Because of the limited space and care time at home, cats with cute looks, independent personalities, and cleanliness are becoming increasingly popular among everyone. Statistics show that the number of domestic cats is increasing yearly, while the number of domestic dogs is decreasing yearly, which shows their amazing charm. Therefore, how long cats can accompany us has become a matter of concern to cat lovers.
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LONDON, UK (Merxwire) – Are you a dog person or a cat person? This is a question that many pet owners like to discuss. Because of the limited space and care time at home, cats with cute appearances, independent personalities, and a love of cleanliness are becoming increasingly popular. Statistics show that the number of domestic cats in Taiwan is increasing yearly and now exceeds 870,000. The number of domestic dogs in Taiwan has dropped by 40%, which shows the amazing charm of cats.
What cat lovers are most concerned about is how long their cute cats can live, preferably a hundred years. How long does a cat stay with its owner on average? The latest research shows that the life expectancy of domestic cats is about 11.74 years. Female cats live longer than male cats, averaging 16 months longer. The longest-lived cats are Burmese and Birman, with an average lifespan of 14.4 years.
The lifespans of other common domestic cats are Siamese, Persian, Ragdoll, Norwegian Forest, Russian, Maine Coon, British, and Bengal, with average remaining lives of 11.7 years, 10.9 years, 10.3 years, 10 years, 9.7 years, 9.7 years, 9.6 years and 8.5 years. The shortest average lifespan is Sphynx’s 6.7 years.
This study was a large-scale study conducted by the Royal Veterinary College and National Chung Hsing University in Taiwan and collected data from nearly 8,000 cats. The data comes from 7,936 cats that visited veterinary hospitals in 2019, including 6,998 mixed breed cats, 819 purebred cats, and 119 Mixes of undetermined breed. These cats died between January 2019 and March 2021.
The author mentioned that the main motivation of this study is not only to give people a basic concept of the life span of cats, but also to let everyone understand the important factors that affect the life span of cats, and make good use of this information to make better decisions to maintain the health of cats. The results of this research report have been published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, clearly revealing the average age of the cat species participating in the study for reference by cat lovers.
The purebred cat with the shortest average life expectancy in the study, Sphynx, also known as the Canadian hairless cat, is a breed resulting from a genetic mutation. Scientists have analyzed that the reason for their shorter lifespan is related to their mutated recessive genes. Therefore, kittens have a higher mortality rate and are more susceptible to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In addition, being hairless makes its skin less protective and has a poor ability to regulate temperature differences. If they are exposed to the sun for too long, they are more susceptible to skin cancer.
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This study also addresses a long-discussed question, which is the difference in lifespan between purebred cats and mixed-breed cats. Studies have shown that purebred cats are more likely to have inherited genetic problems, resulting in physiological defects. The chance of death before the age of 3 is 1.83 times that of mixed-breed cats. Mixed-breed cats live longer than pure-bred cats due to genetic diversity and can live about 1.5 years longer. However, other studies have shown that if purebred cats receive more care from their owners, for example, if their main activity space is indoors, their average life span may be higher than that of mixed-breed cats.
Because purebred cats are more prone to genetic defects, the proportion of abandoned cats has increased significantly in recent years. According to statistics from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the number of abandoned purebred cats has increased sharply in 2023. Among them, the number of abandoned Persian cats has increased by 92%, Ragdoll cats have increased by 61%, and Bengal cats have increased by 22%. Many owners adopt or purchase cats of certain breeds without knowing the breeds. In addition, some people prefer purebred cats as gifts to family or friends, which exacerbates the problem of abandonment.
In addition to the gender and breed mentioned above, other factors affect the average lifespan of a cat. For example, cats who have been neutered live an average of 1.1 years longer. Different breeding cultures will also affect the life expectancy of cats. For example, in areas or countries that are accustomed to keeping cats indoors and rarely let cats go out, the average life span of domestic cats is longer than that in areas where cats are often allowed to go out. However, this kind of data is usually difficult to count and quantify.
From the data, it seems that raising mixed-breed female cats can accompany us for a longer time, but the length of time is not the most necessary consideration. The most important thing is to be fully prepared before raising it, to accompany it patiently after raising it, and to take care of it responsibly throughout its life. Regardless of the length of life, cherish the time you spend together and treat him as your precious family member. Don’t be greedy for temporary pleasure, keep pets without careful consideration, and finally abandon them, leaving irreparable regrets.