A Texas cat named Cream Puff is the record holder among long-livers - she lived 38 years. There are many recorded cases of domestic cats living up to 25 years old. Unfortunately, most pets live no more than 15 years, and stray cats rarely live to nine. There are many factors influencing the life span of cats:
- **Breed affiliation.**Ancestral breeds live longer than “designer” cats whose bodies have been altered by breeding. This does not affect health in the best possible way. A purebred cat born of genetically healthy parents will live longer than an animal that was raised on the streets. When outdoor cats breed, they pass on negative genes to their offspring, while responsible breeders remove weak progeny;
- **Sex activity.**Statistically, a spayed Murka lives 3 to 4 years longer than a normal one. Frequent births are a great stress to the cat and reduce longevity. The opposite happens when the domestic cat does not go anywhere and suffers from an overabundance of hormones. All of these factors result in a shortened life span given by nature;
- Cats that move a lot and eat well live longer. Cramped conditions, drafts and lack of essential vitamins cause deterioration of the whole body;
- Psychological comfort.** Here it’s simple - the more time you give to your cat, the more you love it, the longer it will live with you. Otherwise, Murka will be very stressed and may refuse to eat.