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'''Aging in cats''' is the process by which cats change over the course of their natural lifespans. The normal lifespan of domestic cats is in the range of 13 to 20 years.<ref name=":02" /> This process, and different signs will vary from cat to cat depending on different factors such as breed.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last1=Bellows |first1=Jan |last2=Center |first2=Sharon |last3=Daristotle |first3=Leighann |last4=Estrada |first4=Amara H |last5=Flickinger |first5=Elizabeth A |last6=Horwitz |first6=Debra F |last7=Lascelles |first7=B Duncan X |last8=Lepine |first8=Allan |last9=Perea |first9=Sally |last10=Scherk |first10=Margie |last11=Shoveller |first11=Anna K |date=2016-07-01 |title=Aging in cats: Common physical and functional changes |url=https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612X16649523 |journal=Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery |language=EN |volume=18 |issue=7 |pages=533–550 |doi=10.1177/1098612X16649523 |pmid=27370392 |pmc=10816677 |issn=1098-612X}}</ref> Signs of aging may not be predictable but affects all parts of the body, from head to paw,<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |last1=Dowgray |first1=Nathalie |last2=Eyre |first2=Kelly |title=Nutrition and Ageing in Cats |url=https://research.ebsco.com/c/4vltbi/viewer/pdf/atm7c73xzz?proxyApplied=true |access-date=2025-09-19 |website=}}</ref> with first signs commonly going unnoticed.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last1=Pirrone |first1=Federica |last2=Piotti |first2=Patrizia |last3=Memoli |first3=Holly |last4=Grader |first4=Irit |last5=Scarpa |first5=Paola |last6=Biffi |first6=Eleonora |last7=Filipe |first7=Joel |last8=Albertini |first8=Mariangela |last9=Siracusa |first9=Carlo |date=2024-11-01 |title=Measures of spatial memory, peripheral inflammation and negative emotional state predict social-cognitive skills in healthy aging cats |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159124002545 |journal=Applied Animal Behaviour Science |volume=280 |article-number=106406 |doi=10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106406 |issn=0168-1591|hdl=2434/1113148 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>
== Average lifespan among domestic cats == thumb|319x319px|This cat is around 18 years old; notably, there are specks of grey fur around the eyes. Reliable information on the lifespans of domestic cats is varied and limited.<ref name="AnAge2017">{{cite web |url=http://genomics.senescence.info/species/entry.php?species=Felis_catus |title=AnAge entry for ''Felis catus'' | date=2017-10-14 | website=AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database |access-date=2018-03-15}}</ref> Nevertheless, a number of studies have investigated the matter and have come up with noteworthy estimates. Estimates of mean lifespan in these studies range between 13 and 20 years, with a single value in the neighborhood of 15 years.<ref name="CozziBallarin2017">{{cite journal |last1=Cozzi |first1=B. |last2=Ballarin |first2=C. |last3=Mantovani |first3=R. |last4=Rota |first4=A. |title=Aging and veterinary care of cats, dogs, and horses through the records of three university veterinary hospitals |journal=Frontiers in Veterinary Science |volume=4 |pages=14 |year=2017 |issn=2297-1769 |doi=10.3389/fvets.2017.00014 |pmid=28261586 |pmc=5306394 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name="Grimm2015">{{cite journal |last1=Grimm |first1=D. |title=Why we outlive our pets |journal=Science |volume=350 |issue=6265 |year=2015 |pages=1182–1185 |issn=0036-8075 |doi=10.1126/science.350.6265.1182 |pmid=26785473 |bibcode=2015Sci...350.1182G}}</ref> At least one study found a median lifespan value of 14 years and a corresponding interquartile range of 9 to 17 years.<ref name="O’NeillChurch2014">{{cite journal |last1=O’Neill |first1=D.G. |last2=Church |first2=D.B. |last3=McGreevy |first3=P.D. |last4=Thomson |first4=P.C. |last5=Brodbelt |first5=D.C. |title=Longevity and mortality of cats attending primary care veterinary practices in England |journal=Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery |volume=17 |issue=2 |year=2014 |pages=125–133 |issn=1098-612X |doi=10.1177/1098612X14536176 |pmid=24925771 |pmc=10816413 |s2cid=7098747 |url=http://researchonline.rvc.ac.uk/8438/1/8438.pdf}}</ref> Maximum lifespan has been estimated at values ranging from 22 to 30 years although there have been claims of cats living longer than 30 years.<ref name="AnAge2017" /><ref name="CozziBallarin2017" /><ref name="O’NeillChurch2014" /><ref name="Arking2006">{{Cite book |edition=3rd |publisher=Oxford University Press |last=Arking |first=R. |title=The Biology of Aging: Observations and Principles |location=New York |date=2006 |page=127}}</ref><ref name="Comfort1956">{{cite journal|last1=Comfort|first1=A.