The lifespan of cats exceeds the average lifespan of many domestic animals: the average cat, with proper care, can easily live up to 15 years, and some pets exceed the mark of 20 years. At the same time, no one can guarantee that your pet will live longer than 20 years. The decisive factors influencing life expectancy are nutrition, living conditions, and genetics also play a huge role. Thus, by choosing a pet from the breeds below, you increase the chance that it will live a very long cat life with you.
!Advice! In order for your pet to live as long as possible, feed your cat properly, vaccinate against the 3 most dangerous cat diseases and keep your purring cat at home - many pets die from injuries, dogs and poisoning with chemicals and poisons.
Siamese/Thai.
Siamese cats are a naturally formed breed that has attracted the attention of people since ancient times. She is known for her exotic coloring, as well as her loud voice and love of interacting with people. Some Siamese cats are prone to dental problems and respiratory problems, but otherwise the breed has no serious health problems. The average life expectancy is 15 to 20 years .
Top 10 long-lived cat breeds
Most cats often live quite long lives with their owners. On average, many cats easily live up to 15 years. But there are breeds that break all records and reach 20 years of age. Below you will find a list of such long-lived breeds.
Of course, quality nutrition, proper care and constant care for your pet's health will help any cat live a long and happy life, but if you are choosing a cat based on how many years it can live with you, then we recommend paying attention to the following breeds:
- Siamese cat
On average, these cats live up to 20 years. This is a healthy breed, although some of its representatives have problems with teeth and respiratory diseases.
- Burmese cat
These cats easily live up to 18 years. They do not have any special health problems, so with proper care they will please their owners for a long time.
- Savannah
Representatives of this hybrid breed can live a long life - up to 20 years. However, they need a lot of space as they grow into quite large pets.
- Egyptian Mau
This breed is unlikely to break the record for life expectancy, but on average its representatives live up to 15 years, which is also a lot. True, some of them have heart disease.
- Ragdoll
These cats can live more than 15 years with proper care. Diseases to which they are prone include urolithiasis and heart problems.
- Balinese cat
They are very similar to their closest relatives, the Siamese, including in their longevity: 20 years is not at all uncommon for them.
- Russian blue
He can also live a long time and celebrate his twentieth birthday. True, cats of this breed are prone to urolithiasis and have vision problems.
- Bombay cat
On average, cats of this breed can live up to 16 years if they are properly cared for and prevented from the respiratory and cardiovascular diseases to which they are susceptible.
- American Shorthair
Cats of this breed can see their twenties if they do not suffer from heart disease, which they are unfortunately prone to.
- Sphinx
These hairless cats typically live up to 15 years, even though they are susceptible to heart disease, neurological and skin diseases.
Long-lived cat breeds from left to right: Siamese, Burmese, Savannah, Egyptian Mau, Ragdoll, Balinese, Russian Blue, Bombay, American Shorthair, Sphynx
Subscribe to the newsletter and get a discount at the pet store “Lubimchik”
Thanks for subscribing!
Burma.
The Burmese originated as a cross between a small brown-colored Burmese cat and a Siamese cat. This is a very playful, sociable and adventurous cat. Although the breed is generally healthy, it is predisposed to congenital deformities of the skull, as well as glaucoma. Despite these problems, the average Burmese life expectancy is between 16 and 18 years .
Savannah.
The Savannah is a cross between a serval and a domesticated cat and is only recommended for experienced owners. Even though Savannahs are not fully domesticated, they can make a great friend. But it must be remembered that they, as a rule, have an unpredictable, active and courageous character. This hybrid breed generally has no serious health problems and can live an average of 12 to 20 years .
The most famous mustachioed centenarians
Several long-lived cats are included in the Guinness Book of Records. These amazing animals lived interesting and active lives. The age champions were:
- Lucy the cat, who lived 43 years. Lucy was born in the town of Lanelli, UK. The owner B. Thomas claimed that his cat hunted mice until the last day, was active and cheerful, but her only illness was complete deafness. It should be noted that this record was not recorded in the Book of Records, since it could not be officially confirmed.
- Cream Puff is officially considered the oldest feline. Cream died at the age of 38 years and 3 days. Her hometown is Austin, Texas. Owner Jake Perry believes the pet has been around for so long thanks to proper nutrition. Her diet included only natural foods, such as broccoli, eggs, asparagus and bacon.
