Indoor cats live between 9-15 years and outdoor cats 4-5 years. Photography ©sjallenphotography | Thinkstock. When it comes to the question “How long do cats live?” all the research we’ve done overwhelmingly suggests that indoor cats live nearly three times as long as outdoor cats. Feral cats are resilient, adventurous, and accustomed to living outside. Do cats only knead people? Photography by Ramon Espelt Photography / Shutterstock. One study, published in the journal Behavioral Processes, found that feral cats were much more likely to growl or hiss than domesticated cats who had owners. Stay up to date on the coronavirus outbreak by signing up to our newsletter today. He has arthritis but still manages to get upstairs and jump on my bed each morning! When she introduced herself to me, she was already grey and long in the tooth. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The less fortunate cats live under bushes, in drafty barns, under houses, in smelly alleys and so forth. 16 1/2 to 17 yrs old. Like all animals, community cats settle where food and shelter are available, and they are naturally skilled at finding these on their own. She suffered a stroke at which point I had the vet put her down. There are many owners that allow them to come in and out at their leisure. Royal Canin provides nutrition tailored to cats’ and dogs’ specific needs – helping them live their happiest and healthiest lives. Thank you, and thank you for the article! Please refresh the page and try again. What about the life expectancy for an outdoor cat? So, how long do cats live? I live in the woods and the nearest neighbor is a quarter mile away. I have lived in an apartment for 8 1/2 yrs with a living room that opens onto a courtyard, which she loves. The “nine lives" story is just a popular myth that has been around for hundreds of years. My two cats as of 20th October 2020 are 20 years old they where born on 4th October 2000 they are healthy and go out regularly… and are still fairly active although they dk tend to sleep a lot ???????? A number of challenges tend to limit the average cat lifespan of an outdoor cat. They do well in all types of climates. How long do cats live, on average? Have a question about a specific breed’s longevity? Before cats took up residence with humans almost 10,000 years ago, they were loners, wrote John Bradshaw and Charlotte Cameron-Beaumont in the book "The Domestic Cat: The Biology of Its Behaviour" (Cambridge University Press 2000). How close do you live to roads and thoroughfares? Who is the current record holder? A pet’s health is the key to a magnificent and happy life. Is the weather amenable year-round to an outdoor lifestyle? When feral cats did meow, it was indiscriminate — at humans, dolls and dogs alike. The only experience that domestic cats in the city may have with water would be related to the weather—a rainy season. Many people wonder how many years they'll have with their furry friends. (The experiment actually looked at how cats that live alone experience stress differently from those in multi-cat households.) The … Fortunately, attentive cat owners provide all of those things. I think it’s impossible to really compare outdoor vs indoor lifespans because there is such a difference between a cat truly fending for itself and one that is cared for outside. Thanks for the tips, I’m not being bothered with other people animals. I hear the ‘3 years’ number a lot, and here you used 3-30, but I haven’t been able to find any academic or otherwise scientific data on how these numbers are obtained. I never even minded cleaning up after him when he couldn’t make it to the litter box in time because I knew he tried but just couldn’t move fast enough, but the day he fell off the coffee table and just lay stunned on the floor I knew his quality of life was gone. Where do cats live? Get tips and exclusive deals. These are all limiting factors, as are increased exposure to fleas, ticks, and other parasites and illnesses. How long do indoor cats live? Meowing at humans is partially a learned behavior. Related: How to Increase Cat Life Expectancy. When answering, “How long do cats live?” we’re concerned, like Lord Chesterfield, with “the average cat.” On average, female cats live one to two years longer than male cats. Therefore, the amount of time they’d need to rest would be a lot less. Cats will sometimes knead on soft surfaces like blankets or their preferred napping location to get into a comfortable position. A guide to cat lifespan. I have a calico who is approx. But, how many xs per day should a normal cat pee? The Domesticated Cat The domesticated cat is one of the most popular pets in the world. The low frequency of purrs causes vibrations within the body that have been shown to help heal bones and wounds, build muscle, reduce pain , repair tendons, decrease swelling, and make breathing easier. That's because they don’t come across poisons and infectious diseases or disagreements with other cats, dogs, or Cadillacs. If you live with a … Reviewing the last several years’ worth of information, I’ve seen the “current” oldest cat have ages ranging from 23 to 36. By outdoors I mean that she never came in the house but had regular meals, attention, vet care, flea/worm treatments and shelter to get out of the weather when she wanted. Tell us: How long have your cats lived? We want to hear how old your cats are! Melvin Pena Even in unfamiliar areas, our savvy feline friends seem to have a gift for knowing where they’re going. 