How Long Do Siamese Cats Live? (How to Extend Your Siamese Cat Lifespan)

One of the most popular questions about Siamese cats is "how long do they live"?

If this question crosses your mind too, you will be happy to know that a Siamese cat's lifespan can is long between 12 and 20 years.

Other breeds like the Persian, Sphynx, Burmese, Ragdoll, American Shorthair, Manx Cats, and Balinese, also lead similarly long lives.

Let's dive deeper into the topic and see what makes the Siamese breed live longer and what are the health issues and health problems that can shorten a cat's life.

How Long Do Siamese Cats Live? (in short)

You will be pleased to know that if your Siamese cat has a healthy diet, good dental care, and regular veterinary check-ups a Siamese cat will, on average, live between 12 and 20 years. They have a fairly long cat lifespan.

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Siamese Cat Lifespan: On Average

The average lifespan of a Siamese cat is around 16 years. 

A poor and unhealthy diet as well as a disease can shorten the lifespan to 12 years. If your cat has good general health and is taken good care of, it can live 20 years and even more. 

The fact that the oldest living cat in the Guinness world records was a Siamese named Scooter that lived 30 years speaks volumes about the longevity of this breed. 

Siamese cats owe their high life expectancy to their hardy genes that are shared with their close relatives the Burmese and Balinese that can also live about 20 years.

How Long Do Siamese Cats Live For?

There are three main factors that impact the lifespan of a Siamese cat. 

First and foremost, you want to feed your pet a healthy and balanced diet that is low in carbs and fats and rich in proteins and nutrients. 

While food is crucial for the feline to thrive, make sure you don't overfeed it as it can lead to obesity. 

Obese cats are prone to heart, respiratory, and musculoskeletal conditions and live shorter lives than slim felines.

You also may want to keep your Siamese an indoor kitty. Indoor cats tend to live longer than the average outdoors cat.

There are some threats it is exposed to when roaming around outside without your supervision, including other animals, busy streets, cars, parasites, toxic substances, and sickness. 

Hence, keeping your cat most of the time indoors will help it live much longer, though taking it for a walk every so often is recommended. 

Last but not least, you should take your Siamese friend to the vet often to virtually prolong its lifespan. 

Regular vet checkups will help detect diseases in the early stage and treat them before they evolve into a life-threatening form. 

It's also important to keep up with your cat's vaccination plan and parasite prevention.

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Siamese Cat Life Expectancy: Health Issues

Siamese cats are prone to some serious diseases. 

Picking them up in an advanced form can leave your feline little chance to survive. 

That's why you have to take them to the vet regularly for early detection and prevention of life-threatening conditions. 

Here are some of the most common diseases in Siamese cats.

1. Respiratory disease

Respiratory conditions are pretty common in Siamese cats, especially when they are kittens. Although they are not as dangerous as to cause feline death, 

they can be fatal if left untreated or if they are accompanied by other conditions. For example, if your cat has a lung infection and cardiomyopathy at the same time, its chances of survival are low. 

Respiratory disease may have the Siamese cat to take medications as long as it lives.

Some cats are given inhalers aimed at opening the airways and reducing the swelling around the lungs.

2. Dental disease

Teeth and gum disease are the most problematic body part of any cat breed, and Siamese is no exception. 

Poor oral hygiene leads to plaque building up, Gingivitis, and causing an infection of teeth and gums. If not treated timely, infections can spread to the whole body. 

Furthermore, the bacteria that accumulates inside the mouth can trigger tooth decay. If the cat loses its teeth, it will find it difficult to eat. 

Since a cat's teeth are made to consume meat, the loss of this chewing tool will have them give up on their favorite food which is also indispensable for their general health and growth as a source of protein. 

While all this sounds frightening, there is actually one simple way you can stop dental issues from happening - brushing your cat's teeth every day. 

3. Lymphoma

This cancer creates white blood cells of abnormal size. 

Since lymphocytes travel throughout the whole body, this cancer can appear in any part of the body. A simple blood test can help detect this disease. 

Siamese is among the most vulnerable to Lymphoma cat breeds, but your cat isn't going to die if it contracts it. Lymphoma can be treated, but the treatment is costly and permanent. 

That is, your cat has to take the medications till the last day of its life.

4. Adenocarcinoma

Adenocarcinoma is a type of cancer characterized by a tumor growing around the cat's intestines. 

Advanced forms of this cancer come with some symptoms including nausea, diarrhea, and bloody stool. Unfortunately, early forms are asymptomatic, meaning there will be nothing in your cat's behavior and appearance suggesting that its body is plagued by a tumor. 

That is why regular vet checkups are so important. By detecting Adenocarcinoma early, you significantly increase your Siamese friend's chance to survive. 

The treatment includes the surgical removal of the tumor.

5. Thymoma

Thymoma is a type of Lymphoma that originates in the chest. It's usually genetic and mainly occurs in young cats. 

Like all forms of Lymphoma, this one can be resistant to chemotherapy. 

However, it has the highest chance of lifelong remission among all lymphocyte-related cancers.

6. Mast cell tumor

This type of skin cancer comes in the form of lumps on the skin. 

To keep your cat out of danger, the tumor has to be surgically removed. 

However, the tumor has to be slow-spreading to give your cat odds of survival. If your cat has a fast-growing type of tumor, there is a high chance of a fatal outcome.

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How Long Do Siamese Cats Live: The Verdict

If your Siamese cat is born healthy, you should expect it to spend all 20 years with you. 

However, while hardy genes do most of the work, you shouldn't underestimate your role in making your feline live long. 

Make sure you feed your kitty a healthy diet, keep it indoors, and take it to the vet regularly.