How Long Can Domestic Cats Live

Cat Nutrition And Lifespan

Cats primarily eat meat, so they are considered obligate carnivores, and this should be reflected in the food we feed them. A lot of research has been done to determine the dietary needs of a house cat, so the food options that are available to cat owners are plentiful.

But not all foods are created equal. Adult cats cannot digest large amounts of carbohydrates or lactose, so these are unnecessary ingredients in their food. Carbohydrates can even decrease how much protein is digested, so they are, in fact, harmful to a cat. Proteins, on the other hand, are very important to a cat. Cats require a large amount of protein when compared to a dog, due to their unique digestive system. Adult cats should receive at least 5.5 g/kg of protein a day. This means the average eight-pound cat needs to consume at least 20 grams of protein each day and often much more.

Essential amino acids are also very important to a cat. Taurine, methionine, and cystine are some of these essential amino acids, and without them, important vitamins, and the proper amount of protein, a cats health may suffer greatly.

The Answer To This Important Cat Welfare Question May Surprise You

Myths about domestic cats are as ubiquitous as funny cat videos. One of the most persistent of these myths is that cats are independent and really dont need humans in their lives. Our cat may deign to spend some time with us, and might even curl up next to us in bed and purr in our ear. But ultimately, when it comes to human company, cats can take it or leave it.

The myth of the aloof, independent cat feeds another misconception: that cats are just fine when were not around. Indeed, a common piece of advice for someone thinking about acquiring a pet is if you are gone a lot and dont have time for a dog, get a cat instead. Many people believe that cats can be left alone for long hours every day, and can even safely be left alone for days or even weeks, as long as food and freshwater are made available to them.

This is bad advice and does cats a great disservice because domestic cats kept as companion animals in homes likely need their humans just as much as companion dogs do.

Average Lifespan Of A Cat

As weve mentioned, the average lifespan of a cat is a rather broad notion. Essentially the range has been narrowed down to approximately 9 to 15 years. The biggest factor that influences the lifespan of a cat, even more so than genetics, is whether your cat is an indoor or an outdoor cat. If you keep your cat indoors for the duration of its life, its liable to exceed 20 years. Conversely, if your cat roams freely, or is even an indoor/outdoor cat, the average life span decreases by 2.5 times, or basically drops to about 5 years. There are a great deal of diverse threats to your cats well-being, which, statistically speaking, vastly reduce the expected lifespan of your outdoor cat.

How Are Cats And Dogs Tested And Will We Be Able To Test Them How Long Are We Or Animals Infected For

The tests currently being used use polymerase chain reaction -based technology. PCR allows researchers to identify very small amounts of the genetic material of the virus in samples obtained from patients.

Cats and dogs are not being routinely tested at this time, and acquiring a test for an animal requires regulatory permission. Should other animals be confirmed positive for SARS-CoV-2 in the United States, USDA will post the findings.

It is important to point out that the test used for animals is different from that used for people.

What Effect Does Covid

Cats appear to be at least mildly susceptible to COVID-19. The severity of disease caused SARS-CoV-2 infection in cats is unclear. In the naturally occurring case of feline COVID-19 from Belgium, the cat developed GI and respiratory problems and recovered within nine days. In the two cats from New York, both had mild respiratory illness and are expected to make a full recovery. In addition, the experimentally infected cats did not show evidence of virus in their lungs, but rather in their upper airways, and they did not develop signs of disease.

Is My Cat Sick Or Just Old

Cats are great at hiding illness so owners should pay attention to any changes in behaviour. Changes such as moving around less, difficulty jumping as high and weight gain or loss could be put down to ageing but they could also be a symptom of illness. If youre concerned at all its best to contact your vet or out of hours your nearest Vets Now for advice.

Some subtle signs of illness in cats to look out for include:

• Hiding away/wanting to be alone
• Weakness
• Looking more scruffy/ungroomed than usual
• Eating or drinking more or less than usual
• Going to the toilet more or less

Calculating A Cats Age

Youve probably heard that its not as easy to calculate a cats age in human years compared to dogs. But it turns out, thats not the case at all. Different breeds of dogs age differently, and their size also plays a role. Working out a cats age, on the other hand, is a pretty straight forward formula.

To work out your felines age in human years, all you need to know is that a two-year-old cat is the equivalent of a 24-year-old human. Every year after that counts as four human years. In other words, a cat that is 15 years old would be around 76 in human years, while a 20-year-old cat is equivalent to a 96-year-old person.

How Long Do Outside Cats Live

A large percentage of domestic cats in the UK live outdoors. This means theyre allowed to wander around outside, and generally come and go as they please. Unfortunately, while this way of living certainly has its perks, it also shortens their life expectancy. This is because they are exposed to various risks, including being hit on the road and attacks from other animals. Depending on where it lives, an outdoor cat will have an average lifespan of between two and five years.

