Most people look up cat life expectancy when they’re weighing up a few practical decisions: should their cat stay indoors, what “healthy weight” actually looks like, and whether that quiet change in appetite is worth a vet visit.
Cats are hardy, private animals. They often carry pain and illness without much fuss. A few simple choices—food, routine, containment, and timely check-ups—tend to decide whether a cat reaches old age in steady comfort, or spends later years managing preventable problems.
How long do cats usually live?
In Australia, a well-cared-for domestic cat commonly lives into their teens. A typical range quoted for pet cats is around 12–16 years, and many cats reach 18+ with good care and a low-risk lifestyle.1
The biggest divider is often not breed. It’s exposure. Cats that roam face hazards that contained cats largely avoid—cars, fights, parasites, poisons, and infectious disease.1
What shapes a cat’s life expectancy most
Indoor (contained) vs roaming
Contained cats tend to live longer because the world is simpler and safer: fewer injuries, fewer infections, fewer emergencies in the small hours. RSPCA NSW cites a stark gap between roaming cats (often only a few years) and cats kept safely at home (commonly into the teens).1
Containment is also one of the clearest ways to reduce predation on native wildlife. Australia’s environment department describes feral cats as a major driver of wildlife decline and estimates they kill well over a billion native animals each year.2
Body weight, food quality, and feeding habits
Long-lived cats are usually kept lean. Extra weight quietly loads the joints, changes metabolism, and makes everyday movement less comfortable, which often leads to less activity and more weight gain.
Practical signals that feeding needs adjusting:
- you can’t easily feel ribs under a light layer of flesh
- their waist has disappeared when viewed from above
- they’ve stopped jumping up to favourite spots
Dental health (often missed, very common)
Dental disease is extremely common in cats and can cause significant pain while still looking like “normal fussiness” at meal times. RSPCA Australia notes dental disease affects a large proportion of cats by around three years of age.3
Bad breath, drooling, chewing on one side, or dropping food can all be clues. Even when a cat keeps eating, they may be swallowing kibble whole to avoid chewing.4
Kidney disease risk increases with age
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) becomes more common as cats get older, and it can creep along for months before obvious symptoms appear. International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) guidance notes older cats should be targeted for more frequent health assessments, and suggests six‑monthly checks for cats over seven years of age, with at least annual selected diagnostic testing.5
Genetics and breed tendencies (important, but not destiny)
Breed can shift the odds for particular conditions, but it rarely overrides basics like containment, weight, teeth, and routine vet care. If you have a purebred cat, ask your vet what that breed is known for and what screening makes sense at different ages.
Common health issues that shorten quality of life
Dental disease
Dental disease is one of the most common health conditions in cats. It can lead to pain, tooth loss, and infections that affect the whole body if left untreated.3
Obesity and related problems
Carrying excess weight increases the likelihood of arthritis and can make other conditions harder to manage. A lean cat usually stays mobile for longer, and mobility is a quiet cornerstone of wellbeing in old age.
Chronic kidney disease
Early CKD may look like subtle changes: drinking more, urinating more, mild weight loss, a less glossy coat, a cat who seems to “age” quickly over a season. Because CKD is more common in older cats, regular screening becomes more valuable with each year.5
Do some breeds live longer than others?
Some breeds are known anecdotally for longevity, but published lifespan figures vary and are easily skewed by lifestyle. In practice, an individual cat’s day-to-day risks matter more than a label.
If you want a more useful way to think about it, group cats by:
- lifestyle: contained vs roaming
- body condition: lean vs overweight
- preventive care: regular dental and health checks vs “only when sick”
Steps that genuinely extend a cat’s lifespan
Keep them safely contained
Containment can mean fully indoors, or a secure cat run or courtyard. Along with safety, it reduces your cat’s impact on wildlife and lowers the chance of accident and infectious disease exposure.1, 2
Feed for a lean body shape
Use measured meals, not a constantly topped-up bowl, unless your vet has advised otherwise. If your cat is gaining weight, don’t just switch to “light” food and hope—adjust portions and recheck progress.
Make teeth part of normal care
Home dental care helps, but it’s not a substitute for veterinary assessment. RSPCA guidance recommends regular dental care and highlights that many pets have dental disease by early adulthood.3
Match vet checks to age
Kittens and young adults benefit from vaccination guidance, parasite control, and early detection of congenital issues. Senior cats benefit from routine blood and urine testing and blood pressure checks, because many age-related diseases are easier to manage when caught early.5
Protect sleep, routine, and quiet corners
Cats do best with steady patterns: predictable feeding, familiar resting places, and enough vertical space to watch the household without being bothered. Stress isn’t just “behavioural”; it can change appetite, grooming, and toileting habits, especially in older cats.
Environment and enrichment (especially for indoor cats)
Indoor life should still feel like a landscape. Give them places to climb, scratch, and hide, and rotate toys so novelty arrives in small doses. A contained cat that can run, stalk, jump, and perch stays physically capable for longer—and those movements are the ones arthritis steals first.
Longevity outliers: the oldest cats on record
Exceptional ages are rare, but they’re a useful reminder of what’s biologically possible. Guinness World Records lists the oldest cat ever as Crème Puff, who lived 38 years and 3 days (born 3 August 1967, died 6 August 2005).6
Final thoughts
A long-lived cat is usually the result of quiet, repeatable care: a safe home base, a lean body, clean teeth, and health checks that keep pace with age. None of it is flashy. It’s the steady work of noticing small changes early, and keeping the everyday risks low.
References
- RSPCA NSW — Did you know your cat can live 10 years longer safe at home? (12 December 2025)
- Australian Government DCCEEW — Feral cats (last updated 20 December 2024)
- RSPCA Australia — Importance of dental health
- VCA Animal Hospitals — Dental Disease in Cats
- International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) — Consensus Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Management of Feline Chronic Kidney Disease
- Guinness World Records — Oldest cat ever (Crème Puff)
- RSPCA Knowledgebase — How should I take care of my cat or dog’s teeth? (Updated 23 September 2019)
- Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine — Feline Dental Disease
Veterinary Advisor, Veterinarian London Area, United Kingdom