How long do Bengal cats live? Tips To Increase Your Cat’s Lifespan

The years that a Bengal cat or any other breed lives depend on many factors, such as their genetics, the environment in which they live, the food, and the care provided to them. How long do Bengal cats live? If you are thinking of adopting a Bengal kitten and enjoying their company, they usually have a fairly high life expectancy, as long as you guarantee them the attention and care they require. So take into account the advice the experts gave in this regard, and you will be able to have your cat for much longer.

How long do Bengal cats live?

So how long do Bengal cats live? The answer to this question is very relative because, as we told you, several factors determine whether one cat lives longer than another. Of course, in general, the Bengal cat is in good health, so it will likely live longer than another breed or common.

If you have this breed of cat, take it to the vet, have his vaccinations up to date, feed it properly and avoid contact with other animals, whether wild or domestic, that do not live in your home, it is very likely that its period of life is quite extensive.

Love, protection, and permanent care are fundamental to making cats live for a long time, including the Bengal breed, which loves to go out and explore new territories, especially if they are in contact with nature.

Having a cat at home is synonymous with having one more family member because seeing him that way will likely make him feel very loved and safe, which will probably lengthen his life. But, of course, try to prevent it from going to other places you do not know since the risk of suffering an accident or attack increases.

How many years does a normal cat live?

There are several circumstances or factors that determine the life that a cat has, such as a diet, the environment in which they develop, and his health.

We learned the answer to the question of how long do Bengal cats live. So how long does a cat live? The truth is that that of the 9 lives is a myth because of the circumstances in which a feline grows and develops his life expectancy.

In this sense, the sterilization or castration of cats has a lot to do with this, because when they have gone through this process, their life expectancy is extended, because this prevents them from developing diseases in their reproductive system when they age, as well such as the risk of contagion of the feline leukemia virus, which can be spread by coming into contact with another infested cat.

Some studies have shown that a domestic cat has a life expectancy of between 10 and 20 years. This means that the average life of these pets is approximately 15 years.

In this sense, the animal breed is something to consider when trying to analyze how long we can enjoy its company since each of them has a different average life.

In this case, as we are interested in how long a Bengal cat lives, we inform you that this feline is one of those that stand out for having good health throughout his life; He even has immunity to feline leukemia, so it has a longer lifespan than other breeds.

In the case of common or mongrel cats, it has been shown that females tend to live up to two years longer than males. In addition, those who live in a house and do not go out usually have a longer life span than those who go outside.

In addition, felines with wild or wildlife have a lower life expectancy than domestic cats due to the number of risks to which they are exposed by not having the care and security provided by a caregiver.

It is estimated that a house cat usually lives up to three times as long as outdoor cats. This is one of the advantages that Bengal cats have because they are beautiful; their owners tend to ensure that they remain safe inside the house, assuring them of the care they require for their proper development.

The Best Products for Bengal Cats

How many years does a cat live on the street?

The years that a cat lives in the street, or goes outside constantly is less than the domestic ones since they encounter a series of factors that limit their average life. The risks can be higher depending on the time they are on the street.

These limiting factors are the area in which you live, whether it is urban, remote, suburban, or rural; the number and types of neighbors that exist in the area; if there is predatory wildlife around, if any wild or stray animals are nearby, the type of climate in the area, the distance from the house to the trails or main roads, among others.

This also influences the susceptibility of cats to be infested with fleas, ticks, or any other type of internal parasite. If they participate in games or fights in which they receive bites or scratches, they will catch a disease or suffer an accident is relatively high. 

Even though this life of freedom allows them to explore and learn more about the environment around them, according to data from some research and studies, cats that outdoors tend to last between three and ten years, so their average life is estimated at approximately 5.6 years.

Of course, these numbers are average calculations because they can live more or fewer years depending on the circumstances and care they receive. There are even Bengal cats that live 15 years or more, even going outside, but in the company of their caregiver, with the respective leash and other elements that guarantee their safety.

And it is that nothing is 100% written when it comes to this subject, given that the genetics that cats have can also make them more or less prone to developing a disease. In this, the Bengal cat is privileged, as it tends to be very healthy.

How many years does a cat live in a house?

In general, cats that live in a house are spayed or neutered, have all their vaccinations up to date, and do not usually suffer injuries caused by other animals or external elements.

In addition, these felines have the virtue that they do not have to hunt or look for food anywhere because, at home, they always have easy access to food and clean and fresh water. However, this advantage must be handled with some caution, as it can lead to obesity on the part of the pet, which is not very beneficial for his health.

Both Bengal and common cats require more attention, as they should be encouraged to play and do exercises that prevent them from becoming obese since this brings with it some health complications that could be lethal.

Depending on the foresight of the caregivers of a cat that lives inside a house, his lifespan can be between 14 and 20 years; this makes the approximate average almost 17 years.

Therefore, if you guarantee the security, care, and necessary attention to your cat, within your home, it is likely that you will be able to enjoy his company for a long time.

Of course, these data are averages since some specimens have exceeded expectations or projections regarding their lifespan. Since one of the cats that have lived the longest is the American Creme Puff, which lasted 38 years and three days, something which broke world records.

Others who have surpassed the statistics have lived for a period of approximately 23 to 36 years. But, unfortunately, even in the year 2020, the oldest cat in the world at that time died at the age of 31, apparently during his morning walk, because he never returned home, after being without appetite and listless for a few days.

