How long do cats live?
Indoor cats usually live about 12 to 18 years, and many reach their twenties. Cats that live outdoors tend to have shorter lives because of traffic, fights and disease.
With good food, regular veterinary care and a safe home, many cats now live well into their late teens. Spaying or neutering, vaccinations and keeping cats at a healthy weight all help them live longer.
Breed makes some difference. Mixed-breed cats are often very healthy, while some pedigree breeds are prone to particular conditions. Siamese and Burmese cats have a reputation for long lives.
Cat years
A cat ages quickly at first: a one-year-old cat is roughly like a 15-year-old human, and a two-year-old like a person in their mid-twenties. After that, each cat year counts for about four human years. A 15-year-old cat is roughly equal to a person in their mid-seventies.
Signs of aging in cats include sleeping more, losing weight, stiff joints and changes in appetite. Regular checkups become more important for cats older than about ten, because problems such as kidney disease are easier to manage when found early.
Did You Know?
The oldest cat on record was Creme Puff from Austin, Texas, who lived to 38 years and 3 days and died in 2005.