15-year lifespans are not unusual. If you see feral cats in your neighborhood or near your home, here’s what you should do and not do to make sure the feral cats, your own pets, and any nearby humans all stay safe and disease-free. How long do cats live? To the relief of dogs everywhere, we can say without a doubt that cats have but one life to live. Unlike many cat habits, this one has a relatively clear explanation. Except for 1 exceptionally cold winter she had lived outside the entire time. Wright told Live Science. My calico Marigold lived to be 21 years 2 months. House cats meowed much more often, and only at humans, suggesting that they develop meowing as a language specifically for their owners. New York, I’ve noticed she has started sleeping more. Posted on April 11, 2010 by Patricia. They are extremely adaptable and are now present on all the continents (including Antarctica) and on 118 of 131 main groups of islands. or poop? Since they live in colonies in a territory they know well, they’re able to cope with below zero temperatures. Learn cats average lifespan and what you can do to give your cat many healthy years. If your current vet hasn’t answered your questions, get a second opinion. Myths are old stories (sometimes called "legends") that typically feature a person, animal, hero, or event. Cats … How Do Cats Remember Where They Live? The previous owner did not give me her birthdate. "Why use vocalization when it's so efficient to use the other senses?" In the last decade, the average oldest living cat is 29.857 years old. Some factors are outside of our control. Its page on “Oldest Cat Living” wisely and expressly states that the current record holder is a flexible and changeable position. We’ll give you information on everything ranging from the general question “How long do cats live?” to the average age of the “current” oldest living cat, the average of the outlying ages, and the averages for indoor and outdoor cat lifespan. I keep her litter box in my bathroom. Never-before-seen 'mud mummy' from Egypt discovered in wrong coffin, Whale that stranded off Florida is completely new species (and already endangered), Children's ID tags unearthed at Nazi death camp in Poland, The story you heard about Genghis Khan's death is probably all wrong, Arctic Ocean was once a tub of fresh water covered with a half-mile of ice. The domestic cat is able to live just about anywhere. WHEN BUYING A KITTEN: Buyer Beware of Kitty Mills and Pet Stores. There are plenty of catnip products available, ranging from cat toys filled with catnip, live catnip plants, dried catnip, catnip oil and even catnip sprays. Oct 8th 2020. Indoor cats live a lot longer than outdoor cats. Cats lose hair most commonly due to allergies, parasites (like fleas or ringworm), stress, and sometimes pain (licking the sore spot). By © Here at Catster, we’ve done the research on the average cat lifespan and have all the information you need to answer the question, “How long do cats live?” We’ve crunched the numbers and can tell you that, like novels, the life expectancy of cats depends on a variety of circumstances, including environment, diet and health. “Cats who are playful with other cats, were socialized to other cats as kittens and throughout their lives and do not have clinical signs of fear or anxiety have more chance of success.” (And we're unlikely to appreciate a cat spraying urine all over a new sofa.)  |  I would certainly like some feedback. How long do cats live? He is now blind in one eye but it doesn’t seem to impede him at all. © 2019 Belvoir Media Group. Required fields are marked *, You may use these HTML tags and attributes:
. Then there are the cats that live with us, but even this subset is a spectrum; some keep a relative distance, while others positively thrive with human company. Because they are unsocialized, community cats can’t live indoors with people, and are therefore unadoptable. Your best bet is to ask your vet for help. On average, wild, homeless and feral cats live dramatically shorter lives than domestic cats. It is thought that cats have been kept as pets for thousands of years. In other words, your cat meows at you because early on, she learned that doing so got your attention. Thus, I’m used to cats, know cats, and have developed a healthy respect for them as a species. Honestly, since you live in a warmer climate, I doubt the feral cats will actually sleep in any shelter you make. They require more attention, more distractions, and must be encouraged to get sufficient exercise to avoid obesity. The answer has to do with domestication, experts told Live Science. You will receive a verification email shortly. What did Chesterfield have in mind? And why do cats like to bump heads with their human companions in a cross-species version of a fist bump? In reality, though, these little furry friends do sleep because they are bored, which doesn’t mean that they need it. And what factors play into how long a cat lives? His arthritis was so bad he couldn’t even bend his legs anymore and was almost totally blind. She asked me if Gabby had been drinking normally and urinating normally. Visit our corporate site. However, they also have the freedom to explore, mark out favored perches and get natural exercise. how long do cats live? Petting can comfort your kitty, so go ahead and snuggle up. Instead, these wild cats communicated through their sense of smell, or by rubbing against or urinating on objects like trees. 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