Are Domestic Cats Susceptible To Covid

Domestic cats do seem to be susceptible to infection by SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, although not highly susceptible. This conclusion is based upon the identification of three naturally occurring infections in cats , the identification of antibodies against the virus in some cats in China, and upon the results of a study in which cats were experimentally infected with SARS-CoV-2. The interpretation of the results and of the application of the results of this study to real-world situations are currently the subject of debate.

On April 22, The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the United States Department of Agricultures National Veterinary Services Laboratories announced the first confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection in two pet cats. These are the first pets in the United States to test positive for SARS-CoV-2.

Learn more about the two cats in New York

Indoor Cats Versus Outdoor Cats

Whether your cat resides completely indoors or goes in and out throughout the day can have more of an impact on their lifespan than some cat owners may realize. There are some more obvious reasons why indoor cats live longer lives than their outdoor counterparts. Some that you may already be able to guess. 

Most obviously, indoor cats have easier access to food and freshwater than outdoor cats do more often than not. Whether your cat is an indoor or outdoor cat, you probably still take them for their needed cat vaccinations. 

Even with proper vaccines, outdoor cats are exposed to far more dangers than indoor cats lives are. Dangers that vaccines and other medicines cannot protect them from. A few of the lifespan threatening dangers that outdoor cats may encounter include ticks, cars, other animals, and many other stressful encounters that can shorten a cats lifespan. 

Plays Well With Others

Depending on your cats personality, they may get along well with other kittens, adult cats, household pets, and people. Its always best to introduce your cat to a potential new friend slowly, giving them a choice whether or not to interact, and providing positive reinforcement for positive interactions. Take particular care when introducing cats to each other, as most cats require time to get to know a new feline companion. Rushing introductions can result in fighting or injuries, undesirable behaviors , and stress for both humans and animals.

Feral Cats Are Vicious And Mean

From a feral-behaving cats point of view, they are the potential prey and people are predators. A healthy free-roaming cat will not stalk and attack a person. In fact, quite the opposite is true. Cats remain quiet and hide from view when unfamiliar people approach. When feral-behaving cats are caged at the clinic, they still try to hide. They dont leap at people, growl, strike or hiss; they keep a low profile. However, if provoked or given a chance to escape, a free-roaming cat puts all its energy into defense. The cat understandably risks everything, biting and scratching to get away, as any animal would who is frightened. They are not vicious and mean, but will fight for their lives, if threatened.

Methods For Increasing Lifespan

The first and probably most intuitive way to improve your cats chances of living a long, healthy life is to offer a high level of nutrition in its diet. Make sure that you feed your cat food that provides it with quality and balanced nutrition. Also make sure that your cat is current on all necessary vaccinations. In order to prevent any disease or other health issues, its important to have your cat see the veterinarian at regular intervals. And perhaps less intuitive than the other methods, ensuring that your cats oral hygiene is tended to is hugely important, as its gums serve as a major conduit for blood flow. Any dental or oral disease can result in bacteria being channeled through the body, which can lead to serious health issues.

How Old Is Your Cat

• 0 to 1 month: 1 human year
• 2 to 3 months: 2 to 4 human years
• 4 months: 6 to 8 human years
• 6 months: 10 human years
• 7 months: 12 human years
• 12 months: 15 human years
• 18 months: 21 human years
• 2 years: 24 human years
• 3 years: 28 human years
• 4 years: 32 human years
• 5 years: 36 human years
• 10 years: 56 human years
• 15 years: 76 human years
• 20 years: 96 human years

The average life expectancy of a cat suggests that many live the equivalent of a full human life. In 2019, the United Nations estimated that the average global life expectancy is 72.9 years. Thatâs a little more than 14 cat years.

Feline Vision: How Cats See The World

When Fluffy goes crazy for laser pointers, shiny objects and people’s ankles, just what is she seeing?

Cats’ fondness for pouncing on feet and feathery toys may be rooted in their hunting instinct, but it also has a lot to do with their unique vision. And, as it turns out, scientists know a lot about what cats see.

Now, a new set of images, by artist Nickolay Lamm, tries to capture the differences between cat vision and human vision. Whereas humans are able to see more vibrant colors during the day, their feline companions have the edge when it comes to peripheral vision and night vision.

Night creatures

Cats have a wider field of view about 200 degrees, compared with humans’ 180-degree view. Cats also have a greater range of peripheral vision, all the better to spot that mouse wriggling in the corner.

