If you asked my Uncle Ernie how long cats live, he’d jokingly say it depends on whether they use the litter box regularly. His dry humor aside, studies suggest a link between a cat’s urinary habits and life expectancy. Cats that are easy to potty train, avoid pre-castration spraying, and are less prone to urinary tract infections or spite peeing may live three to five years longer than others. While this theory has some evidence, it’s just a step above an old wives’ tale.
A Cat Can Live to 20 Years
A healthy American Shorthair cat can live around 20 years. However, not all cats reach this milestone. Diet, exercise, living conditions (indoor, outdoor, or both), veterinary care, and genetics all influence a cat’s lifespan. These factors can determine whether a cat celebrates its 20th birthday or falls short.
The oldest recorded cat in recent American history lived to 28, with some cats in Australia and New Zealand reaching 25 or 26. Such longevity is rare. Remarkably, just two decades ago, cats were expected to live only 6 to 8 years, with over 40% not surviving past their fourth birthday, according to cat trivia. Why the dramatic increase in life expectancy?
Factors Driving Longer Cat Lifespans
Historically, most cats were barn dwellers, tasked with controlling mice and rodents threatening stored crops. They received little medical care, no vaccinations, and often ate disease-ridden prey, leading to shorter lives. About 20 years ago, attitudes shifted. Cats transitioned from working animals to cherished pets, receiving better care, including vaccinations, castration, and high-quality cat food.
While some barn cats still exist, many now benefit from castration (leaving one male and female for reproduction), vaccinations, medical care, and healthier diets. This shift has improved their life expectancy, though it remains lower than that of indoor cats.
Outdoor cats face greater risks, with a lifespan of 4 to 8 years, depending on luck and location. Despite appearing healthier due to avoiding obesity, they’re vulnerable to diseases from fighting or mating with infected cats, as well as dangers like dogs, cars, or cruel individuals. About 60% of outdoor cats die from such causes before natural aging.
Advancements in veterinary medicine and cat food nutrition have significantly extended feline lifespans. As carnivores, cats require specific nutrients to thrive. While replicating their wild diet is challenging, modern cat food provides adequate nutrition for healthy functioning. The growing popularity of cats as pets has driven advancements in veterinary technology, diagnostics, and procedures. As cats became beloved companions, the veterinary field responded with greater urgency and resources, though progress depends on financial investment.
How long do cats live? Today, they’re living longer and healthier lives. Over the next 20 years, as cats remain a cornerstone of pet society, medical and nutritional advancements will likely push lifespans even further, potentially setting new longevity records.
3 Responses
It would be nice if your website stated when an article was written. Otherwise when you say things like “It was about 20 years ago” and “Over the next 20 year period”, like you did above, it is impossible to know when you are talking about. Please either add dates to your articles or instruct your authors not to use relative statements that are completely useless without context. Thank you.
I agree with you! And I would like to say that as a former foster mom, I was privileged to bottle feed a three week old kitten. He was a long hair Manx, grey with beautiful green eyes! He was shaped like a little bear tail and all. When it was time for him to be up for adoption; he was rejected by the shelter because he was a manx. To be honest with you, I was relieved when the person I worked with brought him back to me. He was such a gentle and loving little boy, I cried when he left me. I named him “Boo Boo Bear,” because he was shaped just like a bear and I felt that God made a boo boo since he had no cat tail..Recently, Boo Boo passed away..I got him when I was 47 years old and I am now 70. He was a major part of my life for 23 years and I will never forget him and we miss him and always live him! The best thing is he knew it every day of his life.
I have two cats, since the summer of 2005. Both are18 years old and look about three years old. They are energetic and active and go outdoors several times a day in the spring and summer. They avoid snow and rain. They don’t go near roads or stray away from our property. They both are being medicated for hyperactive thyroids, which had caused them to be underweight three years ago. Now, they maintain a healthy weight. They do not eat a lot of manufactured cat foods. They are the only cats I have ever fed any amount of tuna. They have tuna most days and they are the only cats that we have ever owned that lived more than seven years. They show no signs of slowing down. Rather amazing really. They seem like they may have some promise of becoming age record holders.