Knowing how many years cats live is one of the questions we ask ourselves the most. At Petlifey, we explain how long a cat lives with proven scientific data and you will know what you must do so that your feline pet lasts as long as possible, happy and healthy.
How many years does a cat live
There are several theories (some of them wrong) that talk about what influences how many years a cat lasts.
Here we are going to explain what the life expectancy of a cat is and what things you can do so that your pet can live healthy for as many years as possible.
In order to correctly calculate how long a cat lasts and to know the longevity, a clear separation or differentiation must be made between two groups of animals:
- Domestic cats.
- Stray cats.
The average life expectancy of a house or domestic cat is estimated at about 13 years. This age can even reach 20 years, or more, if the pet receives veterinary treatments, good care and a good diet.
In contrast, the average life expectancy of a stray or Creole cat is estimated at about 7 years. This figure is much lower than in domestic cats, since they face many more risk factors, worse diet and many more diseases. Let’s see it in detail:
How long does a domestic cat live
As we have mentioned, the average life span of domestic cats is quite high due to the good care that these beloved pets usually receive from their owners, apart from pampering and caressing.
Therefore, it is easy for them to reach 13-15 years of age. But it is not strange that in optimal conditions you can reach 18 or 20.
The oldest cat in the world today is one named Corduroy, and he is 26 years old. A balanced and adequate nutrition allows our beloved felines to enjoy many more years of life.
Another fundamental point is regular visits to the vet to check its health, vaccinations, deworming and medical care. That undoubtedly make them not only live longer, but also give your pet a better quality of life.
How long does a stray cat live
On the opposite side we have the cats that live on the street. These animals are constantly exposed to a multitude of dangers and risks that cause their life expectancy to be shorter.
We find factors such as falls from heights or run over, which undoubtedly negatively influence the age that a stray cat can reach. It is not strange to see cats limping, injured, and even sadly, dead for these reasons on the street.
On the other hand, we have the climatic conditions that can suffer. Living and sleeping on the street, they are exposed to extreme heat or cold, rain, humidity, dirt, etc. If they get sick, it is very difficult for them to receive the veterinary care and treatment they need.
It can also be a determining factor, in cats, the times they have given birth or had puppies.
This is so since it involves wear and tear on your body. The more times you have become pregnant, your life expectancy is reduced.
Last but not least, diet comes into play, which plays a fundamental role in knowing how long a cat lives.
Obviously they drink and eat what they find on the street, including small rodents like mice, or food from the garbage.
In most cases they suffer from malnutrition and can suffer from multiple diseases and infections due to what they eat.
Currently, scientists continue to carry out studies to better understand and know how long cats, both male and female, live.
