How long do cats live? Facts about the life expectancy of house cats

Table of Contents

1. Life expectancy of cats at a glance
2. Which factors influence the life expectancy of cats?
3. Signs of aging and tips for a long cat life
4. Cat age in human years – how to do the conversion
5. FAQ – frequently asked questions about the life expectancy of cats

Life expectancy of cats at a glance

On average, cats reach an age of approximately 12 to 15 years – and thus live longer than most other pets – such as hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, budgies, or even dogs.

Indoor cats, i.e., those kept strictly indoors and exposed to almost no external dangers, have the longest life expectancy. They often live to be older than 15 years. The average maximum age for outdoor cats is somewhat lower, as it is for pedigree cats compared to mixed-breed cats. Strays often do not reach such an advanced age – the reason for this is a lack of veterinary care, an often unbalanced diet, and the many dangers lurking in the wild.

On average, the life expectancy of cats can be summarized according to their living conditions as follows:

Which cat breeds live particularly long?

Compared to mixed-breed cats, cats that come from a breeder more frequently struggle with hereditary diseases. Accordingly, the life expectancy of pedigree cats is generally somewhat lower. Nevertheless, there are some cat breeds that boast a particularly high life expectancy:

Which factors influence the life expectancy of cats?

Besides the breed, there are a number of other factors that affect how old a cat gets:

• Living conditions – e.g., indoor cat, outdoor cat, or stray
• Genetic predisposition – e.g., hereditary diseases in some pedigree cats
• Veterinary care – in case of illness, but also through vaccinations, etc.
• Health and well-being – including factors like stress
• Nutrition – e.g., regarding balance, quality, and need-based diet

Common causes of death and dangerous cat diseases

Many cats die from traffic accidents. This is one of the reasons why the life expectancy of indoor cats is significantly higher than that of outdoor cats. Furthermore, indoor cats are largely protected from territorial fights, deep water, falls, or infectious diseases and parasites.

Beyond that, however, there are also many different cat diseases that can, in the worst case, lead to death even for indoor cats. For instance, kidney disease is the most common cause of death in cats. For renal insufficiency and other kidney diseases, treatment by a veterinarian is unavoidable. Switching to a special dietary food for cats with kidney disease can additionally support recovery.

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In addition to kidney diseases, cancer, cat flu, asthma, heart disease, FIP, FORL, and many other conditions can pose a serious health risk and, under certain circumstances, a life-threatening one for cats. In general, the earlier an illness is diagnosed, the better the chances for a long cat life. You can learn more about cat diseases and relevant symptoms in our advice section.

Signs of aging and tips for a long cat life

As much as we wish our velvet paws would live forever: unfortunately, there is no miracle cure for getting old. And as with us humans, advancing age does not leave cats unscathed. You may notice that a cat is getting old through various signs of aging, including:

• increasing lethargy
• increased need for sleep
• weaker sensory organs
• weight fluctuations
• memory lapses
• changes in behavior and personality

If you are unsure whether your cat is just getting old or perhaps ill, a trip to the veterinarian will provide certainty. As a general rule, you should maintain regular vet visits as your cat ages to check the cat's health status and identify potential weak points.

Furthermore, there are a few other factors that cat owners can consider to support their cat as best as possible in old age:

• Age-appropriate nutrition: With age, the needs of the animal also change – not least the nutritional requirements. Furthermore, there may be difficulties with chewing or swallowing as well as illnesses or intolerances that necessitate a change to a special diet. When cats are weakened, a recuperative diet can help them get back on their feet.
• Coat and body care: Cats place great value on cleanliness, but often cannot groom themselves as intensely as they would like in old age – for example, because their musculoskeletal system is limited. By assisting your darling with coat and body care, you strengthen their well-being.
• Preventing stress: There are numerous factors that can trigger stress in cats – and this, in turn, can severely affect their well-being. Try to avoid unnecessary stressors as much as possible to make your pet's twilight years as pleasant and relaxed as possible. This applies, for example, to long car journeys, adding new animals to the family, or even territorial changes like moving house – even if the latter is often unavoidable. Even just rearranging cat beds, scratching posts, and the like can cause confusion and stress for older indoor cats.
• Promoting exercise and safety: Even if older cats are less mobile, exercise is usually beneficial. It maintains muscle mass and helps prevent uncontrolled weight gain. Through certain safety precautions such as climbing aids and the like, you ensure that your cat can reach its favorite spots unharmed and encourage it to make the effort. Age-appropriate toys can also encourage exercise and fun. The velvet paw will then have all the more earned its nap.

Cat age in human years – how to do the conversion

To get an idea of when a cat is "old," it can be helpful to convert the cat's age into human years. This is because cats age much faster than humans – especially in the first years of their lives.

If cats live longer than 15 years, the table can be continued accordingly. 1 cat year then corresponds to about 4 human years. The comparison is particularly useful for better understanding and being prepared when your own indoor cat slowly becomes weaker or less agile.

By the way: The oldest cat in the world was a proud 38 years old. That corresponds to more than 180 human years. Creme Puff from Texas even made it into the Guinness Book of Records. For comparison: the oldest human in the world was the French woman Jeanne Calment – she was "only" 122 years old.