What’s the Longest a Cat Has Ever Lived? Facts & Life Expectancy

The longest a cat has been known to live is 38 years and 3 days. The oldest recorded cat is a tabby cat named Creme Puff, and she lived from 1967 to 2005. While a cat’s average lifespan is between 12-14 years, there are quite a few cats that have lived impressively long lives. Here is a general record of some of the oldest cats that have lived throughout history.

Oldest Recorded Cats Born Between 1900–1940

The earliest recorded cat that lived for over 30 years is Puss, the Tabby cat. He lived from 1903 to 1939, living a total of 36 years and 1 day.

Another cat’s age that was documented during this period is Ma. Ma is a Domestic Shorthair who was born in 1923 and lived for 34 years and 5 months. Both Puss and Ma lived in the United Kingdom.

Oldest Recorded Cats Born Between 1940–1970

There are more records of cats that have lived over 20 years old in this era. Kitty is a female cat that lived for nearly 32 years. She was born in 1957. Another cat born in this era is Granpa Rexs Allen, a Sphynx-Devon Rex that was born in 1964 and lived for 34 years and 2 months.

Creme Puff, the oldest known cat, was also born in this era. She was born in 1967 and lived until 2005. The second oldest known cat was Baby, a Domestic Shorthair. He was born in 1970 and lived until he was 38 years old.

Oldest Recorded Cats Born Between 1970–2000

You can find many more records of cats born from 1970 and on that have lived for at least 25 years.

You can find some cats born in the 1990s that are over 30 years old. Chicchi is a cat in Italy that was born in 1991 and lived for 31 years.

How Do Cats Live Longer Lives?

There’s no single factor that guarantees a cat will live over the average lifespan. Genetics can play a role, and some breeds are known to live long lives.

It’s important to note that a cat’s breed does not indicate that it will live a certain number of years. Other factors can influence lifespans. A cat’s diet and lifestyle can also lead to circumstances that can add or subtract years to its life.

In general, indoor cats tend to live much longer than outdoor cats.  Cats that eat high-quality food and get plenty of exercise are at a lower risk of developing health issues like diabetes and heart disease.

Conclusion

Some cats can live for many years beyond their average life expectancy. Several different factors, like genetics and lifestyle, play a role in how long a cat lives. With the general improvements in the quality of life for pet cats, it is very possible that we may continue to see more and more cats live longer lifespans in the future.

Featured Image Credit: Kristi Blokhin, Shutterstock