From kittenhood to adulthood, cats are adorable, and they add love to our lives.

Cats are amazing creatures. They have their daily routine, their unique ways of showing affection, and other amusing things that they do.

But, they aren’t in our lives forever.

One of the biggest things that cat parents want to know is how long will they have their favorite furry friend in their lives for. In this blog post, I will answer the question, “How long do cats live?” in as much detail as I can.

So, without further ado, let’s begin.

Average Life Expectancy: How Long Do Cats Live?

The general life of cats is between 10 to 15 years.

While cats who live unsupervised outdoors for long periods of time on their own generally live for seven years, indoor cats live till the ripe age of 14.

Life expectancy depends on a lot of factors.

This includes the breed of the cat, genetic or parental history, diseases, and general lifestyle. Kitties that are obese tend to develop additional health problems which can significantly reduce the cat’s lifespan.

Outdoor cats live a lifestyle that’s dangerous.

Indoor Versus Outdoor Cats

As you may have observed, indoor cats generally live longer than outdoor cats.

Why is that so?

The thing is, the outdoor lifestyle is much more dangerous than the indoor one. Cats can get injured, and the risk of getting an infectious disease such as feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) increase.

Not just that, cats can easily get wounded during fights with other animals, get hit by cars, or killed when they ingest poisons such as antifreeze.

For indoor-only cats, most of these problems are non-existent. They get vaccinated regularly, live in a safe and comfortable environment, get food that’s good for them, and are better cared for.

With indoor cats, health problems can also be identified early.

Human Years and Kitty Years: Conversion Table

Ever wonder how old your cat is in human years?

That’s one thing that everyone wonders at some point. In this section of the blog post, I have included a conversion table that’ll help you determine your furry friend’s age in human years.

Take a look.  

Age of Cat	Human Age Equivalent
0-1 month	0-1 year
Six months	10 years
12 months	15 years
18 months	21 years
2 years	24 years
3 years	28 years
4 years	32 years
5 years	36 years
6 years	40 years
7 years	44 years
8 years	48 years
9 years	52 years
10 years	56 years
11 years	60 years
12 years	64 years
13 years	68 years
14 years	72 years
15 years	76 years
16 years	80 years
17 years	84 years
18 years	88 years
19 years	92 years
20 years	96 years

That’s a lot, right!?

Keep Your Kitty Healthy: A Few Tips

Keeping your cat happy and healthy will increase her lifespan.

In this section of the blog post, I will share a few tips on how you should take care of your feline friend.

Take a look:

• It is imperative that you observe and notice small changes in your kitty’s behavior. One good practice is performing a weekly mini-physical examination to make sure that all is well with your kitty friend. If you’re confused, you can always ask your vet how to perform this
  
  
• There are a few other changes that you should look out for. These include changes to your cat’s breathing patterns, water intake, lumps and bumps, appetite, coat quality, toileting habits, coughing, grooming habits, and physical abilities
  
  
• Get your cat vaccinations according to the routine

• Get your kitty checked up by the vet regularly and get a physical examination done as well

• Put your cat on a B\balanced diet that suits your cat's age

• Make sure that you maintain a healthy weight range

• Exercise and keep your kitty moderately active and provide a stress-free environment

Seems simple enough, right?

Physical Changes: What Happens as Cats Age?

There are various physical and behavioral change that takes place in aging cats. In this section of the blog, I’ll share a few with you.

Here’s the deal:

• The immune system in cats weakens and isn’t able to fight off foreign invaders like it used to
• The kitty’s skin gets thinner and less elastic which makes it more prone to infection
• Older cats aren’t able to groom themselves as effectively as younger cats, which causes skin odor, hair matting, and inflammation
• The thick and brittle claws are often overgrown which means that they need regular clipping
• Older cats lose their ability to hear properly
• Eye diseases and problems related to vision are common for older cats
• Some older cats develop dental diseases which means that they can’t eat solid foods and are put on a liquid diet
• Cats have a loss of appetite as they grow older
• Degenerative joint diseases and disorders are common

Older cats need a lot of love and affection. Make sure you take good care of your older kitty and give her all the love.

Final Words: How Long Do Cats Live?

The average lifespan of cats is between 10 to 15 years. This depends on a lot of factors such as genetic history, diseases, lifestyle, exercise, quality of food, etc.

• Outdoor cats have a shorter lifespan and, on an average, live for seven years
• Indoor cats are better-taken care of and live for 14 years

It is important to keep a check on your kitty’s health and make sure she’s living a happy and healthy life. Give her good-quality food, include playtime in the daily schedule, go to the vet regularly, etc.

Do you have a senior cat? Tell us how you take care of your feline friends and share some tips for other cat owners!