The more time a cat spends outside, the greater the risk is of an injury or illness from that environment. Indoor cats are not exposed to as many risks since they are sheltered inside a secure home. Wild animals and vehicles pose no threats to an indoor cat, their diet is typically controlled, and toxin, parasite, and disease exposures are lessened, especially if they are vaccinated and on preventative medications.
The same is true for big cats like lions, tigers, ocelots, and other wild cats. These cats that reside in zoos often outlive their wild counterparts.
Guinness World Records lists the oldest cat as having lived 38 years and three days. She was born in and died in in Austin, Texas.
While we never have complete control over our cat's lives, we can be sure to offer them a safe, healthy, and loving environment to increase the odds of them living a long life. Cozzi, Bruno et al. Frontiers In Veterinary Science , vol 4, Frontiers Media SA , doi Verbrugghe, Adronie, and Myriam Hesta. Veterinary Sciences , vol 4, no.
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Mature moggies given a second chance after their owners pass away Find out more. View all blogs. Save Cancel. Knowing the lifespan of your feline can help you understand what stage of life your cat is in and give you some emotional readiness as they get older. A common question cat parents have when deciding if they should let their cats explore the great outdoors is, do indoor cats live longer?
According to the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine , the average lifespan of a house cat is 10 to 15 years, while outdoor cats may only live on average 2 to 5 years. While every cat is different, indoor cats generally live longer due to fewer threats in their environment. Purebred cats are known to have a shorter life expectancy than mixed breeds due to selective breeding. And some cats can inherit health problems passed down from their parents due to breeding or genetics. However, some breeds do tend to live longer than others.
Why do indoor cats live so much longer? In part, their lives are longer because house cats live in much safer conditions. Additionally, there are other preventative measures you can take to potentially keep your cat around longer, from diet and vet visits to their daily activities. When your furry feline is a senior cat, take them to the vet at least twice per year, or every six months. If your cat is geriatric or has a chronic medical condition, you may want to take them to the vet three times per year.
Checkups should consist of physical exams, vaccinations, and blood work. A vet will be able to perform lab work as well as take X-rays to determine any health problems going on with your pet. The information helps with practical planning and emotional readiness. The feline life expectancy that is quoted in reference texts varies, but a good, average figure is 10 to 15 years. Another statistic that veterinarians commonly use in practice is the following:. Cats who spend significant unsupervised time outdoors tend to survive to be about 7 years old, while indoor-only cats can be expected to live to around 14 years of age.
These numbers may seem low, but they represent an average of the lifespans of ancient, well-cared-for kitties; unfortunate individuals who died early from disease or accident; and everybody in between. The senior citizen of the group makes it to 18 years old, with another sibling dying from an age-related disease at a very respectable So far, so good.
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