Average lifespan among domestic cats
Reliable information on the lifespans of domestic cats is varied and limited. [1] Nevertheless, a number of studies have investigated the matter and have come up with noteworthy estimates. Estimates of mean lifespan in these studies range between 13 and 20 years, with a single value in the neighborhood of 15 years. [2] [3] At least one study found a median lifespan value of 14 years and a corresponding interquartile range of 9 to 17 years. [4] Maximum lifespan has been estimated at values ranging from 22 to 30 years although there have been claims of cats living longer than 30 years. [1] [2] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] According to the 2010 edition of the Guinness World Records , the oldest cat ever recorded was Creme Puff, who died in 2005, aged 38 years, 3 days. [9] Female cats typically outlive male cats, and crossbred cats typically outlive purebred cats. [2] [4] It has also been found that the greater a cat's weight, the lower its life expectancy on average. [4] The current oldest verified cat alive is Flossie, who was born in 1995 in the United Kingdom. [10]
A common misconception in cat aging (and dog aging) is that a cat ages the equivalent of what a human would age in seven years each year. This is inaccurate due to the inconsistencies in aging as well as there being far more accurate equations to predict a cat's age in "cat years". A more accurate equation often used by veterinarians to predict cat years is 4x + 16, (x being the chronological age of the cat) which works for cats who are two years of age or older.[ citation needed ]
In one study of cat mortality, the most frequent causes were trauma (12.2%), renal disorder (12.1%), non-specific illness (11.2%), neoplasia (10.8%) and mass lesion disorders (10.2%). [4] [11]
