Average lifespan of indoor female cat that's spayed?

There are so many variables that can affect a cat's life...how they're treated, health, etc.  That said, here's a rundown of all my cats...female and male:

My oldest living female, Clove, was born at the foot of my bed in England and lived until she was 22 years old.  She was spayed at about 9 months old.  Until she was 16, she always had her mother and brother with her.  Her brother, George, died at 20.  Tigress, her mother, died at around 17.  Stone, also born in England and adopted by me at around 5 months old, died at 16.  Cupid lived until she was around 16 or 17 and Cynamon (both born in the States and adopted by me) crossed over at age 8 from diabetes.  I don't know whether British cats having longer life expectancy or whether being born into the home in which they grow up matters.  A year ago next week, my second male cat, Karma, a Maine Coon, died at 16 of kidney failure. 

It seems to me that the average lifespan, at least of my cats, is around 16.  I now have two year old sisters, Kismet and Saffron, whom I adopted at 4 and a half months last November.  They had been rescued at 4 weeks.  Here's hoping they life long, healthy lives.

Spaying a female cat or neutering a male cat helps but it doesn't necessarily add to the cat's lifespan.   Animals are like people.   We are either born with the best genes in the world or we inherit some diseases or illness from our parents.   I've had a female cat that passed at 14 and one that lived to be 21.   Same with males.    However, keeping a cat indoors can only lead to a longer life and that's key to understanding that it is a factor.

I have 5 cats.   Last year I lost two in a row who were not even related.  One to cancer and one to kidney disease.  Female was 14.  Male was 15.    Now I have one who is 14.  She's feral and won't allow me to touch her but so far (thankfully), she seems to be well.   I have a 15 year old who has had some urinary tract problems.   An 8 year old who also so far, thankfully, is well.   

And I have two, who are not related but I adopted both in 1994 and whom we just had a birthday party for two months ago because they both turned 20.   It costs me a lot of money to keep them well but that's what happens when you take on the responsibility of an animal.   I'm blessed they are this age and hopefully we have a few more good years with both.

In Britain, as long as they got through the first year without mishaps our indoor/outdoor cats usually made it around 15~17 years, the queens definitely lived longer than the males (who would often be fighting)

 I've only had cats 3~4yrs so far in USA. Kat-Kat has several allergies so takes a bit of work but Pauli seems indestructible at present, still as crazy as a kitten, runs up trees like a squirrel, flops around like a slinky when relaxed

I've had 2 female spayed indoor cats. The purebred burmese developed kidney disease around her 13th birthday but lived to be 17.5. The moggie lived to 18.5 from kidney disease as well which she developed and died from quite quickly - although I suspect she partly died of a broken heart at the passing away of the burmese who was her bestest friend. Both of them seemed to slow down around 12 years of age.

My kitty Denni, spayed, indoor- only female, lived till 18 and had to be put to sleep only because of an intestinal blockage which may have been preventable Long story but I really think she had two more year left in her.

I'm writing because I wanted to say, she had slowed down starting at 14 or so. I could see she was arthritic so I put ottomans and steps all over so she could early get to her favorite chairs and beds. I also got a heated pet bed which she loved in the winter. I too, was concerned because she seemed to sleep more deeply and was slowing down. She did have hyperthyroidism, which was being treated with medication and was under control until her last year. That's when we started to lose the battle with it. It's such a delicate balance with older cats, often between thyroid and kidneys, like Denni. It's tough to manage and tough to know what's best. She was a very happy cat right up until the end.

My mother's cat lived til over 20.

All this to say, the slowing down part shouldn't be so scary as long as the vet checks are good and your kitty seems happy. Wishing her well in her golden years.

Still miss my Den.

There are so many variables, but odds are a spayed/neutered indoor cat will live longer than an outdoor cat.   They don't have to worry about predators, cars, etc.   I recently lost my sweet Maine Coon who was only 11 1/2 to cancer (the breed tends to have shorter lifespans unfortunately), but all my other cats lived to be between 13 and 16.    Larger dogs tend to have shorter lives, but my Siberian Husky lived to be 15 1/2.  All you can do is give them the best care you can & give them lots of love.  Hope you are blessed with many happy years together. 

Our first indoor only cats, MsMilo (she was 9) passed for we are still not sure, Max (he was 10) got out when we moved. Someone left the door open. He was a huge, healthy boy. I keep hoping someone took him in.
Their sister Peppy passed recently of I assume old age. She was 14.5.

They were great kitties. Not real social. We got them as babies from a feral mom.
We leash trained them which helped when we moved from Alaska to AZ. We would take breaks and walk them to go potty. Not one accident.

I had two cats live to be 29, 5 cats live to be 25 and numerous cats live to be 18 or 19.  They were all indoor cats all their lives.

