What is the average lifespan of a cat? What are the longest and shortest lifespans? What is the Guinness record?

When you adopt a cat as a member of your family, you wish to keep it with you for a long time. Therefore, some people may want to know in advance how long a cat’s life span will be.

In this issue, we would like to introduce the average lifespan of cats and the types of cats with long and short lifespans.

The lifespan of a cat depends on the environment and individual differences. The article is intended to serve as a general reference, but it can also be used as a hint for cat owners to spend more time with their cats in the future, for example, “Cats are said to have a short life span, so we should be aware of changes on a daily basis,” or “Cats are said to have a long life span, but there is something wrong with their behavior, so we should consult a hospital. I hope that you can use this information as a hint to help you and your cat spend a longer life together. Please support your cat’s healthy life.

What is the average lifespan of a cat and is it 20 years long?

According to the “2021 National Dog and Cat Breeding Survey” released by the Pet Food Association of Japan, the average life span of cats as a whole is 15.66 years. Since the average life expectancy for dogs was 14.65 years, cats live longer than dogs.
(Click here for more information from “2021 National Dog and Cat Breeding Survey Results,” Pet Food Association of Japan.

Also released on September 14, 2016, the results of a large-scale survey conducted by the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology and the Japan Small Animal Veterinary Medical Association show that “the average life expectancy of dogs and cats kept as pets in Japan was the highest ever as of 2014, at 13.2 and 11.9 years, respectively”.

Incidentally, according to the “Anicom Home Animal White Paper 2021,” the average life expectancy of cats that had non-life insurance was 14.3 years. This number of years is not surprising, since cats with pet insurance are considered to be well managed by their owners.

In this day and age when people’s life expectancy is increasing, it is very gratifying to see the life expectancy of our beloved cats, our partners in life, increase as well.

What is the Guinness record for the life span of a cat?

On the other hand, it is also true that cats are generally perceived as living longer than dogs, and some people may feel that the aforementioned information indicates that the life span of cats is actually not that long.

So how long did the longest-lived cats live?

According to Guinness World Records*, the longest-lived cat in history was a girl named Cream Puff, who was kept by an American family. She lived a whopping 38 years and 3 days. In terms of human age, she lived to be about 170 years old.
*Record was published on December 16, 2015.

If you have gone to the trouble of welcoming your beloved child into the world, you want it to grow up as healthy as possible for as long as possible, even if it does not live up to this record. For this reason, we want to make sure you have a good knowledge of “how to keep” your cat, “care”, “food and treats”, and “cat diseases”.

What is the human equivalent of a cat’s age?

Generally, it is said that one year after a cat is born (one year old) is equivalent to about 20 years of age for a human. Then, 6 years old is equivalent to 40 years old, 11 years old to 60 years old, and 16 years old to 80 years old.

When they reach approximately 10 years of age, they are in their “old age”. During the time you spend with your cat, you will begin to notice a decline in his/her body and senses. Since they will require more care than before, it is important to pay special attention to their daily activities and whether they are eating and drinking water properly.

How old is a cat 20 years old in human terms?

These days, it is not uncommon for cats to be in good health even after reaching 20 years of age. Applying the above formula, 20 years old for a cat is equivalent to 96 years old for a human. We should carefully monitor their daily condition and try to make sure that they can lead a comfortable life.

What is the average Cat lifespan by species?

Now, it’s time to get to the point that cat owners are concerned about. I would like to unravel the average life expectancy of each type of cat. However, please understand that this is only a trend, as we mentioned at the beginning of this article.

The following is shown in the “White Paper on Household Animals 2017” published by the Anicom Group on December 15, 2017. The average life expectancy of the top 10 contracted breeds of cats is compared.

<Average life expectancy of cats by breed (top 10 breeds by number of contracted cats)
*The ranking is in order of the number of contracted cats.
No. 1 Mixed-breed cats: 14.3 years old
2nd Scottish Fold 13.4 years old
No. 3 American Shorthair 13.5 years old
No. 4 Japanese Cats 14.3 years old
No.5 Munchkin 11.2 years old
No. 6 Russian Blue 13.1 years old
Norwegian Forest Cat: 12.6 years old
No. 8 Persian (Chinchilla) 13.9 years old
No. 9 Maine Coon 12.5 years old
No. 10 Ragdoll 13.5 years old
(Cats as a whole: 14.2 years old)

What type of cat has the longest life span?

If we judge the above breeds using the average life expectancy of cats (14.2 years) as a reference value, we can view mixed-breed and Japanese cats as having a longer life expectancy than average.

The Persian (chinchilla), American Shorthair, and Ragdoll (all 13.5 years old), which are approximations at 13.9 years old, could also be considered species that tend to have a longer life span.