Tips To Increase Your Cat’s Life Expectancy

When you own a cat, you naturally want to see it live a long time and in the best possible conditions. But if the life expectancy of cats tends to lengthen, the fact remains that the life of felines is relatively short compared to that of humans.

However, a few simple tricks can statistically increase your cat's life expectancy by several years.

Go to the vet regularly.

The veterinarian is the animal health specialist. Regular check-ups make it possible to detect an anomaly, an organic disorder, or an insufficiency before serious symptoms appear and the disease declares itself.

Studies show that the extension of the life expectancy of cats is directly correlated to an increase in expenditure on veterinary care. 

You should, therefore, never hesitate to seek the advice of your veterinarian and his team, and seek their advice. Kittens and older cats should be checked even more regularly: specialists advise a cat health check-up every 6 months for individuals over 12 years old, while an annual routine check-up is generally sufficient in other cases.

 The principle is the same as for humans: subject to the payment of a monthly or annual contribution, the insurance covers all or part of the costs related to life's accidents, for example, a fracture or a severe illness, the cost can quickly become a problem for the owner. In addition, the insurance can also cover certain current expenses such as vaccination of the cat, prevention against parasites, etc.

Vaccinate your cat

Vaccination is often the most effective way to protect your cat from dreadful and potentially fatal diseases, such as typhus (or feline panleukopenia) or rabies.

Having your cat vaccinated during a routine visit to a veterinarian is possible so as not to multiply the expenses. In addition, animal health insurance companies sometimes cover all or part of the vaccination costs, subject to the payment of a monthly contribution.

Choose a suitable food for your cat.

Proper nutrition is also a guarantee of longevity. From an early age, you have to choose the most balanced food possible: a well-designed household ration and quality kibble provide the right nutrients in the right proportions, particularly antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids.

There is no miracle recipe: each animal must have its nutritional formula adapted to its age, his lifestyle, and his breed, and which corresponds to the food and energy needs of the cat. An older cat's diet and a nursing cat's diet must, for example, be adapted to their condition because they do not have the exact nutrient needs as other cats. A veterinarian is often the best advice on this point.

Sterilize your cat

Sterilizing your cat can significantly reduce the risk of running away. The latter is, therefore, less likely to have bad encounters, and the risk of road accidents is also lower.

A sterilized cat also tends to fight less, which limits the risk of injury (scratches, bites, etc.).

Monitor your cat's weight

Being overweight is accompanied by a permanent inflammatory state. To detect this disorder and remedy it as soon as possible, it is advisable to regularly weigh your companion and check its fat cover. If you can't feel his ribs through the cat's skin and coat, he's overweight.

Any deviation of more than 5% can and must be quickly corrected: 1 kg in a cat is the equivalent of 20 kg in a human! Losing weight in your overweight or obese cat is important because obesity leads to various health problems (eg, diabetes mellitus) and considerably reduces the animal's life expectancy.

Caring for and maintaining your cat's coat

Internal parasites, by robbing the animal of his food, can cause nutritional deficiencies.

As for external parasites, they cause itching and make the bed of bacterial dermatitis. Some of them, such as ticks, can also transmit serious diseases, such as Lyme disease or piroplasmosis. A poor condition of the cat's skin and coat is usually one of the symptoms of parasitism.

To find out how to take care of your cat's coat in the best possible way, it is best to seek advice from a veterinarian.

Caring for your cat's teeth

The harmful effects of dental plaque and tartar are often underestimated by our companions. However, these are incredible breeding grounds for bacteria, which can be the cause of sometimes serious internal diseases: heart failure, kidney failure, etc.

Good oral hygiene can reduce this risk. Therefore, taking good care of the cat's teeth is essential, particularly employing scaling when the need arises. It is also necessary to regularly check the condition of the animal's oral cavity with the help of the veterinarian.

Avoid self-medication with your cat.

You should never give human medication to your cat without the veterinarian's approval, whatever the reason because the risks associated with human medication for cats are real.

Indeed, while specific molecules usually suitable for humans are sometimes used in veterinary medicine, others can be very harmful to cats, even in small doses. This is the case, for example, of anti-inflammatories, which are quickly toxic in cats because their body metabolizes them differently.

Be careful with poisons for your cat.

Several toxic substances and foods for cats can be within their reach and make them sick or even doom them. Cats, for example, have the unfortunate tendency to be attracted to bleach and may be tempted to drink it. But you must also be wary of certain foods that are dangerous for the cat, such as chocolate, onions, or even caffeine.

In general, it is best to avoid giving human food to your cat and to keep anything dangerous for him out of reach.

Walk your cat on a leash.

The life expectancy of cats is strongly correlated to their way of life: thus, a domestic cat with access to the outside lives on average between 10 and 12 years, while an apartment cat can expect to live between 15 and 20 years old.

If the risks of domestic accidents for indoor cats are, of course, not to be neglected, the dangers for outdoor cats are multiple: road accidents, sting or bite by a poisonous animal, etc.

To overcome this problem, it is possible to limit or even simply prohibit outings with your cat. But the latter, depending on his character, may need large spaces to flourish: he will then suffer from this prolonged confinement. An alternative can be to walk your cat on a leash: the solution is reassuring for the cat and reassuring for his master.

It is then up to everyone to judge which is the best option for their cat according to the dangers in their environment!