How long do cats live?

[ripitupbaby]

I have never owned a cat before, up until Smokey.  We adopted Smokey just before he turned 12 years old, and now he's 14. 
He isn't really showing any signs of old age or anything (he was lazy when we got him and he is still lazy), but I was wondering in general how long cats live? 

And what happens as they get old?  Do they have health problems or do most of them just up and die without much warning?

[knny187]

I know alot of people that have cats well above 20 years old.

Alot will depend if they're indoor, outdoor or indoor/outdoor cats.

I have to say on the average, mine usually lasted 14 years old.  My one cat was 19 when he was put down.  He was very spry & spunky up to about the last few weeks.  He became real forgetful, confused, & started dropping weight real fast.

Personally....I have NEVER seen a cat just die from old age.  They seem to keep on going & will suffer if they're hurting for a long time.

Everyone I've ever had (including all my family members & friends cats) had to be put down in the end.

[Vet]

I know alot of people that have cats well above 20 years old.

Alot will depend if they're indoor, outdoor or indoor/outdoor cats.

I have to say on the average, mine usually lasted 14 years old.  My one cat was 19 when he was put down.  He was very spry & spunky up to about the last few weeks.  He became real forgetful, confused, & started dropping weight real fast.

Personally....I have NEVER seen a cat just die from old age.  They seem to keep on going & will suffer if they're hurting for a long time.

Everyone I've ever had (including all my family members & friends cats) had to be put down in the end.

I agree with all of this.  Its not uncommon to find cats in their late teen's, and some significantly older than that.  I also cannot think of a cat that I know of that is that old that didn't have at least one major chronic disease--kidney disease, heart dieases, etc.

[ripitupbaby]

Hmmm ok thanks.   

I consider spry and spunky until the last few weeks to be pretty good.... and pretty close to dying of old age.  With our dane Harley, we knew the end was coming long before it did...he wasn't suffering or anything, but you could just tell. 

With the cat, it seems like it could be alot harder to tell.  Smokey's fine for now, anyway!

[Rimbaud]

I've known several people who've had cats live past 16 years old. Psycho is currently 8+ & hasn't missed a beat.

[CalvinH]

My cat's life expentacy is going to be shortened if he keeps using my head as a trampoline at 4:00am

[ripitupbaby]

My husband wants to get a Cheetoh cat really badly, and I want one too...but I keep telling him it'll have to wait till after Smokey is gone. 

So he's always like "Smokey looks like he is dying" and I keep telling him that Smokey has several good years ahead of him!   

 

[knny187]

& if he's an indoor car....he's only half way through his life


the best thing to do with this time is study the breed.  make sure it's the best fit for your household.

there's nothing wrong with a pound kitty

[Geo]

I have never owned a cat before, up until Smokey.  We adopted Smokey just before he turned 12 years old, and now he's 14. 

my sister had a cat (spice) that lived to be 21, but the last 4 or 5 years she really smelled funny....


she  lead one hell of a hard life

[Geo]

Personally....I have NEVER seen a cat just die from old age.  They seem to keep on going & will suffer if they're hurting for a long time.

my sisters cat (spice) pretty much just died in her sleep.....


ol spice milked father time for every second she could get

[knny187]

my sisters cat (spice) pretty much just died in her sleep.....


ol spice milked father time for every second she could get

maybe the cat was really asleep

[Geo]

maybe the cat was really asleep

too late now....

I took her down to the humane society and had her cremated because my sister was out of town...





come to think of it, my sister never did get that 25 bucks back to me for that !

[knny187]

you should have just taken the cat down by the beach & done an ocean burial

[Geo]

you should have just taken the cat down by the beach & done an ocean burial

no,I just wanted to get it over and done with...

I was kind of having flashbacks of when I had to put bear down

[ripitupbaby]

My husband will be PISSED if Smokey lives to be 21!   

[knny187]

no,I just wanted to get it over and done with...

I was kind of having flashbacks of when I had to put bear down

I think it would have been a good gesture.

Anyways.....I hear ya about Bear.

Putting down pets suck.  The dog is still young...but it keeps running through my head one day he'll be an old man & "that" day will come.

[gtbro1]

I've known several people who've had cats live past 16 years old. Psycho is currently 8+ & hasn't missed a beat.

 great name.   

[windsor88]

Instead of a car for my 16th birthday I got a Siamese cat.  Was with me for 16 years then I had to take it to the vet and have it put to sleep. 

[calmus]

Cats have nine lives.  Some of the lives are pretty short (accidents, disease), but others may be 5-10 years long.  Thus it is not that unusual to come across cats that are pushing 20.  In ancient Egypt, each life could be up to a hundred years. Some cats lived for almost a millenium.  Cats came to be seen as the repository of ancient wisdom and values. Symbols of better days, if you will.  They were revered as gods.  Then Jehovah got jealous and said that he would not strive with cats forever, and so he bribed Brahma to shorten each of their lives to the 5-10 year
 span they currently enjoy. Brahma also sent the not so famous eighth plague which involved the Angel of Death attacking ancient kitties in the Valley of the Kings.  Lots of flying fur and yowling was heard that night.  Was not a pretty sight in the morning either.