Before buying or adopting a house cat, you should get more information on its lifespan. Why? This helps us do practical planning for the cat and makes us emotionally ready.
So, how long do house cats live? The average life expectancy of a house cat is around 15 years. The lifespan can vary depending on the surroundings, mental health, physical health, maintenance, whether the feline is spayed, neutered, or not.
The lifespan of different house cat breeds is not the same. Some breeds can live more than 20 years, where others can barely cross the 15. If you are interested in knowing the life expectancy of different cat breeds, give this article a read.
How long do house cats live?
It is a fact that a cat can live up to 20 years and more. The longevity of wild cats is less than the domestic ones. The wild cats can live from 2 to 16 years.
On the other hand, the house cats have a lifespan of around 10 to 20 years. It means the average life expectancy of domestic cats is 15.1 years. I have mentioned before that many factors can affect this average lifespan.
The neutered cats live longer than the non-neutered cats. It is because neutering can prevent reproductive diseases. However, research shows that mixed breed cats live a longer life than the pure breed cats.
Life stages of felines:
Like humans, cats also have different phases of life. Such as:
- Kitten: A newborn cat stays kitten up to 6 months. You will notice a rapid growth in the baby during this period. However, this is the perfect time to neuter your kitten.
- Junior: Your cat will be in its junior year if it is somewhere between 6 months to 2 years. The cat will reach its full size and sexual maturity in its junior years.
- Prime: A cat is considered in its prime stage at the age of 3 to 6 years. In this period, you need to take care of the cat’s regular vaccination and other health checkups.
- Mature: A feline gets mature at the age of 7 to 10 years. The pet will become extremely slow in its activities. You can compare the cat with a human of 40 years old.
- Senior: If your cat is somewhere between 11 to 14 years, then consider it very old. The senior cats tend to relax a lot, and you can observe mental illness among them.
- Geriatric: Most cats can not reach this stage. If a cat is 15 years old or more, then it is in the geriatric stage. You need to observe those cats very closely. Also, these cats require constant care.
How Long Do House Cats Live? – Different Breeds
Different breeds have different lifespan. In this section, I will talk about them.
Burmese
Burmese is a crossbreed of Siamese and Burma cats. This breed is playful, adventurous, and social. A Burmese cat can live around 16 to 18 years.
Balinese
Balinese is a longhaired and mutated Siamese. The only difference between a Siamese and a Balinese is the fur coat. This breed has a lifespan of 12 to 20 years.
Bombay
Have you ever seen a Bombay cat? This breed looks like a mini black panther with beautiful bright eyes. Bombay cats are easy-going, affectionate, and love to play. These cats are very vulnerable to respiratory or heart diseases. The average lifespan of a Bombay cat is around 12 to 16 years.
Russian blue
The Russian blue is an extraordinary cat breed. These cats are quiet and only play with familiar ones. The pets love to rest in the sunny spots or survey their territory. With growing age, the Russian blue cats can suffer from eye problems and bladder stones. This breed can live around 15 to 20 years.
Siamese
The Siamese originated from Thailand and now popular all over the world. You will be fascinated by its beauty and vocal nature. So, how long do Siamese cats live? Experts claim that this breed can suffer from various dental and respiratory diseases. Apart from the illness, Siamese cats can live for 12 to 20 years.
Savannah cat
The Savannah breed is only suitable for experienced cat owners. These cats are not fully domesticated yet. But with time, it can act friendly with people. Savannah cats have a lifespan of 12 to 20 years.
How long do tabby cats live?
Do you know what a tabby cat is? Actually, this is any domestic cat with a special type of pattern on its coat. Depending on the pattern, tabby cats are divided into many categories. For example, the classic tabby cats, the Mackerel tabby cats, the Ticked tabby cats, and the spotted tabby cats.
You will be glad to know that the tabby cats have a long life expectancy. With great care, a tabby cat can live up to 20 years.
How long do outdoor cats live?
This is a fact that outdoor cats have a lesser lifespan than indoor cats. Different types of challenges limit the average life expectancy of these cats.
The outdoor cats are more exposed to fleas, parasites, ticks, and illness. Also, they get involved in fights with other cats and small animals. Sometimes the outdoor cats fall in accidents, which also affects how long they live.
If you think the life of an outdoor cat is miserable, then you are wrong. They have the freedom of life and can enjoy nature. They also get natural exercise every day.
Due to many unexpected turns and challenges, outdoor cats can not live a long life. The statistics show that an outdoor cat can live somewhere between 3 to 10 years. So, the average lifespan of these cats is around 5 years.
How long do house cats live? I hope you have got your expected answer. Though the average lifespan of a domestic cat is somewhere between 12 to 20, you can make the pet live longer with great care.
Related:
How Long Do Indoor Cats Live? Life Cycle of Cats