- Kitty from England. A small cat who lived for 30 years and was able to surprise her owner D. Johnson at the end of her life. The elderly pet gave birth to two adorable kittens, completely healthy. The stunned owner did not expect this from his “old lady,” but was incredibly happy.
- Blackie. Born in England, her owner Quentin Shaw did not expect the pet to live a full 25 years. The most amazing thing is that the fluffy beauty survived three of her litters. Until the end of her life, the cat felt great, and suffered only from poor eyesight.
Egyptian Mau.
Named after its country of origin (Mau is a cat in the language of Ancient Egypt), the Egyptian Mau is a beautiful cat with distinctive spots on its coat. These cats tend to be comfortable with people, making them an integral part of the family. While some are prone to heart problems, the average life expectancy of the breed is over 15 years .
Ragdoll.
Calm and well-mannered, the Ragdoll usually loves its owners and follows them everywhere. This breed also loves to lie for a long time in the arms of its owners. Ragdolls are a generally healthy breed, but some purrs are prone to bladder stones and heart disease. Despite this, the average lifespan of a ragdoll is more than 15 years .
Who are they - long-livers?
Over the last century, the life expectancy of cats has increased significantly, reaching 12–15 years for domestic pets and up to 8 years for street cats.
This difference is easily explained:
- domestic cats are treated kindly by everyone, they have everything they need for life: in one bowl there is clean water, in the second there is tasty and balanced food, there is a warm place to sleep;
- For street cats, life is a struggle for existence itself.
To determine the age of a cat by human standards, use the following formula; The first year of a kitten’s life is equivalent to 15 years of a person, and the rest - at the rate of 1 to 4.
If your pet is 10 years old, then in human years (15 + 4 * 9) - he is 51 years old, and he needs more attention, more careful care and a more thoughtful menu.
Important! Regular visits to a veterinarian will help to detect and treat diseases at an early stage.
Balinese cat (Balinese).
The Balinese cat probably arose from a spontaneous mutation in the Siamese, which resulted in the breed having long hair. Currently, the only significant difference between the two breeds is the length of the coat. Like Siamese, Balinese are friendly, energetic and love to “chat” with their owner. The pet always wants to be involved in the affairs of the house. The average lifespan of the breed is 12 to 20 years .
Cat adventures
Article on the topic
Yuri Kuklachev: a cat is a man's friend!
Australian Lindsey Rogers washed her four-month-old kitten Kimba in the washing machine. The kitten climbed into the drum with dirty clothes and fell asleep. The washing lasted 30 minutes, after which the amazed owner took the poor fellow to the veterinary clinic. Veterinarians compared the incident to an airplane crash in which only one passenger survived. Now the kitten's health has completely recovered.
A similar incident occurred in 2007 in Germany: Diana Hannon washed a cat (which eventually died), for which she was sentenced to 4 months of suspended imprisonment.
An Argentine cat named Mincho once climbed a tree and refused to come down for the rest of her life. There she gave birth to kittens three times, who, like their mother, lived in a tree.
Hank the Cat "tried" to run for a seat in the US Senate in 2012. Hank is from Springfield, Virginia. He even had his own election program, according to which it was supposed to eliminate unemployment so that “there would be milk in every bowl.” The joke action was not crowned with success - the cat, naturally, was not included in the ballot papers.
A cat named Andy, owned by a Florida state senator (USA), fell from a height of 16 floors and survived.
In December 1999, a cat was discovered in the ruins of a building, having survived the devastating earthquake in Taiwan. The cat was found while clearing the rubble 80 days after the natural disaster.
An American cat named Sockington has been microblogging on Twitter with the help of his owner Jason Scott since 2008. His first message read: “I sleep with my mouth open, legs tucked under my head.” Now he has more than 7,000 tweets and just under one and a half million readers.
At the beginning of 2013, in Brazil, police had to detain a cat who was shuttling from Arapiraka prison to freedom and back with a set of tools (from a file to a cell phone) tied to him with tape.
A cat named Faith from Great Britain was awarded a Silver Medal for bravery. During World War II, she cared for her kitten, which was injured in the bombing of St. Augustine in London.
The first cat to go into space was Felicette, originally from France. The rocket carrying the animal was launched in 1963. The “space traveler” remained alive after the landing of the aircraft.
