Cats are truly amazing companions! They fill our lives with joy, snuggles, and hilarious moments. Wouldn’t it be amazing to have your furry friend by your side for as many years as possible? Luckily, some cat breeds are known for their extra-long lifespans. Let’s dive in and discover the 8 longest living cat breeds!
Ragdoll: The Gentle Giant
Breed Overview:
Personality: Sweet, affectionate, laid-back, gentle, sociable, friendly, easygoing, cuddly.
Weight: 10 – 20 pounds.
Coat lenght: Soff and silky medium-length hair.
Coat color and patterns: Seal, blue, chocolate, lilac, red, cinnamon, fawn, and cream; Mitted, color point, bicolor, tortoiseshell, lynx.
Lifespan: 15 years.
These gorgeous big kitties have beautiful blue eyes and a super-soft coat. Ragdolls are famous for their laid-back and affectionate personality – they adore their humans!
So, how long do Ragdolls live? These gentle giants can live 15 years or more. If you want a loyal, cuddly companion with a long lifespan, the Ragdoll might be a perfect fit.
Abyssinian Cat: The Curious Explorer
Breed Overview:
Personality: Active, playful, friendly, intelligent, trainable curious and adventurous.
Weight: up to 12 pounds.
Coat lenght: Short Hair.
Coat color and patterns: reddish-brown, blue, cinnamon, or fawn; solid or ticked.
Lifespan: 15 years.
The Abyssinian is a smart and active breed. They love to climb high places, chase toys, and “talk” to their humans. All this activity and curiosity help keep them in tip-top shape.
The average lifespan of the Abyssinian is roughly 15 years! That’s a lot of playtime and exploring. If you want a lively and talkative companion to keep your life exciting, consider the Abyssinian.
Oriental Shorthair: The Social Butterfly
Breed Overview:
Personality: Affectionate, playful, sociable, and vocal.
Weight: up to 12 pounds.
Coat lenght: Short Hair.
Coat color and patterns: White, black, gray, brown, orange; Solid, shaded, smoke, and tabby.
Lifespan: over 15 years
Oriental Shorthairs have big ears, big personalities, and love being the center of attention. These outgoing cats will follow you everywhere, even chatting with you. Their sleek coats come in a huge variety of colors and patterns, so they’re sure to capture your eye – and your heart!
Oriental Shorthairs love to stay active and are usually very healthy. These social butterflies can live for over 15 years, filling your life with chatty companionship.
Bombay: The Mini Panther
Breed Overview:
Personality: Affectionate, sociable, needy, playful, intelligent, friendly, active.
Weight: up to 15 pounds.
Coat lenght: Short Hair.
Coat color and patterns: Solid Black.
Lifespan: 15- 20 years.
Do you love black cats but want one that lives a long time? Look no further than the Bombay! These cats are sleek, with striking copper-colored eyes. They are quite playful and love learning tricks.
These beautiful mini Panthers can live between 15 and 20 years. Bombay might be right for you if you want an energetic black cat with a long lifespan.
Read more: Bombay cat 101 – Everything you need to know
Burmese: The Sweetheart
Breed Overview:
Personality: Affectionate, friendly, active, playful, intelligent and have an exceptional memory.
Weight: up to 14 pounds.
Coat lenght: Short Hair.
Coat color and patterns: Sable, Champagne, Platinum, Blue, Solid.
Lifespan: 18- 20 years
These small but sturdy cats have big, expressive eyes that instantly melt your heart. They love snuggles and staying near their humans! Burmese cats are incredibly social and talkative, so prepare for lively conversations.
They are healthy kitties which means they stick around for a long time. Burmese cats can live for 18 or even 20 years. Who wouldn’t want this sweetheart as a friend for as long as possible?
American Shorthair: The All-Around Cat
Breed Overview:
Personality: Gentle, affectionate, playful, easygoing, and curious.
Weight: 6 – 15 pounds.
Coat lenght: Short Hair.
Coat color and patterns: White, silver, black, cream, blue, brown, red; Tabby, calico, tortoiseshell, bi-color, and solid.
Lifespan: 15 – 20 years
The American Shorthair is a classic breed that has won hearts for decades! These gentle cats are adaptable and easygoing, making them perfect family pets. They are generally healthy and easy to care for, too.
American Shorthairs can live up to 20 years with the right care, making them great long-term pets.
Russian Blue: The Elegant Beauty
Breed Overview:
Personality: Friendly and intelligent but aloof, may be reclusive around strangers.
Weight: Up to 12 pounds.
Coat lenght: Short Hair.
Coat color and patterns: Steel blue; Solid.
Lifespan: 15 – 20 years.
At number 2 we find the Russian blue.
These beauties are famous for their shimmering silver-blue coat and stunning green eyes – it looks almost like it is from a fairy tale! While a little shy at first, Russian blues are extremely loyal and enjoy snuggling once they trust you.
On average, these kitties live for about 15 to 20 years. If you like a cat with a touch of elegance and a sweet personality, the Russian Blue might be worth considering.
Siamese: The Chatty Charmer
Breed Overview:
Personality: Affectionate, sociable, friendly, vocal, intelligent.
Weight: 5 – 12 pounds.
Coat lenght: Short Hair.
Coat color and patterns: Seal, chocolate, blue, and lilac; Colorpoint.
Lifespan: 15 – 20 years
No list of long-lived breeds would be complete without the iconic Siamese! These beautiful cats are known for their color-pointed coats, striking blue eyes, and their love of conversation. Siamese cats are super affectionate and won’t hesitate to tell you what they think!
Having a lifespan from 15 to 20 years, the Siamese will bring lots of fun into your life for a long time.
Read more: Siamese cat 101 – Everythig you need to know
Final Thoughts
So, if you’re ready to welcome a feline friend into your life for many years to come, consider choosing one of the amazing longest living cat breeds!
While some breeds are generally healthier and live longer, remember that any cat can live a long and happy life with the right care. This includes:
- Regular vet checkups: Preventative healthcare is key to catching problems early!
- High-quality diet: Food makes a big difference in overall health.
- Mental stimulation: Keep their minds sharp with toys, playtime, and puzzles.
- Lots of love: It might just be the most important ingredient for a long life!
