Pet owners all share a common wish:
May your cat be free from illness and suffering, and live a longer, healthier, and happier life!
Mr. Che, who accompanies us in researching and writing every day
Therefore, it's sometimes inevitable to feel sentimental and worried:
How much longer will my kitten stay with me?
What factors affect a cat's lifespan? What diseases can kill a cat?
What is the average lifespan of a cat?
The earliest estimate for the average lifespan of cats was 5-8 years, later increased to 9 years... and in the last 10 years, multiple statistical analyses have shown that the average lifespan of cats has increased to 14 years+, and it's getting longer and longer.
For example, a random sample survey of 118,016 cats in the UK in 2014 showed that the median lifespan of cats was 14 years.
Last year, a Japanese insurance company compiled statistics on the life expectancy of cats from 2008 to 2022, with the latest data showing a lifespan of 14.7 years.
Further analysis revealed significant differences in lifespan among different cat groups.
What factors affect a cat's lifespan?
According to statistics, the main influencing factors include six aspects: sex, whether or not the animal is sterilized, body size, weight, feeding environment (medical care), and breed.
① Female cats > male cats. The median lifespan of female cats is 15 years (11-17.4 years), while that of male cats is slightly lower, at 13 years (7.6-16 years).
② Spayed/neutered > Unspayed/neutered. The median lifespan of spayed/neutered cats is 15 years, while that of unspayed/neutered cats is only 11 years.
③ Non-purebred > purebred. The median lifespan of non-purebred cats is 14 years, which is slightly higher than the 12.5 years of purebred cats.
④ Light weight > Obese. In the statistics of small and medium-sized cats (≥3.5kg), the median lifespan of cats decreased by 0.2~0.5 years with the increase of weight (1kg).
⑤ Good feeding environment and medical conditions > semi-free-range, free-range, and inadequate deworming. [This is probably the most important factor among many.]
⑥ Regarding the impact of variety, there is some controversy...
Are there any cat breeds that live long lives?
When recommending cat breeds, foreign websites often list a "long-lived cat list":
Multiple statistics indicate that there are significant differences in lifespan among different cat breeds. These statistics cover a wide range (multiple countries) and involve a large amount of data (thousands to hundreds of thousands of cats), and each report seems quite reliable when viewed individually.
However, when these data are put together, they contradict each other.
For example, Bengal cats
Everything went smoothly in Japan, but life in England was a nightmare.
Therefore, at this stage, it is relatively difficult to draw conclusions such as "cats of certain breeds live longer".
However, the list of those who have lived to a ripe old age is quite diverse:
Kataleena, a 35-year-old Burmese cat; Grandpa Rex, a 34-year-old Sphynx cat; Flossie, a 29-year-old stray who was adopted; Scooter, a 31-year-old Siamese cat; Creme Puff, a 39-year-old mixed-breed tabby cat...
Seeing these long-lived cat grandpas and grandmas, does it give you a boost of confidence?
If you want your cat to live a long life, you must take strict precautions against diseases that can kill them!
What are the causes of sudden death in cats?
Researchers found in two studies in Germany and the UK that the high-risk age range for sudden death in cats is 1-3 years old and around 5 years old.
This does not align with the common perceptions of some parents (childhood and old age).
This is why many cat owners never expect their cats to leave them and neglect related risk assessments and prevention.
The main cause of death in children aged 1 to 3 is trauma (estrus, injury after going out), while the causes around the age of 5 include respiratory system, heart, and kidney.
What specific factors should we pay attention to?
Compared to previous surveys in Canada, this data shows little difference in the ranking of factors other than a higher proportion of "unknown causes." Researchers speculate that this may be because there are many venomous snakes and spiders in Australia, leading to many cats dying accidentally from poisoning, which was then categorized as an unknown cause.
Therefore, for domestic cats that are kept entirely indoors, keeping windows closed, storing food and plants that could cause poisoning, and having regular cardiovascular checkups can prevent at least 80% of sudden feline deaths.
Besides these "accidents," what other common feline diseases should we focus on and prevent?
What are some of the reasons why cats die from illness?
In 2023, the University of California conducted a statistical analysis of the causes of death of cats that had undergone autopsies at its veterinary teaching hospital over the past 20 years.
Classified by the organ in which the disease occurs:
Classified by pathological cause:
The study categorized the causes of death into 55 groups, with the top four causes accounting for 58.52% of all feline deaths:
Among them, cancer, which ranks first (average age 11.4 years), has an extremely high mortality rate. More than 80% of cats diagnosed with cancer die from cancer.
While kidney disease ranks second, it's a hidden "big boss." Researchers found that only 20% of cats with kidney disease die solely from kidney failure (average lifespan 9.4 years). This indicates that 80% of kidney disease cases are linked to other causes of death, making the number of cats suffering from kidney disease enormous!
Among deaths from heart disease, HCM is the most common cause, accounting for 37%; followed by endocarditis, myocarditis, and myocardial fibrosis.
In summary, for cats that are over 8-10 years old and entering their middle or senior years, it is crucial to focus on preventing cancer, kidney disease, and blood clots. Regular checkups (kidneys, heart, liver) and avoiding stress in cats (such as FIP) will provide 70% of the protection.
Although data tells us that the average lifespan of a cat is 14 to 15 years.
But Yao Jiu always felt that as long as she took good care of the kitten and raised it scientifically, it wouldn't be a problem for the kitten to live to be 20+!
Tom, who lives in the hospital next door, is almost 12 years old and loves to wander around every day...