|title=Maximum ages reached by domestic cats|journal=Journal of Mammalogy|volume=37|issue=1|year=1956|pages=118–119|issn=0022-2372|doi=10.2307/1375545|jstor=1375545}}</ref><ref name="pmid2607740">{{cite journal |last1=Hayashidani |first1=H. |last2=Omi |first2=Y. |last3=Ogawa |first3=M. |last4=Fukutomi |first4=K. |title=Epidemiological studies on the expectation of life for cats computed from animal cemetery records. |journal=Nihon Juigaku Zasshi |year=1989 |volume=51 |issue=5 |pages=905–8 |pmid=2607740 |doi=10.1292/jvms1939.51.905 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Vets |first=Cloud 9 |date=2018-10-22 |title=How Long Do Cats Live? Breeds And Life Expectancy |url=https://cloud9vets.co.uk/how-long-do-cats-live-breeds-and-life-expectancy/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=Cloud 9 Vets |language=en-GB}}</ref> According to the 2010 edition of the ''Guinness World Records'', the oldest cat ever recorded was Creme Puff, who died in 2005, aged 38 years, 3 days.<ref>{{cite web |title=Oldest cat ever |url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/oldest-cat-ever |website=Guinness World Records |access-date=2015-12-01}}</ref> Female cats typically outlive male cats, and crossbred cats typically outlive purebred cats.<ref name="CozziBallarin2017" /><ref name="O’NeillChurch2014" /> It has also been found that the greater a cat's weight, the lower its life expectancy on average.<ref name="O’NeillChurch2014" /> As of December 2025, the oldest verified cat alive is Flossie, who was born in 1995 in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-11-24 |title=Flossie, 26, officially the world's oldest cat |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-63728931 |access-date=2023-12-22}}</ref>
In one study of cat mortality, the most frequent causes were trauma (12.2%), renal disorder (12.1%), non-specific illness (11.2%), neoplasia (10.8%) and mass lesion disorders (10.2%).<ref name="O’NeillChurch2014"/><ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Dowgray |first1=Nathalie |last2=Pinchbeck |first2=Gina |last3=Eyre |first3=Kelly |last4=Biourge |first4=Vincent |last5=Comerford |first5=Eithne |last6=German |first6=Alexander J. |date=2022-04-04 |title=Aging in Cats: Owner Observations and Clinical Finding in 206 Mature Cats at Enrolment to the Cat Prospective Aging and Welfare Study |journal=Frontiers in Veterinary Science |volume=9 |article-number=859041 |doi=10.3389/fvets.2022.859041 |pmid=35445099 |pmc=9014291 |issn=2297-1769|doi-access=free }}</ref>
== Signs of aging ==
=== Loss of senses === As a cat ages, it is typical for them to lose the ability to use their senses as they once did. Their sense of smell could decrease as well as their ability to see. They also could have significant hearing loss, which can cause confusion and a change in their vocalizations.<ref name=":3" />
=== Fur === Fur can become less shiny, duller, and greasier. They may start to get white/grey fur around their nose, above their upper lip, and in some cases on their back. This change in color can be due to multiple different reasons, such as cell hypoxia, hormone changes, and meal changes.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last1=Goldberga |first1=Laura |last2=Ilgaza |first2=Aija |title=Gerontology in Cats, Physiology Changes with Aging |url=https://research.ebsco.com/c/4vltbi/viewer/pdf/d5djtah5aj?proxyApplied=true&auth-callid=d507f35c-270f-49fc-b06a-60d120986f2d |access-date=2025-09-20 |website=}}</ref>
===Weight loss=== Weight loss is common: starting about 2–3 years before a cat dies, they may start to lose muscle and lean tissue. Weighing cats as they go to the vet is important, so that way their weight can be monitored to predict when aging is starting to take its toll on the animal. One reason for this loss in weight is that, as cats get older, they begin to move around less, so they do not need to eat as many calories in a day to sustain themselves.<ref name=":02" /> Their bodies will also have a harder time digesting food, so they may experience less fat and protein intake from their meals.<ref name=":1" />
=== Diseases === Aging cats could have dental disease and the pain caused by this may not stop a cat from eating, but it will prevent the amount that they eat; which contributes to loss in weight.<ref name=":02" /> They may begin to lose their teeth if they aren't properly taken care of, as well as having gum disease.<ref name=":1" />
Other diseases found in cats: chronic renal disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes mellitus.<ref name=":02" />
=== Arthritis === Arthritis occurs in the elbows, spines, and shoulders of cats, causing moderate to extreme discomfort. This discomfort can lead to less food intake, so it is important that a cat with arthritis has raised bowls and water dishes.<ref name=":02" />
=== Nails === Nails become brittle and deformed.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" />
=== Skin === Most older cats will get dehydrated skin because they begin to drink and eat less.<ref name=":1" /> Flaky skin is also caused when a cat begins to groom less, which is also another cause for oily fur (see "Fur").<ref name=":3" />
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Domestic cat}}
Category:Cat health Category:Senescence in non-human organisms