What is the cat breed that lives the longest? The shortest?

A study has just revealed the cat breeds with the longest life expectancy among domestic cats, and those with the shortest lifespan.


This study, published on May 7 in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, analyzed data from nearly 8,000 domestic cats that died in the United Kingdom between January 2019 and March 2021. According to Dan O'Neill, an epidemiologist at the Royal Veterinary College in London and co-author of the study, the main goal was to use the data to help cat owners make informed decisions about their pets' healthcare.

Researchers developed "life tables" to estimate the average remaining life expectancy of cats at any given age, excluding data from cats that died before that age. The study revealed that domestic cats in the UK have an average life expectancy of 11.7 years at birth. Mixed-breed cats live on average 1.5 years longer than purebred cats.

Birman and Burmese cats have the longest life expectancy at birth, with an average of 14.4 years. In contrast, Sphynx cats have a life expectancy of only 6.7 years, likely due to a genetic predisposition to heart or other diseases.



Other factors also influence cats' life expectancy. Females live on average 1.3 years longer than males, and neutered cats live 1.1 years longer than non-neutered cats. Cultural preferences, such as keeping cats indoors or letting them outside, can also affect the estimated life expectancy, although these preferences are difficult to quantify.

The life tables provide owners and veterinarians with additional information for making important decisions regarding adoption, medical treatment, or euthanasia, said Kendy Teng, an epidemiologist at Chung Hsing National University in Taiwan and co-author of the study. This study also had an unexpected emotional impact on some cat owners, prompting them to treat their pets better and appreciate the time spent with them.