Every pet parent knows one universal truth about living with cats: You will most likely outlive every single one of them. So, what cats live the longest? There’s no straight answer but proper nutrition, exercise, medical attention and more, all play a part in upping the cat lifespan. While most cats will live until the median age of 15 years, there are many steps to take to increase the cat life expectancy.
Make sure your cat feels fulfilled
“Minimize stress whenever you can,” says Dr. Andrew Kaplan, DVM, founder of City Veterinary Care and The Toby Project (a spay/neuter program to reduce animal shelter deaths). He cites the Ohio State School of Veterinary Medicines’ indoor cat initiative as a great resource.
“Cat caretakers need to consider that cats are not designed for confinement in our homes. Making simple changes such as getting another feline companion for your cat can make him much happier. They’re highly social and benefit from living with other cats.”
So, introducing another cat to the home is one way to help your cat live a more fulfilled, and subsequently, longer life — along with adding plenty of enrichment to your cat’s environment.
Monitor your cat’s health with regular vet visits
Another way to help ensure a longer life is to monitor your cat’s health. Dr. Kaplan recommends boosting regular cat examinations from annually to every six months starting at 10 years old.
Dr. Laura Andersen, shelter veterinarian at Nebraska Humane Society, echoes this advice. “I’ve known two cats who lived beyond 23 years old. They both received regular veterinary care — this helps identify any medical issues early so they can be treated or managed.”
Proper nutrition can increase cat life expectancy
A research paper published by the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery indicated that fixed, crossbreed cats with lower body weights are associated with longer lives. “We must remember that each cat is an individual, and aging includes a multitude of factors: breed, genetics and environment,” Dr. Andersen says. “However, diet is very important. A study done on the Effect of Nutritional Interventions on Longevity of Senior Cats determined that cats given antioxidants, vitamin E, beta-Carotene, dried chicory root and a blend of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids added significantly to the lifespan of the cats than those cats fed a controlled diet.”
And while diet is important, how much and how often your cat eats is also key. Slimming your cat down while super-sizing vital nutrition will help pack on the years!
Simply paying close attention to your cat can positively affect the cat lifespan
Although genetics may play a factor in living longer, “nothing replaces TLC,” according to Megan Snyder of Good Old Tails Senior Animal Rescue. The organization’s oldest cat, Stubby, is a sweet senior domestic short-haired cat with a nubby tail. While he isn’t currently on a special diet, he gets wet food to keep his urinary system running smoothly. It’s the maintenance and attention to detail that keeps the rescued kitties in tiptop shape.
“The most important thing to keep your senior cat healthy is to pay attention to him,” Snyder says. She urges cat parents to look for changes in behavior, stool/urine, coat condition and weight. “You have to know your cat well and catch the changes before it’s too late. Every cat is different, so saying ‘feed them premium food’ isn’t necessarily right for every cat.”
Are certain cat breeds known for longer lifespans?
Among the cat breeds touted for longevity, the three that come out on top are the Domestic Shorthair, Siamese and Russian Blue.
One senior cat’s success tale
Scruffy, a 17-year-old striped gray beauty, lives with his person, Brandon Kirk Newsom, and a feline sibling named Sophie. Newsom adopted the Maine Coon as a kitten. Their life together illustrates what proper cat care means to a happy and healthy life. Scruffy is a cool, calm and confident 13 pounds of fluffy fun. Newsom sees Scruffy’s natural resiliency as a great boon to his longevity, along with Scruffy’s love of Sophie.
“Scruffy’s time is filled with grooming and snuggling with Sophie.” While he may be older, his days are filled with love and the activities he craves. “Scruffy loves to go on walks,” Newsom says. “Being an older cat has not changed him that much from when he was a kitten. He’s still very healthy and vivacious.”
Keeping your cat living longer and being healthier is a multi-faceted strategy that includes diet and supplements, proper medical attention and an enriched environment. The years go by so fast, and you can add many more of them if you take time to address your cat’s physical, emotional and mental well-being.
Tell us: How old was the oldest cat you knew? What steps have you taken to increase your cat’s life expectancy?
Thumbnail: Photography by krblokhin/Thinkstock.
Read more about cat aging on Catster.com:
16 thoughts on “How to Increase Cat Life Expectancy”
Do you have any recommendations for specific supplements that I could give to my cat that would fulfill the recommendation of “antioxidants, vitamin E, beta-Carotene, dried chicory root and a blend of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids?”
Hi there Lindsey,
Thanks for reaching out! Here is an article that will help you with more information on cat supplements:
I just lost my oldest for the baby her name is Toby and she lived to the ripe old age of 21. I now have left five male cat between the ages of nine and 14 and all of them appeared to be healthy thank goodness. Thank you for letting me share
I read the article on How to Increase Life Expectancy previously and I still don’t understand why they recommend Beta Carotene instead of vitamin A, since cats cannot effectively convert Beta Carotene to vitamin A. I don’t understand how a blood test showing the level of B- Carotene is an indicator for its effectiveness. Did they not also test for vitamin A levels?
Hi there Gloria,
Thanks for reaching out! We suggest contacting someone from the study for any specific questions. The following is link to the study: http://www.jarvm.com/articles/Vol5Iss3/Cupp%20133-149.pdf
Thanks!
In the article on increasing cats’ lifespan, you stated: “A study done on the Effect of Nutritional Interventions on Longevity of Senior Cats determined that cats given antioxidants, vitamin E, beta-Carotene, dried chicory root and a blend of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids added significantly to the lifespan of the cats than those cats fed a controlled diet.”
Which study are you quoting? What scientific knowledge to they have? Them state that cats should have (among other things) dried chicory root and beta-carotene. Why chicory root? And do they not understand that cats can’t convert beta-Carotene to vitamin A effectively?
Hi Gloria! Thanks for pointing that out. We added the link and I’ll paste it here, too: http://www.jarvm.com/articles/Vol5Iss3/Cupp%20133-149.pdf
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Right now I have my mother’s cat, Sassy, a grey tabby who is 21 years old and was raised on grocery store dry and wet food. The vet says she is in great condition other than a little arthitus. I also have a black and white long haired cat, Fluffy, who is 18 years old. I raised him on premium wet food primarily. He has cancer and is being treated with medication. My vet said to give him whatever he wants to eat and forget about the premium food if he won’t eat it. He’s doing ok. Poppy, another “jellicle” cat, was abandoned at birth by his mother (a feral and sick cat that we couldn’t help) and nursed on a bottle with Similac until old enough to eat on his own. He really was my baby and lived till he was 20 years old. He also was fed premium food. All of my kitties are inside (my hunch is that is a BIG factor is a long lifespan), and all get tons of love and attention from the family and each other. My dog, Lucy, was 18 and healthy when cancer set in and took her away within 6 weeks. I think the key with many of our beloved furry family members is lots and lots of love and care…and that’s easy as pie! A great vet is important too!
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My beautiful 18 and a half marmalade tabby boy Rio took a vitamin C tablet for over half of his life. He had had urinary problems as a kitten and the Vet said to give him bit C instead of the expensive drugs he could have had. Worked a treat!
Vitamin C – what a great idea! Thanks for the holistic pro-tip!