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New ‘life tables’ predict life expectancy of cats
The life tables may be useful for potential cat owners and cat rehoming centres.
Research from RVC could change how we understand companion cats.

Researchers at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) have produced the first ‘life tables’ for companion cats, raising new discoveries about their mortality.

The life tables will support scientists and veterinary surgeons with predicting the life expectancy, and probability of death, of companion cats across age groups.

To develop the life tables the researchers, supported by the National Chung Hsing University in Taiwan, analysed the records of cats under primary care from RVC’s VetCompass Programme. The statistics covered 7,936 cats which had died between 1 January 2019 and 31 March 2021.

This data was then organised by breed and sex, and formed into life tables.

Life tables cover the life span of a specific population, predicting the remaining life expectancy and probability of death as an animal grows. They can be used to better understand the lifespan of companion cats, as well as highlighting interesting statistics on mortality rates and influencing factors.

Researchers believe that the data will be particularly useful for potential cat owners and cat rehoming centres, supporting the decisions they make for cats.

Findings revealed that, from their first year of life, the average life expectancy for companion cats was 11.7 years. Female cats were expected to live 1.33 years longer than male cats.

Both Burmese and Birman breeds had the longest life expectancy, with a predicted 14.4 year life span. This was followed by crossbreeds, at a predicted 11.9 years, and Siamese cats, who are expected to live 11.7 years.

Meanwhile the Sphynx had the shortest life expectancy, at just 6.8 years from the age of 0.

The most significant factors relating to feline mortality were being purebred or of a non-ideal bodyweight, both of which contributed to a shorter life expectancy.

Dan O’Neill, associate professor of companion animal epidemiology at RVC, said: “Since the early civilisation of man, predicting the future has been one of our greatest fascinations.

“These new life tables finally enable owners of cats to do just this and to predict the future life expectancy for their cats based on novel scientific methods and the power of Big Data.”

Image © Shutterstock

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.