How long does a cat live?

August 11, 2021

Scientists have conducted countless studies over the years to discover why our pets' life expectancy is shorter than ours. In fact, this research has been going on for a long time. Philosophers like Aristotle believed that animals' lifespans were linked to the humidity inside them, which led to a longer lifespan. Other theories suggest that it all depends on the animal's size, although this theory is easily disproven since the average lifespan of a cat, for example, is longer than that of a dog. Apparently, the life expectancy of pets isn't solely related to size or species; there are also risk factors that decrease the lifespan of our furry friends—as is the case with humans. In these latter cases, we're talking about the diet and products provided, as well as daily physical activity and exposure to pollutants and carcinogens.

In this article, we'll focus exclusively on how long a cat lives. We'll also analyze the equivalence of cat years to human years and answer how to tell a cat's age. Read on for more information!

How long does a cat live: the life expectancy of a cat

A cat's life expectancy is longer than a dog's. The average lifespan of a cat can reach 16 years , while the average for dogs is 12 years—depending on size, as larger cats have a shorter lifespan. However, the average lifespan of a cat, or how many years a cat lives, also depends on several factors, such as its living environment, the care it receives, and illness. As we mentioned above, good nutrition is essential to prolonging the life of a feline, as well as any pet. Currently, the average lifespan of a cat ranges from 10 to 15 years .

Although there are always exceptions. According to the record books, the longest-lived cat was Creme Puff. The animal lived a long life of 38 years and 3 days. He was born on August 3, 1967, and died on August 6, 2005. Rubble was another of the longest-lived felines, specifically 31 years. He was found in the city of Exeter, England.

Cat years in human

Comparing the age of a dog with that of a human is very simple. Each year we grow is equivalent to 7 years for our four-legged friend. However, things get a little more complicated for cats, as evolution is not linear . The age of a cat in a human varies over time. Thus, the first two years of a cat's life are equivalent to 24 years for a person, while 8 years for a feline are equivalent to 48 years for a person. The following table can give you an approximate idea of how many years your pet grows from cat to human (the cat's age is shown in bold):

1 month : 6 months.
2 to 3 months : 2 to 5 years.
4 months : 6 to 8 years.
6 months : 10 years.
7 months : 12 years.
12 months : 15 to 16 years.
18 months : 20 to 21 years.
2 years : 24 years old.
3 years : 28 years old.
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 : 61 years.
12 years : 61 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.

It's important to clarify that these figures are indicative, and although they are based on several observations, not all cats have the same appearance or behavior as they grow.

How to know the age of a cat

After answering the question of how long a cat lives and comparing cat and human years, it's interesting to address the question of how to tell a cat's age. You should be aware that there's no precise technique for determining it . However, based on its behavior, as well as certain physical aspects that change over time, we can get an idea.

A cat enters the senior stage when it reaches 10 years of age. This is when the first changes in its coat can be seen. As cats age, they also become calmer and spend more time sleeping. They also develop a series of specific needs, such as a change in diet to softer, easier-to-chew foods—also adapted to the feline's energy. Another way to find out your pet's age—in case you don't know because it was a gift, rescued, adopted, or for any other reason—is to look at its teeth .

Young cats typically have 26 primary teeth—like human baby teeth. These are divided into 14 in the upper jaw and 12 in the lower jaw. You should also know that teeth don't begin to erupt until two weeks after birth, and sometimes as late as four. In the first month and a half of a cat's life, the premolars in the lower jaw will emerge, and by two months, all 26 teeth will have fully emerged. Your pet won't have adult teeth until six months old. However, from this point on, it's more difficult to calculate age. What you should do is pay attention to the condition of the jaw. Keep the following in mind:

1 year old : Teeth are white, healthy and clean.
2 years old : Teeth look a little duller and yellower, with a little tartar.
Between 3 and 5 years of age : Tartar will have spread and teeth will be more worn.
Between 5 and 10 years : The cat will be an adult and its teeth will have deteriorated more, and its gums will change color.
From 10 years of age : Teeth look very worn and have a lot of tartar buildup. Your pet may have lost some teeth.

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