Care · 5 min read · 9 Oct 2026
How long do cats live? Indoor, outdoor and by breed
Most pet cats live 12 to 18 years, and indoor cats often reach their late teens or early 20s. See lifespans by breed and what affects them.
General information, not veterinary advice. It can't diagnose or treat your pet. If your pet is unwell or you're worried, call your vet; in an emergency, go to an emergency clinic now. Full disclaimer
Most pet cats live somewhere between 12 and 18 years. Cats kept indoors tend to reach the upper part of that range, and some live into their early 20s. Cats that live outdoors have shorter lives on average, often much shorter.
These are typical figures, not a forecast for any one cat. Breed, lifestyle, weight and plain luck all move the number, and your vet is the only person who can say anything useful about your own cat's outlook.
How long do cats live indoors?
An indoor cat typically lives 12 to 18 years, and some reach their early 20s. In human terms that is roughly 65 to 89, with a 20-year-old cat at about 97. The cat years to human years chart has every age.
Indoor cats live longer mainly because of what they avoid: traffic, fights with other animals, predators, poisons and the infectious diseases that spread between cats outdoors.
How long do outdoor cats live?
Cats that live entirely outdoors tend to have much shorter lives. A commonly quoted average is only 2 to 5 years. Treat that as a rough figure. It is pulled down by cats that die young in accidents, and plenty of outdoor cats live far longer than that.
A pet cat that goes outside for part of the day usually falls somewhere in between. How much risk it carries depends on where you live, how busy the roads are, and whether the cat is neutered and vaccinated. A fenced run or supervised time outdoors gives some of the benefit with less of the danger.
How long cats live by breed
Breed makes less difference in cats than in dogs, but it does make some. These are the typical lifespans used in the breed profiles on this site, longest-lived first.
| Breed | Typical lifespan |
|---|---|
| American Shorthair | 15–20 years |
| Russian Blue | 15–20 years |
| Siamese | 12–20 years |
| Burmese | 15–18 years |
| Tonkinese | 15–18 years |
| Domestic Shorthair | 12–18 years |
| Domestic Longhair | 12–18 years |
| Mixed breed | 12–18 years |
| Turkish Angora | 12–18 years |
| British Shorthair | 12–17 years |
| Persian | 12–17 years |
| Ragdoll | 12–17 years |
| Bengal | 12–16 years |
| Birman | 12–16 years |
| Norwegian Forest Cat | 12–16 years |
| Abyssinian | 12–15 years |
| Chartreux | 12–15 years |
| Cornish Rex | 12–15 years |
| Devon Rex | 12–15 years |
| Maine Coon | 12–15 years |
| Oriental Shorthair | 12–15 years |
| Sphynx | 12–15 years |
| Singapura | 11–15 years |
| Exotic Shorthair | 10–15 years |
| Himalayan | 9–15 years |
| Manx | 12–14 years |
| Scottish Fold | 11–14 years |
| Somali | 11–14 years |
Ordinary mixed-breed and domestic cats sit near the top of the table. The ranges are averages, and individual cats of every breed fall outside them in both directions. To see where your cat is within its breed's range, use the cat age calculator.
One thing the table makes clear is how long the later years are. Most cats count as seniors from about 10, so a cat that lives to 15 or 16 spends roughly the last third of its life as a senior. That is a long stage, and it is worth setting up the checkups and the home for it early.
How old can cats live?
A healthy, well-cared-for cat can reach its early 20s, though most do not. Beyond the mid-20s is exceptional.
How old is the oldest cat?
The oldest cat on record is Creme Puff, a cat from Austin, Texas, who lived to 38 years and 3 days according to Guinness World Records. She was born in 1967 and died in 2005.
By the formula this site uses, 38 would be about 169 in human years, which mostly shows that the formula was not built for outliers. No one should plan around a record. A cat that reaches 18 has had a long life.
What most affects how long a cat lives
- Indoors or outdoors. The biggest single factor an owner controls, for the reasons above.
- Neutering. Spayed and neutered cats tend to live longer on average. They roam and fight less, and some reproductive diseases are avoided.
- Weight. Overweight cats are more likely to develop diabetes, and extra weight is hard on aging joints. Keeping a cat lean through middle age is one of the more useful things you can do.
- Routine vet care. Vaccination, parasite control and regular checkups prevent some problems and catch others early. From about 10, when a cat is considered a senior, twice-yearly visits with blood and urine tests are commonly recommended.
- Teeth. Dental disease is very common in older cats, is painful, and can put a cat off its food.
- Diet. A complete and balanced food suited to the cat's age and health, in the right amount.
- Genetics. Some breeds carry inherited heart or kidney problems. This is the part you cannot change, only watch for.
None of these guarantees a long life. They shift the odds.
When do cats die of old age?
For most cats, life ends somewhere in the teens, most often between about 12 and 18. Old age is not itself a cause of death. An old cat usually dies of a disease, or is put to sleep by a veterinarian when its illness can no longer be managed comfortably.
The conditions most often behind it, in general terms, are:
- Kidney disease. Chronic kidney disease is among the most common illnesses of old cats. It usually progresses slowly, and many cats live with it for years.
- Cancer. The risk rises with age. Cancer in senior cats covers the common types and signs.
- Heart disease. Often silent until it is advanced.
- Thyroid disease and diabetes. Both are usually manageable when found. Hyperthyroidism left untreated can put a strain on the heart.
Many old cats have more than one of these at once. Several can be managed for a long time when they are found early, which is the main argument for regular checkups in a cat that seems fine.
If your cat is very old and declining, and you are trying to work out what you are seeing, signs a cat is dying of old age explains what to look for.
When to call the vet today
Age does not explain sudden change. Call your vet or an emergency clinic the same day if an older cat has not eaten for 24 hours, is breathing with effort or with an open mouth, cannot pass urine, vomits repeatedly, collapses, has a seizure or suddenly cannot use its back legs.
Where to go next
The senior cat guide covers the health checks, food and home changes that help an older cat stay well for as long as possible.
This article is general educational information, not veterinary advice. The lifespans given here are typical ranges and cannot predict how long an individual cat will live. For questions about your own cat's health, life expectancy or care, talk to your veterinarian.