The Siamese cat is one of the ancient breeds that is blessed with a long lifespan. People gravitate towards him due to his many classic qualities and that includes a 15 to 20 years lifespan. That alone sounds like he would be the perfect pet to keep you company!
Not only would you have someone around in the house, but his talkative nature will also guarantee that you won’t be sitting beside him in silence. The Siamese cat is Thailand’s treasured cat for a reason and he might just be what you are looking for as a family addition.
In this article, learn what causes the Siamese breed to live longer, what can affect his lifespan, and more!
What Makes a Siamese Cat Live Longer?
Although there is an estimated number of years regarding how lengthy the life expectancy is of the Siamese cat, the period of his existence still boils down to how he is taken care of by his owner. A happy and healthy Siamese is a result of a good environment, health, nutrition, and lifestyle. Of course, where you got him from also plays a major role in predicting how long he’s going to live.
Let us take a look at the individual influences in a Siamese cat’s lifespan:
Genetics
The degree of longevity in a Siamese lifespan is affected by genetics in two ways. First is if he inherited certain genetic conditions that would decrease his life years and second is if he carries gene variants that build up a resistance against diseases that could have impacted it.
This explains why in choosing a kitten, it is just reasonable for a prospective owner to check its family background. If the parents live a long life, the same can be expected from the Siamese kitten.
Breed
Breed plays a crucial role in predicting how long a Siamese cat would live. Generally, a purebred Siamese is expected to endure a shorter lifespan compared to a mixed one. Various sorts of Siamese cats are mated with different cat breeds. The offspring is then granted a wider and richer genetic pool or simply known as “hybrid vigor”.
Although this is the case, it does not diminish the idea that purebred Siamese cats still get to potentially endure a decade or two.
Environment
There is no denying that the Siamese cat is a domesticated pet. The ones who get to live indoors have higher chances of reaching their maximum life expectancies compared to those who freely roam outside with no shelters and owners. To simply explain why, outdoor Siamese cats can be hit by dashing vehicles, ingest something poisonous, encounter dangerous predators, or acquire transmittable diseases.
Meanwhile, a housed Siamese can be monitored by his owner, especially when it comes to his food and health. If there are any serious signs and symptoms of an illness, the Siamese cat has someone who can bring him to the local vet.
Food & Nutrition
Feeding your Siamese cat the right food paves the way for a longer and healthier life. Owners must invest in high-quality cat foods that are balanced, complete, and rich in nutrients. As a feline, the Siamese cat is an obligate carnivore. This means he does better in nutrients found in animal products.
Building the foundation of a Siamese cat’s health starts during his kittenhood. Know how to properly feed him and what his diet must consist of. You can say that this is a crucial stage for him since any lacking vitamins or nutrients can eventually become detrimental to his growth and development.
Exercise
Thankfully, the Siamese cat breed is known to be naturally playful, so you don’t have to formulate certain activities for him to do each day. Since he is not a couch potato, you’ll typically see him moving around, climbing up and down his cat tower, or playing with his favorite toys.
If he does a lot of physical activities, the advantage you can expect from his active lifestyle is that he will have a reduced risk of having heart diseases, stroke, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and behavioral problems. Meanwhile, immobility can cause premature aging, decreased levels of the immune system, as well as cognitive function.
Affection
A happy Siamese cat lives longer! Don’t hesitate from showering your feline with your abundant affection as this boosts his well-being. Give him lots of your time and make sure you both enjoy every bonding moment you have with each other.
On the other hand, poor emotional health can weaken your feline’s immune system.
Can Health Problems Shorten the Lifespan of a Siamese?
Absolutely. Be well-informed regarding what common health conditions may strike a Siamese cat. This enables you to detect earlier the concerning warning signs that would tell something is not right about his health and help him live longer. Commonly, the problems you’d face in connection with your cat’s health are:
- Mediastinal lymphoma. Respiratory difficulties are often associated with mediastinal lymphoma. Fluid will start to accumulate around the present tumor and this, in turn, gives the Siamese a harder time to fully inflate his lungs. If this is left untreated, the Siamese will only get to live about 4 to 6 weeks.
- Chronic coughing. Also known as asthma, chronic coughing is prevalent in the Siamese cat breed. symptoms may include wheezing, hacking, coughing, and open-mouthed or rapid breathing. Most cats respond greatly to medication, but in worse cases, asthma can take away a few years of your cat’s life.
- Panleukopenia. Panleukopenia is a feline parvovirus that has no known cure yet. This condition mainly targets the intestinal tract of the Siamese as well as causes depression or melancholy, and ultimately, collapse. Although there is a high mortality rate concerning panleukopenia, most adult Siamese cats tend to survive.
Should there be any health complications left undiagnosed, the Siamese cat will potentially live a shorter life span.
Who’s the Oldest Siamese Cat to Ever Live?
The Guinness World Records recognized a Siamese cat, named Scooter, as the oldest living cat in the world in 2016! After the title was given to him, he sadly passed away with a ripe old age of 30 years old. The owner of Scooter shared that this feline kept on waking her up consistently every 6 o’clock in the morning and then waited every night for her to return from work.
How Old Is My Siamese Cat in Human Years?
Isn’t it fun to think about how old our Siamese cats are in human years? To know how old our pets are, know that his first year is considered to be equal to 15 human years. Their second year is then approximately 9 years and every additional year they get equates to 4 years.
That means, if your Siamese cat is now reaching 15 years of age, then that makes him 76 years old! This is, of course, not always accurate, but simply a guide to determine his age’s equivalence in human years. This is because some cats including the Siamese may age more rapidly during their first two years of life!
