How Long Do Cats Live?  Your Carmel Vet Clinic Explains Cat Life Expectancy

Almost everyday at our Carmel vet clinic, we are asked questions about life and death.  Whether you have a brand new playful kitten, or a geriatric sedentary cat, everyone wants to know how long can I expect my cat to live?

The average life span in cats is 15 years.  This is just an average so your cat’s actual life span can vary widely.  I like to use human year comparisons to put things in perspective for cat owners.  For example, a 15 year old is like a 75 year old human.  That does NOT mean they are going to drop dead at 15, but a 21 year old cat is equivalent to a 100 year old human.  Tomorrow is not promised to any of us, but hopefully you can enjoy your cat for many years to come.

What can I do to help my cat live longer?  Indoor cats live longer than outdoor cats due to the decreased risk of trauma, predators, etc…  So at our Carmel vet clinic, I recommend you keep your cat inside.  Keeping your cat indoors, however, can lead to other health problems such as obesity and diabetes IF they are overfed and under exercised (what I like to call buffet style feeding and coach potato lifestyle).  The best way to prevent this is to measure the food into small frequent meals throughout the day as well as feed in interactive food toys that encourage play and activity.  Dental disease in cats often leads to chronic oral infections.  Being obese and not maintaining oral can shorten your cats life by an average of 2 years!    At our Carmel vet clinic, we recommend periodically checking a blood panel on older cats to assess internal organ function like liver, kidneys, thyroid, and glucose levels.  If you catch things early, they are much easier to treat leading to not only a longer life, but a better quality of life.  Regular heatlh care, yearly physical examinations, parasite prevention, vaccinations, blood panel screenings, and dental cleanings are the best way to keep your cat happy and healthy as long as possible.

For more information on our Caring Hands Compassionate Hearts, click on this link to your Carmel Vet Clinic.