And the cat Hamlet “flew” about 600,000 km. During the flight, he escaped from his carrier and hid. For seven weeks he flew with the plane's crew until he was discovered.
Orlando the cat won the financier competition. More recently, an experiment was conducted in the UK: economics students and experienced stock market players competed in a game on the stock exchange. The cat also “played” with them - he simply moved a toy mouse with his paw across the field, which was divided into squares. In each square there were offers to buy or sell shares of a certain company. As a result, all the players' strategies gave way to the random movement of Orlando the cat's paws - people suffered losses, and the cat increased its fortune by 10%. This experiment was designed to prove the assumption that the stock market changes in unpredictable ways.
Russian blue.
The Russian Blue is a quiet and rather reserved cat that loves its family but does not like to be intrusive. She loves to relax in the sun or watch her domain from the highest point she can find. The breed is prone to developing bladder stones and is also susceptible to vision problems, but with proper care has an average lifespan of 14 to 20 years .
Bombay cat.
The Bombay cat was bred to look like a miniature panther, and breeders have generally been successful in achieving the desired appearance. These cats tend to have a calm and affectionate nature. They love to play, but they are also very happy when curled up in the lap of their loved one. The breed is prone to respiratory problems due to its short muzzle, as well as cardiovascular disease and excessive tearing. The average lifespan of the breed is about 16 years .
American Shorthair.
The American Shorthair, a breed originating from the common domestic shorthair cat in America, is popular among families with children due to its playful and calm nature. These cats tend to entertain themselves well and do not require much attention. But they also value socialization with their owner and playing together. Most of them do not have any general predispositions, but may be susceptible to heart disease. The breed has an average lifespan of 14 to 20 years .
Breeds with descriptions and photos
Let's figure out which cat breeds live the longest.
Australian smoke
An ideal pet: affectionate, gentle, calm and loving to the owner to the point of oblivion. At the age of a kitten, the Australian Mist is very playful and active; with age, he becomes imposing and measured.
He does not tolerate loneliness and gets very bored without people. This is an ideal animal for families with small children: the cat enjoys playing with children, does not release its claws during play, and is very tolerant of children’s cuddles and “cuddles.”
Manx
Manx cats are considered to be truly long-lived - up to 20 years. This is the best pet option for families with 2 or more children. Manxes adore children; they enjoy playing and playing pranks with them. Friendly cats, patient and calm when another pet appears.
Manx love to play with the stream of water, just watch the running water, but at the same time their attitude towards bathing is quite cool. It is curious that these cats cannot climb trees at all.
Maine Coon
The largest representative of the cat family, with expressive eyes and a representative appearance. Curious and playful, capable of bringing smiles with their antics, they have a good-natured character.
The Maine Coon loves water fiercely; he can take a bath with you, play with a stream of water, or gurgle with his paw in a bowl of water. These are very smart animals, they are easy to teach different commands, and they easily learn science. The lifespan of these giant cats is 16 years.
Neva Masquerade
The fruit of love between a Siamese cat and a Siberian cat is the Neva Masquerade, which is the second largest animal (after the Maine Coon). A beautiful cat, smart and intelligent, very attached to the owner and his family, does not trust strangers, although he can show off in front of them.
She loves children and is very patient with their antics. Quite often, representatives of this breed try on the role of nanny for children. They are very attentive and keenly aware of the situation; if they don’t like something, they call adults.
The Neva Masquerade cat has a strong immune system, and if she has the right balanced diet, she can easily live up to 20 years.
Japanese Bobtail
This nice cat's activity resembles a small tornado. A pet's high intelligence, coupled with curiosity, can cause unpleasant moments for their owners. These cats don’t get bored themselves, and they don’t let others get bored either.
They love to play with small objects and are delighted with wind-up toys.
The friendly nature of the pet helps to find common ground with other animals. They treat children well. The lifespan of the Japanese Bobtail is 18 years.
Sphinx.
The Sphynx is a cat that requires increased costs and attention from its owner. Being hairless, cats of this breed often need clothing to keep them warm in cool weather. In addition, they should be washed frequently to remove traces of sweat from the skin. The breed is prone to heart disease, central nervous system and skin diseases. But with proper care, the average life expectancy will exceed 15 years .
