Health

The average lifespan of pet cats has risen in recent years. In the early 1980s it was about seven years, rising to 9.4 years in 1995 and 12–15 years in 2014. However, cats have been reported surviving into their 30s, with the oldest known cat, Creme Puff, dying at age of 38.

Spaying or neutering increases life expectancy: one study found neutered male cats live twice as long as intact males, while spayed female cats live 62% longer than intact females. Having a cat neutered helps health benefits, because castrated males cannot develop testicular cancer, spayed females cannot develop uterineor ovarian cancer, and both have a reduced risk of mammary cancer.

Despite widespread concern about the welfare of free-roaming cats, the lifespans of neutered feral cats in managed colonies compare favorably with those of pet cats. Neutered cats in managed colonies can also live long lives.