Ask A Scientist© Veterinary Topics Archive

name         Sarah
status       student
age          12

Question -   What is the life span of a house cat?

What is the life span of a street cat?
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Usually between three and five years... but it depends on many things. City
cat or rural cat?  Traffic, exposure to other cats, the incidence of
FeLV/FIV in the stray cat population of the area the cat is in, the weather
etc.

Some street cats can live 10+ years. Most don't.

Phillip Raclyn, DVM CVA
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Domestic cats can live from 9 to 13 years or even 15 years depending upon
the breed, the care it receives, etc. I have personally owned a 13 year old
feline who I had to have "put to sleep" because it was suffering from a
number of conditions, all related to its age.

A street cat life expectancy is much shorter, although I do not know of any
statistics.
They just do not eat so well, receive preventative medical care, and face a
number of hazards from cars, weather, and other animals.

Vince Calder
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House cats can live a long time.  I have had two Siamese females who lived 15 
and 17 years, two short hair domestic cats that lived 17 and 19 years.  The 
Guiness record is 34 years for a short haired house cat.  However, I do not 
have first year knowledge of this case.

It is a tribute to the veterinarian profession as to how animals can live much
longer in good health.  Dr. Raclyn is a good example for he volunteers to help
pet owners care for their charges in this forum.

Steve Sample
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