Fact check: How long do cat live for ?

1. Summary of the results

Based on multiple veterinary studies, cats typically live between 9-14 years, with most research converging around 11-12 years as the average lifespan. The most comprehensive UK study found cats have a life expectancy of 11.74 years ^{[1] [2]}, while another large-scale study reported 11.18 years overall ^[3]. However, one veterinary practice study found a higher median longevity of 14.0 years ^[4], while necropsy studies showed lower figures with a median age of death at 9.07 years ^[5].

Key factors significantly affecting lifespan include:

• Gender: Female cats consistently live longer than males, with differences ranging from 1.33 years ^[1] to 1.5 years ^[2]
• Reproductive status: This shows the most dramatic impact - intact cats have drastically shorter lifespans. Intact females live only 4.7 years compared to 10.5 years for spayed females, while intact males live 3.7 years versus 9.8 years for neutered males ^[6]
• Breed: Mixed breed cats live longer (11.89 years) than purebred cats (10.41 years) ^{[3] [2]}. Burmese and Birman cats have the longest life expectancy at around 14.4 years, while Sphynx cats have the shortest at only 6.68 years ^[1]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks crucial context about the dramatic impact of spaying/neutering on feline longevity. The data reveals that intact cats live only 25-40% as long as their altered counterparts ^{[5] [7]}. This represents one of the most significant factors affecting cat lifespan, yet it's completely absent from typical discussions about cat longevity.

Veterinary professionals and animal welfare organizations would benefit from emphasizing these spay/neuter statistics, as they support widespread sterilization programs and generate revenue from these procedures. The pet insurance industry also benefits from promoting longer lifespans through preventive care, as it justifies policy purchases for younger animals.

The question also doesn't address major health threats that significantly impact longevity. Cancer causes over 35% of cat deaths ^{[5] [7]}, while kidney disease affects nearly 63% of cats ^[7]. Infectious diseases account for 17.47% of deaths ^[5], information that would be valuable for cat owners making healthcare decisions.

Breed-specific longevity variations are also missing from the simple question. The 6-8 year difference between longest-lived breeds (Burmese/Birman) and shortest-lived breeds (Sphynx) represents crucial information for potential cat owners ^[1].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself contains no misinformation, as it's simply asking for factual information. However, the simplicity of the question could lead to oversimplified answers that ignore the massive variations in cat lifespan based on controllable factors.

Any response that provides a single number without mentioning reproductive status, breed, and gender differences would be misleading. The data shows that giving a blanket answer like "cats live 12 years" obscures the fact that intact cats may live only 1-5 years while spayed/neutered mixed breeds can live 11-14 years ^{[5] [7] [4]}.

Veterinary studies may have inherent bias toward longer lifespans, as cats receiving regular veterinary care ^[4] show higher longevity than those in necropsy studies ^[5], which may include more cats that died from neglect, accidents, or untreate