What types of cats have short life spans?

On the other hand, the Munchkin, Maine Coon, and Norwegian Forest Cat, which did not quite reach the average life span, can be considered as breeds that tend to have a shorter life span.

However, if you are thinking of adopting a cat, this may be a good reference for you.

Is it true that feral cats have a short life span?

So what is the lifespan of a stray cat? It would be difficult to accurately measure the lifespan of a stray cat, but according to information provided by the Ministry of the Environment and the animal welfare centers of local governments, it is recognized to be approximately 3 to 5 years.

What is the difference between a domestic cat and a stray cat?

Stray cats tend to have a shorter lifespan because they live outside, which can lead to traffic accidents, injuries in fights, and infectious diseases that could be prevented if they were vaccinated.

Does the lifespan change between indoor and outdoor keeping?

As we mentioned earlier, we found that the average life expectancy of stray and domesticated cats can be more than twice as long as that of domesticated cats. So how much does life expectancy change between indoor and outdoor cats?

Here again, let’s look at the Pet Food Association’s survey results.

<202020 results
The average life span of cats that “never leave the house” is 16.13 years.
The average life span of cats that “go outside the house” is 13.57 years.
(The average life span of cats as a whole is 15.45 years.)

Apparently, indoor keepers live longer. Let’s go back a few more years to confirm this.

<2019 Year Results
Average life span of cats that “never go outside the house” is 15.95 years
Average life span of cats that “go outside the house” is 13.20 years.
(The average life span of cats as a whole is 15.03 years)

<Results for 2018 (2018).
The average life span of cats that “never go outside the house” is 15.97 years
The average life span of cats that “go outside the house” is 13.63 years.
(The average life span of cats as a whole is 15.32 years.)

<Results for the year 2017 (2017)
Average life span of cats that “never leave the house” is 16.25 years
The average life span of cats that “go outside the house” is 13.83 years.
(The average life span of cats as a whole is 15.33 years)

<Results for 2016 (2016)
Average life span of cats that “never leave the house” is 15.81 years
Average life span of cats that “go outside the house” is 13.26 years
(The average life span of cats as a whole is 15.04 years)

As can be seen, there is a large difference in life expectancy between indoor and outdoor cats. It can be assumed that the reason for this is that cats are exposed to more accidental risks when they go outside, such as the risk of accidents, injuries from fights, and infectious diseases.

What is the secret to a cat’s longevity?

So what are some of the secrets to a cat’s longevity? I would like to list a few points to keep in mind when keeping a cat.

Secret 1. diet

After all, it is “daily meals” that owners should pay attention to. Eating is directly related to survival, so this is a matter of course. Especially for domesticated cats that cannot choose their own food, their bodies are built by what their owners give them.

Therefore, it is a prerequisite for living together to properly control the amount and calories as well as nutritional intake. In addition to not overfeeding food and treats, it is important to keep in mind that giving your cat what you are eating because of its “cute begging gesture” can, in some cases, be very hard on its body.

Secret 2: The environment of the home

If food, clothing, and shelter is the first step toward happiness for humans, it is the same for cats. So what is the best living environment for them?

For example, it is essential to provide a cat tower that allows up-and-down movement and a place to hide and explore. It is important to provide an environment that is suited to the cat’s habits.

Also, things that we do not think about in our daily lives may be “burdensome” from a cat’s point of view. If you devise ways to allow cats to move freely in your home, they will be able to spend their time without stress.

Tip 3: Ensure activity levels

There is a concern that indoor pet owners may not get as much exercise. This may lead to loss of muscle mass and obesity. Risks of obesity include diabetes, hyperlipidemia, heart disease, urinary tract stone disease, arthritis, and hepatic lipidosis. Try to reduce such risks by providing opportunities for increased activity on a daily basis.
If this is the case, be patient and work to get back to an appropriate weight, with an eye to diet.

On the other hand, if the owner wants to play with a cute cat and chases it around, it may increase stress! On the other hand, chasing a cat around by forcing the owner’s desire to “play with a cute cat”may lead to increased stress. Play with cats whenever they feel like it. Owners should take the stance that their cats are “lucky if they are left alone” and try to make their lives stress-free for their cats.

Tip 4: Be prepared for illness and for emergencies

Naturally, cats do not tell their owners that they are not feeling well or that they have a pain here. Therefore, it is difficult to notice if they become ill. Therefore, it is important not only to take care of their health on a daily basis, but also to take them for regular checkups. And of course, the necessary vaccinations.

Some cats may be afraid of hospitals or refuse them at all costs. To prevent this from happening, try to acclimate them to veterinary hospitals from a young age. Visiting the hospital for regular health checkups is an effective way to acclimate them.