British scientists have compiled a table of cat lifespans

For the first time, British scientists have compiled a ranking of domestic cat breeds by lifespan. Burmese breeds live the longest, while hairless breeds like Sphynxes tend to have the shortest lives.

The authors of this unusual study were scientists from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in London, together with colleagues from Chung Shan National University in Taiwan.

The specialists analyzed records of 7,396 cats that died in Great Britain from January 2019 to March 2021. The results were compiled into a table of cat mortality rates broken down by breeds.

According to the study, the average lifespan of domestic pets in Great Britain is 11.7 years.

The longest-living pets are Burmese and Birman breeds (14.4 years), mixed breeds (11.9 years), and Siamese cats (11.7 years). The shortest average lifespan was found in Sphynxes (6.7 years).

The full table of lifespan for British cats:

• Burmese and Birman cat - 14.4 years
• Mixed breeds - 11.9 years
• Siamese cat - 11.7 years
• Persian cat - 10.9 years
• Ragdoll - 10.3 years
• Norwegian Forest cat - 10 years
• Maine Coon - 9.7 years
• Russian Blue cat - 9.7 years
• British Shorthair - 9.6 years
• Bengal cat - 8.5 years
• Sphynx - 6.7 years.

It is also noted that cats live on average 1.33 years longer than male cats.

"The development of mortality tables for the British population of companion cats is an important milestone in understanding the lives of cats. Knowing their expected lifespan not only increases awareness but also helps owners make informed decisions about their pets," one of the study's authors told Daily Mail.