Learn about the average lifespan of cats and how to help your cat live longer with proper nutrition, preventive care, and lifestyle. Find out how breed, genetics, spay/neuter, and indoor vs. outdoor living affect your cat 's health and longevity. The cat (Felis catus), also referred to as the domestic cat or house cat , is a small domesticated carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species of the family Felidae. Advances in archaeology and genetics have shown that the domestication of the cat occurred in the Near East around 7500 BC. It is commonly kept as a pet and working cat , but it also ranges freely as a feral cat , avoiding human contact. It is valued by humans for companionship and its ability to kill vermin. Its ... 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. [1] This process, and different signs will vary from cat to cat depending on different factors such as breed. [2] Signs of aging may not be predictable but affects all parts of the body, from head to paw, [1] with first signs commonly going unnoticed. [3] There are a lot of different factors that come together to create a cat ’s life expectancy . Some cats live for only a few short years, while other felines can live for decades on end. Find out how long cats can live for when Dr. Jess answers, How long do cats live ? Cat Life Expectancy Factors: There are many factors that can shorten or lengthen your cat ’s lifespan . Please keep in mind, that this is more the majority of cats , most of the time. There will always be outliers when talking ...