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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / November 2003What is ave. lifespan
What is the average lifespan of a strictly indoor, purebred cat?? > What is the average lifespan of a strictly indoor, purebred cat?? Hmm .. with my limited knowledge, I would say the AVERAGE might be 10 for a normal, mixed-breed cat that lived indoors and had good vet care and nutrition. I would guess that "Purebred" cats have a significantly shorter lifespan because many times the inbreeding that gives the flat faces, coat colors, etc. that are deemed "desirable" also breeds in congenital illness. The occurrence of cancerous tumors is higher in breeder cats. The occurrence of respiratory problems is significantly higher in "oriental" cats (e.g. Siamese and Burmese) than others, whether "purebred" or not. It isn't just a stereotype that mutts are healthier. They do tend to be. ACP <acpearce@io.com> wrote in rec.pets.cats.health+behav: > > What is the average lifespan of a strictly indoor, purebred cat?? Well, I have an indoor only half purebred cat. ;) She's 15 1/2.  SignatureBrandy??Alexandre? http://www.swydm.com/?refer=BrandyAlx Well, would you? > What is the average lifespan of a strictly indoor, purebred cat?? You raised my curiosity, so I did a brief search (but these links do not necessarily relate to purebred cats): According to this location, the average age of indoor cats is 12.5 years -- http://www.cfhs.ca/Programs/HumaneEducation/GeneralPublic/IndoorCat/ 12-16 years -- http://www.thedailycat.com/bringing/habitat/archive/indoors/ 12-15 years (survey by Cat Fancy magazine) -- http://stlcin.missouri.org/release/getpressdetails.cfm?Auto=575 12-15 years -- http://teched.vt.edu/StudentWebSites/SPCA/Cats.htm My personal experience with my own cats has been 16-20 years (again, mixed-breed cats, not purebred). MaryL (take out the litter to reply) Photos of Duffy and Holly: >'o'< http://tinyurl.com/8y54 (Introducing Duffy to Holly) http://tinyurl.com/8y56 (Duffy and Holly "settle in") Currently, my parents' cats (littermates) are about 18 years old, but their health is begining to go (one's developed arthritis, and the other one's beginning to eat a bit less). Magdalene IWG #1024/Drill Sgt. of Local 35/Soiled Doves of Colorado IFoRP # 57/First Mate of "The Flying Scotsman" KC MasterPiece of the KCRF BBQ Wenches One of Moonie's Naughty Kittens Red Gemini Ghetto Smurf To email me, remove my bodice > 12-16 years -- > http://www.thedailycat.com/bringing/habitat/archive/indoors/ > MaryL That´s a short average lifespan for an animal that can live up to its 30´s. :( > > 12-16 years -- > > http://www.thedailycat.com/bringing/habitat/archive/indoors/ > > MaryL > > That?s a short average lifespan for an animal that can live up to its 30?s. :( I was surprised, too. That's why I provided several links because everything I looked at seemed similar (and all wer shorter than my own experience -- which I hope will get longer and longer). MaryL > > 12-16 years -- > > http://www.thedailycat.com/bringing/habitat/archive/indoors/ > > MaryL > > That?s a short average lifespan for an animal that can live up to its 30?s. :( I have never heard of a cat living past the age of 22. I assume you have. > > > 12-16 years -- > > > http://www.thedailycat.com/bringing/habitat/archive/indoors/ [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > I have never heard of a cat living past the age of 22. I assume you > have. Take a peak at this guy (video link included.) He has passed away now, but he's as old as they come. Fairly unusual, yes, but it has happened: http://www.cnn.com/US/9802/03/fringe/old.cat/ Karen >Take a peak at this guy (video link included.) He has passed away now, but >he's as old as they come. Fairly unusual, yes, but it has happened: > >http://www.cnn.com/US/9802/03/fringe/old.cat/ Ah, yes, that's Granpa, a Sphynx. Another example of a breed known for being long-lived, although I wouldn't expect many to reach their 30s as Granpa did. > > > > 12-16 years -- > > > > http://www.thedailycat.com/bringing/habitat/archive/indoors/ [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Karen Wow! Pretty neat. Wonder what that cake was made of? And how they figured out he likes broccoli! > > > > > 12-16 years -- > > > > > http://www.thedailycat.com/bringing/habitat/archive/indoors/ [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > Wow! Pretty neat. Wonder what that cake was made of? And how they > figured out he likes broccoli! I think they said the cake was made of tuna and asparagus. Karen > > > > > > 12-16 years -- http://www.thedailycat.com/bringing/habitat/archive/indoors/ > > > > > > MaryL > > > > > [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > Karen I missed that. Perhaps his longevity was due in part to his taste for vegetables? ;) circa 6 Nov 2003 15:22:07 -0600, in rec.pets.cats.health+behav, Karen Chuplis (kchuplis@SPAMalltel.netGOAWY) said, > Fairly unusual, yes, but it has happened: > > http://www.cnn.com/US/9802/03/fringe/old.cat/ *Quite* unusual, actually. Laura SignatureI am Dyslexia of Borg, Your a.s will be laminated. > I have never heard of a cat living past the age of 22. I assume you > have. Yep, I posted it the other day. The oldest cat ever got to 34 and the same guy had another one who was 29. The oldest cat I have met "in person" was 17 and still jumping 6ft walls. She didn´t look like an old cat at all. She looked quite the same as every cat I´ve seen. > I have never heard of a cat living past the age of 22. I assume you > have. Twenty five years ago a 20+ year old cat was kind of unique. when I walked into a clinic that had one of them, you could expect to be invited back to see this unusual critter and the discussion of proper records etc would always come up. Today a 20+ year old cat is not the least bit unusual and they have to get to 30 before anybody does the oooh and aaaah routine. > > I have never heard of a cat living past the age of 22. I assume you > > have. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > least bit unusual and they have to get to 30 before anybody does the > oooh and aaaah routine. It's not that I don't believe you and Liz, but I have lived a little while and known lots of cat folks and even here in the land of the spoiled, over-vetted, over-loved, all-indoor cat, a cat of 20 is quite unusual. Many people ooo and aaaaa at about the 18 year point. Perhaps there is a regional factor. >It's not that I don't believe you and Liz, but I have lived a little >while and [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >ooo and >aaaaa at about the 18 year point. Perhaps there is a regional factor. Within the circle of people I know, a 20 year old cat is pretty unusual, although I know a few. My oldest lived to be 17. I think 13-15 is a good long life for most cats around here. Sherry "Sherry " <sriddles@aol.comkitty> wrote in message > Within the circle of people I know, a 20 year old cat is pretty unusual, > although I know a few. My oldest lived to be 17. I think 13-15 is a good long > life for most cats around here. Wonder what the secret of the 30-year-olds is? >> although I know a few. My oldest lived to be 17. I think 13-15 is a >good long >> life for most cats around here. >> >Wonder what the secret of the 30-year-olds is? I wonder, too, Mary. I'll take a guess that it's a combination of secrets, lifestyle and genetics too. (just like us!) Yoda is 11 now. I would sure like to think I'll have him another ten years. Sherry Sherry > I wonder, too, Mary. I'll take a guess that it's a combination of secrets, > lifestyle and genetics too. (just like us!) > Yoda is 11 now. I would sure like to think I'll have him another ten years. Here's to that! Great name, btw <G> > Sherry > > Sherry > Wonder what the secret of the 30-year-olds is? Eggs, bacon and coffee for breakfast! No kidding, that´s what that guy feeds his cats for breakfast - at least that´s what he says. I´m not convinced of what Steve is saying. Nearly every vet site I visit mentions how cats are living so much less and how the incidence of chronic diseases have increased dramatically. > > Wonder what the secret of the 30-year-olds is? > > Eggs, bacon and coffee for breakfast! No kidding, that?s what that guy > feeds his cats for breakfast - at least that?s what he says. I?m not > convinced of what Steve is saying. Nearly every vet site I visit > mentions how cats are living so much less Nope, *this* I don't believe. Cathy -- "Staccato signals of constant information..." ("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon and how the incidence of > chronic diseases have increased dramatically. > > Eggs, bacon and coffee for breakfast! No kidding, that´s what that guy > > feeds his cats for breakfast - at least that´s what he says. I´m not [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Cathy Which part? The one about the eggs, bacon and coffee? I have a hard time believing it too but mostly for the coffee. I would very much like to contact the owner of these cats and ask him about his secrets. > > > Eggs, bacon and coffee for breakfast! No kidding, that?s what that guy > > > feeds his cats for breakfast - at least that?s what he says. I?m not [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > time believing it too but mostly for the coffee. I would very much > like to