When you bring a cat into your family, one wish tops every pet parent‘s list: helping them live a long, happy, healthy life. While no one can control exactly how long a cat will live, there are some decisions that can have a major impact on your feline friend’s lifespan.
If you’re curious what really makes the biggest difference, keep reading because researchers have identified a surprisingly simple way to help your cat live longer in a new study, and it may not be what most cat owners expect. The good news is, it’s something pretty simple and Dr. Julie Hunt, DVM, a veterinarian contributor for Embrace Pet Insurance, backs it up.
So, even though many factors can influence cat lifespan, from genetics to daily care routines, knowing that one key decision can significantly affect how long your furry companion stays by your side, is worth paying attention to. For cat moms and dads, understanding how everyday choices shape cat health and longevity can make all the difference in giving their pet the best possible life. That way they can live their nine lives and beyond!
Related: How to Keep Cats Out of Your Yard Without Hurting Them
New Study Finds Indoor Cats Live Significantly Longer Than Outdoor Cats
Every cat owner wishes they could have more years with their feline friend, and new research suggests one simple lifestyle choice may make a meaningful difference.
The study found that indoor cats tend to live significantly longer than outdoor cats, with outdoor cats living only about 70% to 80% as long on average. According to Dr. Hunt, those findings are consistent with what many veterinarians see in practice.
Researchers believe the difference comes down largely to the number of risks outdoor cats face throughout their lives, many of which are avoidable when cats live primarily indoors.
What Is a Typical Cat Lifespan?
When kept healthy, cats can enjoy long, happy lives with their favorite humans (you, of course). While every cat is different, veterinarians say genetics, diet, preventive care and lifestyle all play a role in determining how long a cat lives.
“Cats’ lifespans can vary,” Dr. Hunt says. “We typically consider cats to be senior cats at 10 years old, but I have treated cats in my veterinary clinic who reached and exceeded 20 years of age.“
As it turns out, one of the biggest factors influencing a cat’s lifespan may be whether they spend their life indoors or outdoors.
Why Indoor Cats Live Longer Than Outdoor Cats
According to veterinarians, the biggest advantage indoor cats have isn’t luck—it’s protection. While no environment is completely risk-free, indoor cats avoid many of the everyday hazards that can dramatically shorten a cat’s lifespan.
“Trauma, such as being hit by a car or attacked by another animal, is a major risk,” Dr. Hunt says. “Becoming ill and/or succumbing to infectious disease, including Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) or Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), is another risk.”
Outdoor cats are also more likely to encounter predators, toxins and dangerous situations that owners can’t always prevent. Because they spend much of their time out of sight, injuries or illnesses may go unnoticed until they’ve become much more serious.
While some cats enjoy exploring outdoors, Dr. Hunt says an indoor lifestyle helps protect them from traffic, predators, infectious diseases and other dangers that can threaten even young, healthy cats.
How Much Longer Do Indoor Cats Live?
Exactly how many extra years can an indoor lifestyle add? While every cat’s lifespan is different, the difference can be surprisingly significant, which may shock pet owners and people considering adopting a feline.
“The study notes that indoor cats may live a decade longer than outdoor cats,” Dr. Hunt shares. The ’10-year’ estimate reflects situations where outdoor cats experience life-ending trauma at a young age, such as being struck by a vehicle. This type of situation would have shortened its lifespan by a decade or more.”
So, if you currently have a cat or are dreaming of getting one, keep that in mind.
Can Indoor Cats Still Have Health Problems?
Even though living indoors gives cats an important safety advantage, that doesn’t mean they will live forever, they still face challenges that can affect their health.
“Indoor cats can develope helath risks that tend to develope because of lack of enrichment such as diabetes, obesity and behavioral issues,” she notes. “To avoid those, it’s important to ensure your kitty is eating and drinking well, exercising and attending regular vet appointments.”
Though, while both indoor and outdoor cats face sitautions that can shorten their life, pet parents can help prevent a lot of the situations that occur to outdoor cats if they decide to keep their furry companion inside their home and they provide them with an active lifetyle.
What Risks Shorten a Cat’s Life?
While both indoor and outdoor cats face sitautions that can shorten their life, pet parents can help prevent a lot of the situations that occur to outdoor cats if they decide to keep their furry companion inside their home.
