is 10 years, but hairless cats can please their owners for 20 years. There is even a case when the Sphinx lived for 31 years. Pets of this breed can boast of excellent immunity even in respectable years.

Other breeds

The real centenarians, reaching 20 years old, are the Thai breed, the American Shorthair and the Manx. The Asian tabby and Egyptian Mau live a year less on average. The Devon Rex, Japanese Bobtail and Tiffany come of age. A little less – 17 years – live Australian smoky, Neva Masquerade and Maine Coon. 15-16 years is the limit for the Arabian Mau, Asian Shorthair and Selkirk Rex. Exotics, York chocolate cats, American bobtails live up to 14, 13 years. Bombay cat and snowshoe can please their owners for 12 years.

Balanced diet

How long a domestic cat will live is highly dependent on its diet. A balanced diet is a reliable building material for a pet’s body. The main question that arises for the owner of a cat is: “What kind of food is considered correct?”

Most veterinarians believe that it is better to feed a cat with ready-made food that contains all the minerals, nutrients, and vitamins necessary for health. But some experts suggest that such foods increase the risk of developing urolithiasis and diabetes. because of the high content of salt and carbohydrates. It is better to give preference to premium and super-premium food. Manufacturers of cheap feed save on protein, such products contain no more than 10% of meat, the rest is vegetable protein and chemical components.

Sterilization

Spayed cats live several years longer than their fluffy girlfriends – 15-20 years. But the situation is not as straightforward as it might seem at first glance: according to some doctors, sterilization can lead to lethargy and inactivity of the animal, which will further affect the development of diabetes, obesity and ultimately lead to a reduction in life.

By 8 months, cats become sexually mature individuals and can give birth several times a year, but pregnancy is accompanied by hormonal changes. Hormone surges are a great stress for the cat’s body and negatively affect life expectancy. Moreover, pets that do not give birth and are not sterilized are at an even higher risk of developing cancer.

Without sex glands, a cat does not need contact with the opposite sex, which means that it will not contract a dangerous disease from a male.

Genetics and chronic diseases

Each breed has its own strengths and weaknesses. Naturally, only healthy cats live long. If there is a chronic disease, it is unlikely that the pet will become a long-liver. So, a cat with diabetes can live a maximum of 4 years if it is well cared for. Urolithiasis reduces life expectancy to 5 years from the moment of its onset.

Long-lived cats

The Guinness Book of Records recorded a long-lived cat from Texas – Cream Puff. She is in 1967 and died in 2005. Cream Puff lived 38 years and 3 days. Its owner was an American from Texas.

She has a competitor from the UK. Lucy the cat is already 43 years old. By human standards – 188 years! She is cheerful, cheerful and energetic, but almost deaf.

The beautiful Lady Catalina lives in Australia. This Burmese cat is 37 years old. Despite her advanced age, she is active and healthy.

Host Tips

• Provide your cat with good quality nutrition, access to clean water, and a special diet if needed. Watch your portion sizes, it is especially important not to overfeed a pet after spaying or castration. It is strictly forbidden to feed cats with pork (high fat content), bones (damage to the digestive tract), legumes (bloating), dog food.
• Don’t skip regular veterinary checkups and vaccinations. Treat your cat with attention and love, these fluffy beauties know how to mask their pain, so it is better to consult a specialist with the slightest change in the behavior or condition of the pet.
• If you do not plan to breed cats, neuter or spay the animal. This will help him stay healthy for years to come.
• An active lifestyle with regular physical activity is the best friend of long-lived animals.
• Strictly observe hygiene standards, take care of the teeth of the animal, do not neglect the prevention of worms and fleas.

And remember, a cat does not have 9 lives, as the cliche tells us, but only one, which she will spend next to you. May every day be filled with joy and happy moments for both of you! Take care of the fluffy beauty – and she will fully repay with her tenderness and love.