Dame de Chat said:

There are so many variables that can affect a cat's life...how they're treated, health, etc.  That said, here's a rundown of all my cats...female and male:

My oldest living female, Clove, was born at the foot of my bed in England and lived until she was 22 years old.  She was spayed at about 9 months old.  Until she was 16, she always had her mother and brother with her.  Her brother, George, died at 20.  Tigress, her mother, died at around 17.  Stone, also born in England and adopted by me at around 5 months old, died at 16.  Cupid lived until she was around 16 or 17 and Cynamon (both born in the States and adopted by me) crossed over at age 8 from diabetes.  I don't know whether British cats having longer life expectancy or whether being born into the home in which they grow up matters.  A year ago next week, my second male cat, Karma, a Maine Coon, died at 16 of kidney failure. 

It seems to me that the average lifespan, at least of my cats, is around 16.  I now have two year old sisters, Kismet and Saffron, whom I adopted at 4 and a half months last November.  They had been rescued at 4 weeks.  Here's hoping they life long, healthy lives.

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Dame de chat, did your cats in England go outside? I am from England and it seems they tend to let cats out especially in the country.

Lesliecat said:

 
I had two cats live to be 29, 5 cats live to be 25 and numerous cats live to be 18 or 19.  They were all indoor cats all their lives.

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Wow, Lesliecat! You are one good cat mama. I want to know your secret.

I have two 18 year old, in and out, sister cats still going strong. Orijen dry and natural balance wet and occasional chipmunk heads! Ouch,yes they have teeth![emoji]128062[/emoji][emoji]128062[/emoji][emoji]128062[/emoji][emoji]128062[/emoji]

Sorry.  I missed your message until today.

All my English cats went outside in England but not in the States. 

My spayed female was an indoor/outdoor cat and she lived until she turned 17 and was put down a few days after that. Other than being a bit heavy she seemed like she was in perfect health and then the day after her birthday she started to throw up anything that went into her so she went to vet. The in-house blood test was good but x-rays showed she was littered with cancer that was too advanced to do anything about. She was the runt of the litter and I had her from the day she was born to the day I had to put her down. Her brother was the pick of the litter and he is still going at 19 and counting but he as a few issues such as IBD and renal failure. My buddy had two spayed females and they both passed on within a short period at 13 with no real health issues.

My guy also has arthritis and I have been giving him 0.20cc of Buprenophine twice a day and although this does not treat the issue it makes his life much easier. I can see the difference in the way he walks and lies down with and without it and it also helps with his other issues. He gets 0.10cc of Cartrophen injected once a month to help with the inflammation associated with the arthritis.

My Lucy-kitty is spayed and now into her 18th summer, and though she's up in years, she's still full of piss n vinegar    

 

Twenty years ago we adopted two kittens from our local shelter. One was a Maine Coon and the other was an Orange Tabby. We kept them indoors and both were spayed. Our Maine Coon died recently at 20 1/2 of renal failure and a week later our Orange Tabby died at 20 1/2 of a broken heart. This was not something I understood about cats, but according to the Vet this is common among cats who have a strong bond. He was perfectly healthy. I'm so happy they are both together forever.

Lilah7 said:

Twenty years ago we adopted two kittens from our local shelter. One was a Maine Coon and the other was an Orange Tabby. We kept them indoors and both were spayed. Our Maine Coon died recently at 20 1/2 of renal failure and a week later our Orange Tabby died at 20 1/2 of a broken heart. This was not something I understood about cats, but according to the Vet this is common among cats who have a strong bond. He was perfectly healthy. I'm so happy they are both together forever.

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This just really breaks my heart to hear. I am so attached to my animals that when they pass I have a really hard time. I wish you the best. 

WT1964 said:

My Lucy-kitty is spayed and now into her 18th summer, and though she's up in years, she's still full of piss n vinegar    





 

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Lucy looks like a 2 year old!

bonepicker said:

Lucy looks like a 2 year old!

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Thanks, bonepicker!  At her age, she's got some issues, but, thankfully she's good, overall!

On average, the lifespan of an indoor cat that is spayed/neutered is about 15-18yrs old.  It's not uncommon for them to make it to 20 and maybe a year or two beyond that.  I think the world record is 27yrs or 30 or close to 30 yrs, if I am not mistaken.  As long as she's healthy and active, I see no reason for her not to make it to a ripe old age of 20-something!

I think there is no 'average' age for cats lifespan really as, like humans, their constitutions are individual to them. My first cat  lived to 24 years, the last 7 years being spent as an "indoor" cat - her choice. She  was always fit and well and started slowing down at 17. She only seemed 'old' when her hearing started going at 20 (she made loud calls and seemed confused by this). Her sight deteriorated only in her final 2 years. She was probably more of an exception than a rule but I've heard of cats living into their 30's. My second cat died at 7 as from leukaemia but had had a terrible start in life, having used up pretty much all her 9 lives before she came to me. Like elderly humans cats need plenty of love and extra care as they get old.  My current 2 (twins) are fit as anything on their raw cat diets and are 7 now. All my cats have been rescues. We can all just do the best we can for them. Hope this helps.