A question every pet owner asks
Whether you're a lifelong dog lover or a devoted cat person, it’s natural to wonder: Who lives longer — dogs or cats?
While individual lifespans vary, there are clear species-wide trends influenced by genetics, breed, environment, and healthcare. Understanding these patterns can help you better care for your furry friend — and cherish every year you have together.
Average lifespan: dogs vs. cats
In general, cats tend to live longer than dogs.
- Cats: 13–17 years on average; many live into their early 20s with good care.
- Dogs: 10–13 years on average; small breeds typically live longer than large breeds.
This difference is largely due to size, breed variability, and disease susceptibility in dogs.
Why cats live longer (on average)
Cats tend to:
- Be more self-regulating in diet and behavior
- Have fewer genetic diseases due to less extreme breeding
- Experience lower injury rates, especially indoor cats
- Benefit from more stable body size (unlike the vast range in dogs)
Indoor cats, in particular, often avoid trauma and infectious disease — contributing to longer lives.
Dog lifespan: a matter of size and breed
Dog lifespan is heavily influenced by breed size:
- Small dogs (e.g., Chihuahua, Dachshund): 12–16 years
- Medium dogs (e.g., Beagle, Border Collie): 10–14 years
- Large dogs (e.g., Labrador, German Shepherd): 8–12 years
- Giant breeds (e.g., Great Dane, Mastiff): 6–10 years
Larger dogs age faster and are prone to heart disease, cancer, and joint issues. Selective breeding for appearance (rather than health) has also affected longevity in some breeds.
Common causes of death
Preventive care, early detection, and weight management can dramatically influence life expectancy in both species.
How to help your pet live longer
Whether you share your home with a dog or a cat, these steps support long-term health:
- Regular vet visits: Annual check-ups (or biannual for seniors) catch issues early.
- Vaccinations and parasite prevention
- Healthy diet and portion control: Obesity shortens lifespan across all species.
- Exercise and mental stimulation
- Dental care: Gum disease impacts organs over time.
- Spaying/neutering: Prevents reproductive cancers and other complications.
- Safe environment: Reduce exposure to toxins, cars, or dangerous animals.
Cats benefit most from being kept indoors, while dogs thrive with secure outdoor time and daily physical activity.
Longevity outliers: record holders
- Oldest known cat: Creme Puff, who lived to 38 years old (USA)
- Oldest known dog: Bobi, who lived to 31 (Portugal)
While these are rare exceptions, they remind us that attentive care can have a remarkable impact.
When lifespan ends, options remain
Regardless of species, losing a beloved pet is never easy. Some owners choose cremation or burial, while others consider cryopreservation — the long-term storage of a pet’s body at –196°C, in hopes of future revival if science progresses.
Tomorrow.bio offers full-body pet cryopreservation, with veterinary coordination, transportation, vitrification, and secure nitrogen storage. If you’d like to explore this possibility, you can use our pet calculator to learn more.
Whether dog or cat — love is the same
Cats may outlive dogs on average, but both species leave lasting marks on our lives. The quality of those years — filled with care, bonding, and shared moments — often matters more than the quantity.
By understanding your pet’s needs and planning for their future, you help them live not only longer, but better.
About Tomorrow.bio
At Tomorrow.bio, we are dedicated to advancing the science of cryopreservation with the goal of giving people and pets a second chance at life. As Europe’s leading cryopreservation provider, we focus on rapid, high-quality standby, stabilization, and storage of terminal patients — preserving them until future medical technologies may allow revival and treatment.
Our mission is to make cryopreservation a reliable and accessible option for everyone. We believe that no life — human or animal — should end because current medical capabilities fall short.
📧 Contact us at: hello@tomorrow.bio
🌐 Visit our website: www.tomorrow.bio
🤝 Schedule a consultation: Book a call
