Mary Allen
The age of a cat also depends in part on its breed: many cat breeds reach an impressive age of up to 20 years and more – is your cat one of them?
The average life expectancy of a cat depends on many factors. Diet, fitness, and general health have a big impact on how old a cat can live. Breed and individual hereditary factors also play a role: some cats seem to be more robust than others.
The Top 10 Longest-Lasting Cat Breeds
These 10 cat breeds can live to particularly old age. This is their average life expectancy:
- Balinese: 18-22 years old
- European Shorthair: 15 – 22 years
- Siamese: 15-20 years
- Ragdoll: 15-17 years
- Persians: 10 – 17 years
- Norwegian Forest Cat: 14-16 years
- Bengal: 12-16 years
- Maine Coon: 12-15 years
- British Shorthair: 12-14 years
- Somali: 10 – 12 years
How Old is My Cat In Human Years?
Cats age much faster than humans. The first year of life of a cat corresponds to about 15 human years. The second and third cat years are equal to six human years. From this point on, the cat-human comparison is more linear and has a ratio of about 1:4, and even 1:5 in old age.
Some cats get very old. The oldest cat in the world to make it into the Guinness Book of Records was Creme Puff from Texas: She died at the age of 38 and was considered the Methuselah of cats.
How Do I Know My Cat is Getting Older?
From the age of eleven, a cat is usually considered a senior. Typical signs of aging include:
- The decline in sensory performance
- Loss of muscle mass and strength
- Behavioral changes, e.g. due to a decrease in memory (dementia)
Just like in humans, these are signs of the biological aging process. It is important to distinguish these signs from the onset of disease. That’s why every senior cat should have regular veterinary check-ups: This way, chronic kidney failure, tumors or adult-onset diabetes can be detected in good time.