Cats are crepuscular, meaning they are active at dawn and dusk. That may be why they need such good night vision. Their eyes have six to eight times more rod cells, which are more sensitive to low light, than humans do.

Their extra rod cells also allow cats to sense motion in the dark much better than their human companions can.

Color vision

But felines don’t have the edge in all areas. The human retina has about 10 times more cones, the light receptors that function best in bright light, than cats’ eyes have.

“Humans have 10 to 12 times better motion detection in bright light than the cat or dog, since bright-light vision is a cone function,” Ketring said.

Nearsighted

Color Patterns Of The Domestic Longhair

Domestic Longhairs have unknown mixed origins. As such, they can be found in any color, color combination, or pattern that is seen in other cat breeds.

Most often, their coloring and look trend toward the most common coloring and body style of other pedigreed cats in their geographical area. For example, Domestic cats in Asia quite often have Siamese coloring. In contrast, Domestics in the United States and the United Kingdom have a larger, sturdier body like the popular Shorthairs.

Can You Explain The Difference Between Zoonosis Vs Viruses Which Can Be Transmitted From Humans To Dogs And Cats

Zoonosis refers to the situation when an animal serves as a source of infection for people. When humans serve as the source of infection for animals, this is referred to as reverse zoonosis.

The process of viruses jumping from animal species to humans is a major public health concern. Both influenza and SARS-CoV-2, for example, jumped from animal species to humans.

Learn more about zoonotic diseases from the CDC

History Of Domesticated Cats

Cats have been kept as pets for thousands of years. They originate from the Near East countries where they were domesticated from wild cats to help control rodent populations. These cats spread throughout the world as pets, and we eventually started selectively breeding them for specific traits, thus creating different breeds. The primary cat breeds were originally bred using cats from four major regions; the Arabian Sea, the Eastern Mediterranean, South Asia, and Western Europe. These four regions have produced cats that have different genetic markers based on what region, or race, they are from.

A Word About Outdoor Cats

This article answered the question how long do indoor cats live? but its important to point out the best way to shorten a cats life expectancy is to let him wander outside. Outdoor cats only live an average of 2 to 5 years. The dramatic difference is attributed to the many dangers an outdoor cat faces, including traffic and predators.

What If I Dont Have Anyone To Attend My Cat

If you work or have to leave for a trip, you can try and arrange for someone to come and spend a bit of time with your cat. At least this way, your cat gets some sort of , mental stimulation, and love. It can be difficult to arrange for someone to come cat-sit every day, and the next best thing you can do is catify your house. What we mean by this is to make your house entertaining for your cat.

You can set up a cat tree, automatic feeders, and food puzzles, and can scatter toys around the house. This will at least keep your little feline friend busy until you get back. Another thing you can do is give your cat a companion by adopting another cat. This way, they have companionship and can keep each other busy.

So how long is too long to leave a cat alone? There is no straightforward answer to this. But the best advice would be to try and not leave them home for too long. Yes, you need to go to work or maybe go shopping, but at least try to provide some entertainment for your cat.

Heres a useful article about how to keep your house cat entertained: “How to keep a house cat entertainedFor hours and hours!“

And if youre going away for a vacation, then you might get someone to stay in and keep your cats company and not just feed them and change their litter box. Better yet, you could even take them with you on vacation.

Facebook image: Vlue/Shutterstock

References

How Can I Help My Cat Live Longer

If youve just brought home a kitten, you might be amazed to think that this ball of fluff could be with you for at least 15 years! But how can you help a cat to live longer? Firstly, its important not to be swayed by some of the things you read on the internet. A lot of people will try to sell you some miracle cure that extends life, or will tell you that a particular diet will help your cat live longer. Its best to remain sceptical about these claims. 

Anecdotal evidence is persuasive, but theres no way of knowing if the medication or supplement truly caused the increase in lifespan without some serious clinical trials. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

On the other hand, studies have shown some similarities between cats that have a long life. Looking at these, we can come up with some recommendations for how to help your cat live longer.

Frequently Asked Questions Covid

We understand that during this difficult time, cat owners are concerned about how best to care for their feline friends and themselves. Our mission at the Cornell Feline Health Center is to respond to emerging feline health crises, and we feel that it is incumbent upon us to provide cat lovers with reliable information that is based upon scientific evidence and to support them through this rapidly evolving crisis.

Its important to note that the recommendations of the scientific community are based upon best available data and in consideration of the potential risks and benefits of these recommendations. An excellent source of up-to-date information in this regard is the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, which provides comprehensive answers to a variety of questions related to COVID-19, including best practices for pet owners.

Very importantly, there is currently NO EVIDENCE that SARS-CoV-2 can be passed from cats to people, so there is no need for owners to do anything that would endanger the welfare of their cats even if a cat is diagnosed with COVID-19.

