Elvis is 15. He joined us at 9. Before he joined us, Sammi was adopted at 14 and left us at 21. Most cats in my life -- and there have been many! -- have been 17-19 when they've left us. Good quality food (especially wet food -- we love Blue Buffalo, Soulistic, and Weruva), safety, comfort, lots of love, living indoors only, and plenty of "enrichment" -- toys, scratching pads and posts, climbing furniture such as cat trees and activity centers, interactive wand-and-lure toys such as Cat Dancer and da Bird, and windows to watch the world outside -- help our beloved cats to live long and PAWS-PURR.All pets are family. I have said this in other threads, but Willy is my first cat ever, and he's been with me through a lot over the last 8 years. COVID isolation was tough for me and he was incredible to have.
Also grew up with dogs, and went through multiple life cycles of them being one of my best friends ever and then having to let them go, eventually. I understand what to expect now as my cat is aging.