How Long Do Cats Live?

Posted by Jennifer Copley Jul 27, 2008

According to estimates provided by various Humane Societies and RSPCAs, unless they suffer accidents or illnesses that afflict younger cats, cats will live between 12 and 20 years. Indoor cats are more likely to reach their late teens or even early twenties, whereas outdoor cats are more likely to die before 15 years of age.

The longest-lived cat breeds include the Siamese and the Manx, many of which survive for more than 20 years. Ocicats have been known to live 18 years. World record holders that have lived beyond 30 years have included a variety of breeds. Cat longevity can be increased by:

• Keeping cats indoors to avoid the dangers that can lead to early death
• Feeding cats high-quality food that meets their nutritional requirements
• Providing regular veterinary check-ups and vaccinations

How old is your cat in people years? Contrary to popular belief, one people year does not equal seven cat years. Click here for a conversion of people years to cat years.

For more facts and statistics, see:

• How Many Cats Are There?
• JazzPurr Cat Survey
• Survey Results: Women and Pets
• Stupid Reasons Given for Abandoning Animals
• How Many Cat Breeds Are There?
• How Many People Share Their Beds with Their Pets
• Are Cats and Dogs Colour-Blind?
• Do Cats Dream?
• Why Does My Cat Do That?
• Cat Health and Safety Myths and Facts
• Cat Behaviour Myths and Facts
• Can I Give My Cat Aspirin or Tylenol?
• Foods That Are Toxic to Cats and Dogs
• The Most Popular Cat Breeds
• Cats in Warfare
• Halloween and the Black Cat
• Cats and the Black Plague
• Cat History
• Do Cats Have Psychic Abilities?
• Cat Superstitions
• Do Cats Feel Love?