contact the owner of these cats and ask him about his secrets. No, not that part - there are always weird but true stories like that, about humans, too - things happening against the odds & the expected outcomes. I don't believe that cats' lifespans (in general) are now shorter than they used to be. Cathy -- "Staccato signals of constant information..." ("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon > "Sherry " <sriddles@aol.comkitty> wrote in message > > > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > > Wonder what the secret of the 30-year-olds is? Genes & luck, maybe? (Which often seems to be the case in long-lived people - ones that are very healthy at 80+, & others that I've known who lived to be 102 & 104 - same family.) Anyway, I know someone who's had cats live to 19 & 21. She takes good care of them AFAIK, but OTOH, doesn't do anything more than I do, for example. So far, my cats have lived to 16 & 17. I presently have a healthy 11 year old, & then there's the young 5 year old - will obviously have to wait & see how they do, longevity-wise. Hopefully, well. Cathy -- "Staccato signals of constant information..." ("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon >Within the circle of people I know, a 20 year old cat is pretty unusual, >although I know a few. My oldest lived to be 17. I think 13-15 is a good long >life for most cats around here. I used to work with someone who must have known the secret of longevity for her cats. She claimed all her cats lived well into their 20s, and I didn't have a reason to doubt her. She had a 24 year old cat at the time who was ailing and died a few days later, and her other cat was 20. Once I was in a small independent pet supply store, where they had some resident cats funning free around the store. I was petting one cat and asked how old she was, and the clerk said 23. I said "you must mean in human years," and she said, no the cat was 23 years old. It looked like a senior cat, but not that old. So yes, I guess it depends on the region and who you run into it. My cat that lived the longest was 17 when she died of liver failure. >I used to work with someone who must have known the secret of longevity for >her >cats. She claimed all her cats lived well into their 20s, and I didn't have a >reason to doubt her. That's pretty amazing I think. I like to think I'm a pretty good cat owner and am diligent about vet care, safety and nutrition. Still I've never had one live to be 20. I'd sure like an opportunity to visit with someone who has had such longevity with their cats. Sherry >>I used to work with someone who must have known the secret of longevity for >>her [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >to be 20. I'd sure like an opportunity to visit with someone who has had such >longevity with their cats. I asked her what she thought the secret was, but she said it was just luck. I asked her about diet, etc. but I didn't find out anything she was doing to care for her cats that was out of the ordinary. Maybe she just had a knack for selecting long-lived cats. Some were shelter cats, but she also had a purebred that made it to its 20s. So it didn't seem to have anything to do with the breed of cat she chose to adopt. > ...even here in the land of the spoiled, > over-vetted, > over-loved, all-indoor cat, a cat of 20 is quite unusual. Many people > ooo and > aaaaa at about the 18 year point. Perhaps there is a regional factor. My oldest cat lived to be just a couple of months shy of 20. He was completely healthy and looked like a cat in his prime until about a year-and-a-half before he died. At that time, the his physical health began to decline rapidly and I went through a very painful period of trying to give him the best care possible and then the necessity to face the reality that euthanasia was to be my "final gift of love" to him. If you click on the second link under my signature and scroll down to the fourth picture from the bottom, you can see a picture of him at age 18. (The photo shows Duffy relaxing on the hutch and a picture of Raucher on the shelf below.) Also, if you look at the very last picture on that page, you will see a photo of Amber (white cat) at age 15. She went to RB a year later. MaryL (take out the litter to reply) Photos of Duffy and Holly: >'o'< http://tinyurl.com/8y54 (Introducing Duffy to Holly) http://tinyurl.com/8y56 (Duffy and Holly "settle in") "Mary" <rosefan@email.com> wrote in message news:<XCFqb.62812> > Twenty five years ago a 20+ year old cat was kind of unique. when I > > walked into a clinic that had one of them, you could expect to be > > invited back to see this unusual critter and the discussion of [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > ooo and > aaaaa at about the 18 year point. Perhaps there is a regional factor. Maybe it has to do with how one defines "unusual" and then I would expect the exposure. I've spent over 20 years walking into veterinary clinics and working with veterinary staff all over the Pacific Northwest. Unique animals are *always* pointed out by the vets and staff when I'm visiting. Thus my exposure to a very large number of animals may give me a different definition of "unusual". Thus the 20 year was pointed out 25 years ago and now it's the 30 year old. I suppose there may be some value in trying to quanitify the numbers, but doing so would be pure guessing anyway. > Maybe it has to do with how one defines "unusual" and then I would > expect the exposure. I've spent over 20 years walking into > veterinary > clinics and working with veterinary staff all over the Pacific > Northwest. Unique animals are *always* pointed out by the vets and > staff when I'm visiting. According to the vets and techs at Shadow's former vet clinic, he was unusual. They'd never heard much of cats who'd had feeding tubes and lived through hepatic lipidosis and still lived to be treated for IBD and FeLV. I *do* think it is a regional thing and the people in those regions and how much they are going to go through for their pet. Or as some would say, put their pet through. >I have never heard of a cat living past the age of 22. I assume you >have. The vet we go to has a framed picture on the waiting room wall of a cat that lived to 25 1/2. My previous cat was born in my presence, always had access to outdoors, and died in my arms a bit past his 19th birthday. I always thought 15-20 was typical. -- Bogus e-mail address, but I read this newsgroup regularly, so reply here. > >I have never heard of a cat living past the age of 22. I assume you > >have. > > The vet we go to has a framed picture on the waiting room wall of a > cat that lived to 25 1/2. Wow! I knew a cat named Harriett who was supposedly 23. She was a white Persion, nastiest, scabbiest, meanest little boney-butted cat I had ever seen. :-) Her owner gave her the best of everything, and Harriett loved it. She was so full of herself she held two males twice her size in abject fear of her. Hee! >My previous cat was born in my presence, > always had access to outdoors, and died in my arms a bit past his 19th > birthday. I always thought 15-20 was typical. That's so hard. My baby was 20, not born in my presence but adopted as a pregnant stray at 6 months. I held her while she died, too. I'll never forget that she was the one I held in my arms and cried to the nights my father and mother died. >> What is the average lifespan of a strictly indoor, purebred cat?? > >You raised my curiosity, so I did a brief search (but these links do not >necessarily relate to purebred cats): ... >My personal experience with my own cats has been 16-20 years (again, >mixed-breed cats, not purebred). Not that good here. One made it to 16. One died at 8. One died around 10. My vet said the average is 12-13 which jibes with your findings. My current two are both between a year and two so hopefully I don't need to be concerned for a while. In my case, no purebreeds. I didn't follow your links but a average age of death of 12-16 is not a very good average. I mean, an average should be one number, no? I guess there were different numbers for different conditions. > I didn't follow your links but a average age of death of 12-16 is not > a very good average. I mean, an average should be one number, no? I > guess there were different numbers for different conditions. Good point, but most of the sites I found referred to a range even though they called it an "average." As you said, it probably relates to different conditions. My "youngest" cat lived to age 16 before she went to RB, and the "oldest" was almost 20. I hope all of mine will continue to live long lives -- they are my loves. At present, I have Holly (age 8-1/2) and Duffy (approximately 5 years), and both are healthy and active. MaryL > >What is the average lifespan of a strictly indoor, purebred cat?? This is going to vary from breed to breed, and how 'extreme' the breed is will have an affect. A relatively structurally-normal breed like an Abyssinian, a Japanese Bobtail, or a Ragdoll will live about the same as an average cat, 12-15 years. They may do a little better beause they have had the advantage of superior care and nutrition throughout their lives. (*Please note that I am assuming the OP is talking about a responsible hobby breeder*). Cats that are less structurally normal, such as Persian types or Oriental types (extremely flat face, extremely wedge-shaped head) will vary a bit more, but there have been no definitive studies regarding longevity. Some breeds are known to have long lifespans. These include classic (applehead) Siamese, Bengals, and Maine Coons (off the top of my head). The true advantage (health-wise) of going with a responsible breeder is not necessarily in the area of longevity, but in quality of those years. Not to mention the temperament and socialisation advantages. Orchid Orchid's Kitties: http://nik.ascendancy.net/bengalpage Orchid's Guide: http://nik.ascendancy.net/orchid >What is the average lifespan of a strictly indoor, purebred cat?? As is the case with purebred dogs, the average lifespan will vary by breed. Some breeds are known to be relatively long-lived, often reaching the late teens. For example, I know a few breeders of Birman cats, and they say for Birmans to reach the age of 20 is not uncommon. The British (or European) shorthair and the Korat are also considered to be generally healthy, long-lived breeds, as are traditional Siamese and cats derived from them. The only breed of cat I've read described as comparatively short-lived is the Norwegian Forest Cat, which is said to usually not live beyond 15 or so years. Guessing... 15 - 17. Average. Some younger, some older. Cathy -- "Staccato signals of constant information..." ("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon > What is the average lifespan of a strictly indoor, purebred cat?? circa Thu, 6 Nov 2003 16:37:31 -0500, in rec.pets.cats.health+behav, Cathy Friedmann (clfr@adelphia.net) said, > Guessing... 15 - 17. Average. Some younger, some older. I'd guess a little less than that- factor in all the cats who die at young ages and they bring down the average. Laura SignatureI am Dyslexia of Borg, Your a.s will be laminated. > circa Thu, 6 Nov 2003 16:37:31 -0500, in rec.pets.cats.health+behav, > Cathy Friedmann (clfr@adelphia.net) said, > > Guessing... 15 - 17. Average. Some younger, some older. > > > I'd guess a little less than that- factor in all the cats who die at > young ages and they bring down the average. Yep. Average being the "mean" or middle, I though ten was about right. But maybe 15. That would give them an average of 10-20. I think. ?? >From: "Mary" rosefan@email.com >> circa Thu, 6 Nov 2003 16:37:31 -0500, in rec.pets.cats.health+behav, >> Cathy Friedmann (clfr@adelphia.net) said, [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >Yep. Average being the "mean" or middle, I though ten was about right. >But maybe 15. That would give them an average of 10-20. I think. ?? My oldest cat lived to be 17 when she died from kidney failure. Lauren ________ See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm >My oldest cat lived to be 17 when she died from kidney failure. > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html >Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm Just to add mine to the list, my oldest living cats were 17-1/2 and 19, both dying of kidney failure. At the same time, I have lost a 14-1/2 year old and a 7-1/2 year old to cancer, and a 2-year-old to heart disease. I don't know what average that would be for my household, but probably close to 14-15. I currently have two 13-year-olds and a 14-year-old, with asthma, enlarged heart, heart murmur and CRF among them. Ginger-lyn I think one reason that the numbers seem so low it that the averages are being given as means* rather than medians**. The average is brought down quite a lot by cats who die as kittens, get hit by cars, etc. The median is much less sensitive to extreme values and will look usually more like what you expect. That's why economists usually use medians for housing prices or incomes - they are less affected by $10,000,000 houses or Bill Gates' income. A Statistician * Mean = (all death ages)/# of ages * Median = middle value of all the ages of death So, if ages are 1,2,10,15,17,18,19 the mean (what we usually mean by averate) is (1+2+10+15+17+18+19)/7 = 11.7 but the median is 15 > I think one reason that the numbers seem so low it that the averages > are being given as means* rather than medians**. The average is [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > So, if ages are 1,2,10,15,17,18,19 the mean (what we usually mean by > averate) is (1+2+10+15+17+18+19)/7 = 11.7 but the median is 15 Good point. I prefer to use median for my students' grades, and for the same reason you cite -- one student who never reads and never comes to class may receive the impossibly low grade of 18 percent (literally!), and that will skew the whole thing if I use averages. MaryL |
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