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This PDF presents a large-scale, 37-year retrospec This PDF presents a large-scale, 37-year retrospective veterinary study analyzing the lifespan, mortality patterns, and causes of death in domestic cats treated at a single institution between 1983 and 2019. It is one of the longest and most comprehensive institutional datasets on cat longevity, offering valuable insights for veterinarians, researchers, and pet owners.
The study’s primary goal is to identify demographic factors, disease patterns, and life expectancy trends that influence how long cats live and what most commonly leads to their death.
🔶 1. Scope and Purpose of the Study
The study analyzes medical records to:
Determine median lifespan and age distribution among cats
Categorize causes of death as pathological or non-pathological
Explore how age, sex, breed, neutering status, and diagnosable diseases influence longevity
Understand long-term trends in feline health and aging
Longevity and mortality in cats…
It emphasizes that feline longevity is shaped by complex, interrelated factors, not by single variables alone.
🔶 2. Key Findings
⭐ A) Median Lifespan and Age Categories
The population included 8,738 cats, with lifespan divided into three major groups:
Less than 7 years
7–11 years
12 years or older (elderly group)
Longevity and mortality in cats…
This allowed the researchers to compare health risks and mortality patterns across stages of feline life.
⭐ B) Pathological vs. Non-Pathological Causes of Death
Deaths were grouped into:
✔ Pathological
cancer
kidney disease
heart disease
infectious diseases
trauma
✔ Non-Pathological
euthanasia due to age-related decline
undiagnosed age-related deterioration
Longevity and mortality in cats…
Pathological causes dominated younger age groups, while non-pathological age-related decline dominated older cats.
⭐ C) Most Common Diseases in Elderly Cats
Older cats (12+ years) most frequently presented with:
Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
Hyperthyroidism
Heart disease
Diabetes mellitus
Cancer
Longevity and mortality in cats…
As expected, multimorbidity increased with age.
⭐ D) Longevity Trends Over Time
The study observes:
gradual increases in lifespan across the decades
improved veterinary care and diagnostics
shifts in leading causes of death
Longevity and mortality in cats…
These patterns reflect advancements in feline medicine and preventive care.
🔶 3. Statistical Methods
The researchers used:
Descriptive statistics (percentages, means, medians)
Regression models to analyze risk factors
Trend analysis across three decades
Comparisons between age groups, breeds, and sexes
Longevity and mortality in cats…
This allowed them to evaluate the strength and significance of each longevity predictor.
🔶 4. Study Insights
✔ Aging is strongly associated with increasing disease prevalence
Elderly cats almost always had multiple chronic diseases.
✔ Certain diseases dramatically shorten lifespan
Examples include aggressive cancers and end-stage kidney disease.
✔ Domestic shorthairs dominated the dataset
Making breed-specific conclusions limited but still informative.
✔ Euthanasia decisions often coincided with age-related decline
A major “non-pathological” contributor to reported mortality.
Longevity and mortality in cats…
🔶 5. Importance of the Study
This long-term dataset provides one of the clearest pictures of:
How long pet cats typically live
Which diseases most commonly affect them
How mortality patterns change with age
How veterinary medicine has improved survival over time
The findings help guide veterinarians in early detection, disease management, and preventive care strategies.
⭐ Perfect One-Sentence Summary
This PDF reports a 37-year retrospective study revealing how age, disease, and long-term health trends shape the lifespan and mortality of domestic cats, providing one of the most comprehensive datasets on feline longevity.... |