It’s not every day that you think about the life of a tabby cat. But if you’re thinking about getting one, it might be worth considering how long they live for. If you want to learn more about what factors affect their lifespan and how to care for them properly, then keep reading!
Rise of the Bald Cats: The Strange and Beautiful
What is a Tabby Cat?
A tabby cat is a domesticated breed of cat with distinctive “M” markings on its fur. The word ‘tabby’ comes from their characteristic pattern, which resembles an old-fashioned type of wool called Tabinet cloth. It was once thought that the cats got this pattern because they were using fabrics in their home for nests!
Their coats are often striped or lined with different colors, and they tend to have a longer body than other breeds. Their heads are also shaped differently from most cats. They’re known for their affectionate personalities as well, which is good if you plan on having them around the house all day long.
Their coats also have quite a range of patterns. They can be striped or spotted, but they might also have a more unusual pattern of their own. These colors can vary from white, grey, or orange to brown, black, and even red.
Tabby Cat Lifespan
A tabby cat’s lifespan is usually between 12 and 20 years but can sometimes be longer or shorter depending on their health. They’re more likely to get sick than other cats, though this gets better with age as they become used to the environment in your home that they live in.
Lifespans are quite flexible things, and many factors affect how long a tabby cat can actually live. Here are some of the most critical factors that affect a tabby cat’s lifespan.
Indoor vs. Outdoor
There’s the big question of whether you want an indoor or outdoor cat. Indoor cats are typically expected to have longer lifespans than outdoor ones, with some studies suggesting that they live up to three years longer on average! However, this isn’t always true, and there is quite a bit of variation between different breeds.
It’s not just the time spent outside that makes a difference. Outdoor cats have to deal with all sorts of dangers out in the world, while indoor cats are much safer. They’re also less likely to become injured or get sick because they can’t do anything too risky like eat something toxic, get into a fight, or anything like that.
Food Quality
The food your tabby cat eats can make a huge difference to their health and lifespan. In particular, the amount of protein in the food is very important because it affects how lean they will be. A lot of high-quality foods have higher amounts of fatty acids, which are great for cats, but if you feed them too much, then that’s bad news!
Cats that are fed a low-quality diet have lower life expectancies. On the other hand, cats on high-quality diets can live for up to 20 years!
Genetics and Heredity
Another factor to consider when thinking about tabby cat lifespan is genetics, which doesn’t necessarily affect their physical health but does play an important role in how long they live. Some cats are destined to have shorter lives than others, but it’s not something you can do much about, so don’t worry too much!
Breed
There are a lot of different tabby cat breeds, and they all have their own individual lifespans. That said, there is quite a bit of variability between them, so it’s worth looking into breed-specific information rather than just generalizing it across the board.
It’s also important to remember that even if your cat isn’t purebred, then it can have a huge impact on their lifespan. Mixed breeds are often healthier, and so they’ll live for longer than purebreds, which might not be as healthy or resilient as mixed breeds!
Exercise
The amount of exercise your tabby cat gets can affect its lifespan. Getting enough physical activity is important for keeping them healthy in old age. It helps keep muscles strong and bones free from arthritis.
Proper Care
Lastly, you can also make a big difference to the lifespan of your tabby cat by taking good care of them. Things like keeping their vaccinations up to date is one way in which this affects how long they live because it helps prevent many different types of illness from perforating their health and causing issues later on!
Conclusion
All in all, the lifespan of a tabby cat is something you can’t really predict with any accuracy. It depends on so many different factors that it’s hard to generalize and just say how long they’ll live for! That said, there are some things you can do which will help increase their chance of living longer.
