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Felinexpress.com home > Cat Care > How long do cats live?

How long do cats live for?

The longest living cat on record, according to the Guinness Book of World Records is a Burmese cat by the name of Kataleena Lady. Kataleena lives with her owner in Melbourne, Australia. Kataleena was born on March 11, 1977.

In the state of Texas, there is reported to be a cat, Crème Puff  (breed unknown) owned by Jake Perry. Another cat that belonged to the feline senior citizen group was Granpa, a 34 year old Sphynx. Granpa is now deceased.

Many people are quick to point out that indoor cats live longer than outdoor cats. This fact does not always hold true. Indoor cats can be at risk to have shortened lives too. Cats  that are unmotivated or uninterested in their life can quickly become obese. Obesity can lead to major health issues such as heart disease and diabetes to name a few.

Indoor cats with collars (that are not breakaway) can become caught under furniture and choke; they can crawl into dryers, get into household cleaners, and fall off of high places.  They can get stepped on, or get lost in the house. 

The point is that indoor cats face dangers as well as outdoor cats do. I will never forget the year when I received a heartbreaking email from a lady who came home to find her cat Nikki dead. The woman had removed all the dining room chair cushions prior to going to work. She was going to drop the cushions off at the cleaners. The chairs had wooden lattice work as their backs. Nikki managed to get her head and neck caught in the holes of the lattice work and strangled.

I personally know of several feral cats that are now in their senior years, that have never been indoors for any long period of time. My own barn kitty, Cleo will be 17 years old this month. Cleo refuses to have anything to do with any aspect of indoor living.

The factors allowing cats to live a long life vary. Generally, a cat can live to be 21 years old. The cat owner who is able to afford the right types of food, proper vet care (both routine and emergency) will help to lengthen their cat’s life expectancy.

Being an aware cat owner, understanding the hazards of both indoor and outdoor living for cats, keeping your cat’s environment virtually stress-free, staying to a routine type of living so there are few surprises, and being sure your cat is flea-treated safely can all help you have a longer life together.

Understanding cat behavior, knowing when your cat is acting “off” and acting promptly by seeking professional advice, versus procrastinating or worrying about the behavior without acting is also essential when helping cats live longer.

Keeping harmful items from your cat’s reach; dental floss, string, plastic bags, household cleaners, toxic plants, the list of harmful items is truly endless.

Micro-chipping your cat so that if he/she does get outside, means a greater chance of recovery.

Being sure that your cat is provided fresh water at all times. Running water is irresistible to most cats and kittens, so invest in a pet fountain!

Spaying and neutering, is a must for cats longevity (unless you are an ethical cat breeder). Spaying and neutering will help stop certain cancers from developing, lower the cat’s stress point (especially in the females) and help diminish the cat’s drive to wander off in search of new mates.

With sometimes revolutionary advancement in the veterinary field of medicine, more awareness of cat-related health issues, the surge of cat behaviorists and experts available to help puzzled cat owners, cats are living longer now then they did fifty years ago.

Brought out of the barns and fields where they were catching mice, cats were then embraced as essential members of the household. Pampered and cherished, cats are now enjoying better living conditions and living longer than ever before.

  1. Korat
  2. Balinese
  3. Javanese
  4. Japanese Bobtail
  5. Somali
  6. Abyssinian
  7. Turkish Van
  8. Siamese
  9. Egyptian Mau
  10. Oriental Shorthair
  11. Tonkinese
  12. Bengal
  13. Norwegian Forest Cat
  14. Cornish Rex
  15. Siberian

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Ragamuffin

Ragamuffins are calm and can handle most types of child’s play