The life expectancy of cats
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Nowadays, the life expectancy of cats is increasing.
The average lifespan for a domestic cat is generally
13 to 15 years
.
But it is more and more common for a cat to turn 20 years old.
Read alsoThe life expectancy of dogs and cats is increasing
However, not all cats are created equal when it comes to aging, and a cat's life expectancy varies depending on its breed.
Certain breeds of cats are known to have a longer lifespan, such as:
Bombay (on average 18 to 20 years old),
the Siamese (on average 15 to 20 years old)
the Sacred of Burma (on average from 14 to 17 years old)
Conversely, certain breeds of cats are known to live shorter than the average: this is the case of the Maine Coon (on average 10 to 15 years).
Certain cat breeds have a higher risk of suffering from hereditary diseases, linked in particular to the crossing of their genetic lines.
For example, the Ragdoll or the Norwegian may be more often stricken with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (thickening of the heart muscle or myocardium) than European cats.
What are the factors that influence the life expectancy of cats?
Different factors can have an impact on the life expectancy of cats:
His lifestyle
: an apartment cat is more likely to live older, because it is less exposed to the risk of accidents, attacks from predators, fights and external parasites.
Food
: quality kibble or pâtés, a healthy and reasoned diet are factors that can influence the longevity of your cat.
An overweight or malnourished cat may have a reduced life expectancy.
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Sterilization
: this operation reduces certain diseases (cancer), and the spread of infectious diseases and viruses.
In addition to improving the health of our companions, sterilization concretely extends their lifespan.
Veterinary care
: regular monitoring by a veterinarian helps to anticipate certain pathologies and diseases.
Support is faster in the event of a problem.
Read alsoCat: 5 symptoms to take seriously
How to calculate the human age of your cat?
Contrary to popular belief, the real age of the animal should not be multiplied by 7 to obtain its equivalent in human years.
Because in fact, a
cat does not age in a linear fashion.
During the first years of their life, kittens "age" faster than at adulthood.
Thus, a 12 month old cat will be a teenager.
It is at 2 years that he will reach
adulthood
, which will correspond to an age of about 24 years for a human.
Then, each additional year is equivalent to four “
human
”
years
.
It is then estimated that
at 10 years
,
a cat has the equivalent of 56 human years.
After 20 years, a cat can be considered "
centenary
".
Here is a summary table to convert your cat's age to human age:
Cat age | Human age |
---|---|
1 | 19 |
2 | 24 |
3 | 28 |
4 | 32 |
5 | 36 |
6 | 40 |
7 | 44 |
8 | 48 |
9 | 52 |
10 | 56 |
11 | 60 |
12 | 64 |
13 | 68 |
14 | 72 |
15 | 76 |
16 | 80 |
17 | 84 |
18 | 88 |
19 | 94 |
20 | 100 |
Adopting an animal commits you, it's a decision that you will have to think carefully. Do not hesitate to contact your veterinarian or the shelter closest to you before starting. They will be able to give you advice on which cat breed is best for you.