Scientists are continuing to research this disease, and the Cornell Feline Health Center will continue to update you with the latest information as it becomes available.

Fun Activities The Domestic Longhair Enjoys

Domestic Longhairs have a wide variety of preferences when it comes to fun activities. If your cat shows signs of fear, stress, or anxiety, discontinue the activity; start small, and encourage the exploration of new objects and activities using positive reinforcement . Have fun together while you try new things!

VETERINARIAN TIP

Never leave your cat alone near an open window that doesn’t have a secure screen. If it’s on the first floor, your cat can get out of the house and get injured, lost or any of the other possible problems that outdoor cats face on a daily basis. If the window is on the second floor or above your cat is at risk of suffering from severe injuries of “high-rise syndrome,” and you don’t even need to live in a true high-rise building. The injuries of “high-rise syndrome” tend to be worst in falls from between the 2nd and 7th floors!

How Long Do Indoor Cats Live

Cats that go are more likely to encounter risks such as road traffic accidents, fights with other cats and other dangers that could affect their life expectancy. However, they are also likely to get more exercise as they have more space to roam, which helps to keep them fit and healthy. If you do keep your cat , theyll need plenty of opportunities to exercise with fun toys they can chase and catch. There are still other risks to house cats, so youll need to monitor them closely to keep them healthy for longer.

Thanks To Better Care And Veterinary Treatments Our Pet Cats Are Living Longer Than Ever Before But What Is A Cats Average Lifespan

If youve got a pet cat, or are thinking about getting one, you might be wondering; how long do pet cats live for in human years?

A cats life expectancy will depend on many factors, including health, diet and their environment, but the average lifespan for a domestic cat is about 12-14 years. However, some pet cats can live to be around 20 years old.

The world record for the oldest cat is held by Crème Puff, a cat from Texas in the USA who lived to be 38 years and three days old, but thats incredibly rare!

The good news is that advances in veterinary care and awareness of good cat welfare mean that pet cats are living longer than they used to. According to our Cats and Their Stats 2020 report, almost half of the UKs owned cats are considered old.

Sadly though, cats in our care aged 11 years and older take an average of one month to find their new forever homes, over three times longer than kittens who take just eight days.

To show that these senior kitizens still have a lot to give, Cats Protection is launching Mature Moggies Day on 16 June, encouraging people to share inspiring stories of their older cats with #MatureMoggiesDay.

What Do I Do If I Become Sick With Covid

If a feline caretaker is diagnosed with COVID-19, the CDC recommends that, if possible, that person quarantine themselves from other people and animals, and that they leave the care of the cat to another individual in the home. If living alone, the current recommendation is to avoid contact with the cat as much as possible, that the COVID-infected person wash their hands carefully before and after interacting with the cat or its waste, and that they refrain from allowing cats to lick or breathe in their faces.

Its important to understand that the process of even temporarily rehoming a cat after someone in its household is diagnosed with COVID-19 may expose other cats to infection, and would likely cause stress in the rehomed cat. Since it is currently unclear how such stress may affect a cats ability to fight off COVID-19, and since cats may not develop significant illness even if infected, the current recommendations not to rehome a cat in this situation are very reasonable, in our view.

What Is The Answer

Caring people feed free-roaming cats. Laws cannot legislate human compassion. People will not suddenly stop feeding cats. Nor will they take them for free euthanasia. What is the interest-based solution that will actually be adopted? Trap-Neuter-Return is one humane piece of the solution. Allow people to feed but make spay/neuter accessible.

To view the Top 100 most destructive species, go to Defenders of Wildlife at .

Cat Lifespan In Conclusion

It isnt nice to think about the death of our favourite feline but there are things that we can learn to provide our cats with the longest, happiest and healthiest life possible. If you have lost your cat and are struggling I am so sorry and please do know that there is a Blue Cross Pet Bereavement Support centre.

Far less research than I would have expected has been done in the area of how long cats live. However, the work that has been done shows that average cat lifespans are on the increase thanks to medical advances. Everyday we learn more about how to keep our cats healthy and remember nothing can take the place of an attentive and loving owner.

Converting Cat’s Age To Human Years

Another way to answer how long cats live is through converting their age into human years. 

But there’s a massive discrepancy between human and feline pet’s age because cats experience infancy, childhood, and adolescence in their first year. 

So, multiplying a cat’s age into five, a commonly used formula to determine a cat’s age in human years, is simply unreliable and inaccurate.  

To know how old your cat is in human years, AAHA’s provides insight through comparing human and feline life stages:

As you’ve noticed, when cats live beyond two years which is equivalent to 24 in humans, you need to add four years every year to convert it into our age.