The average life expectancy for male indoor cats in captivity is about 12 to 14 years, with females usually living a year or two longer.
There have been some reports of cats reaching into their 20s and even 30s, however, with the oldest known cat, Creme Puff, living to a ripe old age of 38.
Having a cat neutered or spayed has some health benefits, since castrated males cannot develop testicular cancer, spayed females cannot develop ovarian cancer.
The lifespan of feral cats is usually not more than 5 years, as they do not receive the care of indoor cats.
Cats live hard and die fast outside in the modern world.
Not only do they have to worry about other cats, dogs, and wild animals, but they also have a bigger menace to face, the Jaguars, Cougars, Lynxes, Vipers, Rams, Impalas, and Mustangs that speed along our roads.
The Animal Rescue Foundation estimates that outdoor cats live an average of three years; indoor and outdoor cats, seven years; and indoor-only cats, fifteen to eighteen years.
