Many cat breeds can live up to 8 or 9 years or less, but some cat breeds can live up to almost 20 years. That is around 80 years old in cat years. There may be many different reasons for their long life spans. We will discuss them one by one in this article; for each cat breed, the average life span will also be addressed and the secret behind such lifespan.
1- Burmese
The Guinness world record for the longest living cat in the world belonged to a 35-year-old Burmese cat. These cats, however, do not live as long as that, but they still have longer average lifespans compared to other cat breeds.
Burmese cats can live from 18 to 25 years, which is longer than most cat breeds. Burmese cats live this long only because they do not have many diseases that may prove life-threatening. They also do not have many genetic diseases that may arise from time to time.
2- Siamese
The Siamese can live up to 15 to 20 years of age and can spend relatively healthy lives since they do not have many diseases in their genes, such as kidney problems, heart problems, etc.
They are quite playful and intelligent cats and can even be trained to follow commands and do some tricks if they are up to it. The Siamese cat’s lifespan can go even further if the owner takes proper care and does not neglect enough to get it sick.
3- Tabby cat
The tabby cat lifespan lives a somewhat shorter life than the cat breeds mentioned above. They live up to 15 years, and that is due to their less active lifestyle. They are pretty pleasant and loving animals, affectionate towards their owners and other pets, and tend to get along well.
They do not have any problems during their lifestyle and tend to stay young for a long time. They are prone to some problems such as obesity, but that can be easily taken care of with a good diet and exercise.
4- Russian Blue
This cat is considered the most elegant among most cat breeds and was blessed with a slender body, long arms and legs, a beautifully structured face, and big eyes. Russian Blue cat breeds can live up to 20 years in age and tend to live relatively healthy lives if living conditions are acceptable.
They are susceptible to kidney problems such as stones and kidney infections. They are indoor cats; hence they have a better chance at surviving and living long and healthy lives. They can be quite shy around strangers, but they get quite comfortable with them over time. They are also a part of the few cat breeds that tend to have a favorite person in the house with whom they like to spend all their time.
5- Bombay
On average, the Bombay cat has a lifespan of 20 years, and they can be pretty robust cats throughout their lives. They are quite rare, so it is tough to find one. They are playful, goofy, sometimes serious, but usually, they are a joy to be around. They are quite attention-seeking and are very intelligent, and are a part of the small group of cat breeds that are smart enough to learn tricks.
They may be rare, but that does not suggest many health problems. They are susceptible to many common diseases that affect all cat breeds, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or HCM, the most common type of heart problem in cats.
6- Sphynx Cat
This cat may look weird and sometimes even creepy, but the sphynx is a part of the hairless cat breeds, and it can live up to an age of about 15 to 20 years. This is quite long considering the reason behind why the Sphynx looks like that. The Sphynx is hairless because of a recessive gene causing it to be born without any fur on its body.
Due to this same reason, this breed is highly popular among people who are allergic to cats. Sphynx cats are usually very compassionate cats and are quite friendly. Despite their genetic errors, they tend to live relatively healthy lives compared to other hairless cat breeds.
7- Persian
Persian Cats can live up to 20 years of age because they tend to spend their time inside the house and are less likely to be harmed by the elements in the wild. They rather prefer sleeping and resting compared to running around and making a mess.
However, they are pretty affectionate cats and will always try to get your attention. Their lifestyle is also why it is recommended that you take your Persian to the vet to get it checked for any diseases that may arise. If they are healthy, it is only possible for them to live up to 20 years or more.
They also have a pretty luscious fur coat that requires quite a higher amount of grooming to not become matted; the Persian breed may not be the one for you if you are disturbed by a lot of hair or fur sticking to different surfaces in the house.
Conclusion
In the end, it would be fair to say that any cat can live to 20 years or more in age if the owner takes proper care of its wellbeing and health. Many cat breeds can survive to an age of up to 25 years, but that would only be the case when the owner is not meticulous in every detail of their cat’s life.
A good diet and exercise are also important to ensure that your cat can live with you as long as possible. Keeping your cat safe from germs and other pathogens is crucial too. Researchers say that cat breeds that tend to spend more time outdoors have a drastically shorter lifespan of 5 to 6 years than cats that live indoors, which can live for up to 20 years.