Outdoor cats are more exposed to trauma, such as traffic accidents. In fact, previously, a UK study found that traffic accidents were the leading cause of death among cats aged 1 to 8.
Other risks free-roaming cats face that indoor cats don’t that can shorten their lives include things like having encounters with wild animals.
While some cats enjoy exploring outside, Dr. Hunt points out that an indoor lifestyle helps protect them from hazards like traffic, predators, diseases, and other dangers that can harm them when they are young and healthy.
That’s not to say that indoor cats will live forever, they still face challenges that can affect their health. “Indoor cats can develope helath risks that tend to develope because of lack of enrichment such as diabetes, obesity and behavioral issues,” she notes. “To avoid those, it’s important to ensure your kitty is eating and drinking well, moving their bodies and attending regular vet appointments.”
How to Train Outdoor Cats to Stay Indoors
Transitioning an outdoor cat to an indoor lifestyle takes patience, but it can make a big difference in their long-term health and safety. Rather than abruptly stopping outdoor access, experts recommend a gradual approach that helps your cat adjust without stress.
Start by increasing the amount of time your cat spends indoors each day, especially during key times like nighttime when outdoor risks are higher. Make the indoor environment more appealing with enrichment like scratching posts, window perches, puzzle feeders, and regular interactive play sessions to mimic the stimulation they would normally get outside.
You can also establish a consistent feeding and play routine so your cat begins to associate the indoors with comfort, safety, and positive experiences. Over time, many cats naturally begin to prefer staying inside when their environment feels engaging and secure.
While some cats may resist the change at first, consistency and enrichment are key. For many pet parents, the goal isn’t strict “training,” but rather helping their cat feel that home is the best and safest place to be.
5 Vet-Approved Ways to Help Your Cat Live Longer
While no one can guarantee exactly how long a cat will live, veterinarians say a few simple habits can help support a longer, healthier life. Along with keeping your cat indoors, Dr. Hunt recommends these practical steps for promoting your cat’s long-term health.
Take Your Cat to the Vet Regularly
Preventive care is one of the best investments you can make in your cat’s health.
“Preventive care, including vaccines, helps to keep your cat safe and is necessary even for indoor-only cats,” Dr. Hunt says. “Follow their directions for parasite control. Promptly addressing illnesses and injuries helps to keep your cat healthy longer.”
Schedule Annual Wellness Bloodwork
Cats are experts at hiding illness, which is why routine bloodwork can detect problems before symptoms appear.
“Performing wellness bloodwork on your cat once a year, even when your cat is healthy, can help you stay on top of your cat’s overall heath,” Dr. Hunt says. “Cats often hde when they don’t feel well, so this bloodwork will turn up issues before you see them clinically.”
Support Your Cat’s Kidney Health
Cats naturally don’t drink much water, making kidney disease one of the most common health concerns as they age.
“This leads many cats to develop kidney failure as they age,” Dr. Hunt warns. To help, Dr. Hunt recommends feeding your cat canned food once per day to support kidney health—ditto for multiple water bowls. If you cat doesn’t lke water, she suggests getting at least one moving water source, like a fountain.
Protect Your Cat From Household Hazards
Since you’re able to watch your indoor cat more closely, make sure your home is cat-safe. Dr. Hunt says that means not getting a dog with high prey drive, keeping cats away from washers and dryers so they won’t hide inside them and keeping toxic plants like lilies out of your home.
Don’t Forget Dental Care
Healthy teeth and gums are an important part of your cat’s overall health and longevity. That’s why pet parents should brush their cat’s teeth.
“You should have your vet examine your cat’s teeth, and have them do anesthetized dental cleanings as needed to keep your cat’s teeth healthy,” Dr. Hunt notes. “You can expect that over the years, some teeth may need to be extracted to keep your pet healthy.”
Sources:
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Imperilled paws: How conservation biologists can use pet cats’ health and welfare rather than their impacts on wildlife to argue for their containment. Global Ecology and Conservation.
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Mortality and life table analysis in a young cohort of pet cats in the UK. Sage Journals.
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Reducing the rate of predation on wildlife by pet cats: The efficacy and practicability of collar-mounted pounce protectors. Biological Conversation.
This story was originally published by Parade Pets on Jul 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the Cats section. Add Parade Pets as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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