Cats can live well into their teens, writes small-animal vet Graham Lewis from Paragon Veterinary Group, and it’s not too uncommon to see one coming through our doors at 20+ years old. But some aren't as lucky and some breeds can be more prone to a shorter life.
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I take a look at the unhealthiest cat breeds and those least likely to lead a healthy, long life. When scoring them, I took into account average lifespans, number and severity of genetic health conditions, and welfare considerations. The breeds that scored six or more have made it onto the healthiest cat breeds list.
Unhealthiest cat breeds
Maine coon
The Maine Coon has a dense coat, ready for winter in Maine. Their most striking feature though is their size, with most Maine Coons being in excess of 5kg. They are gentle giants and make excellent pets, as long as you are happy to do a fair bit of grooming.
Like many of the cat breeds on this list, they can also suffer from heart disease and like the Norwegian forest cat, hip problems are more common in this breed. Bigger breeds (in most cases) don’t live as long as smaller breeds. Maine Coons tend to live to between 10 and 13 years old but it is not uncommon for them to live into their teens.
Health rating: 5/10
Siamese
The Siamese cat originates from Thailand and they are known for their sleek coats and vocal nature. They are often affectionate, extroverted and bond to their owner more than some cats do.
They are more prone to a few conditions that can affect their health and lifespan including breathing issues like feline asthma and are more likely to develop mammary tumours than some other breeds. Those that don’t suffer from tumours often live into their late teens, but the average lifespan is lower than most due to those genetic issues.
Health rating: 5/10
Ragdoll
Ragdolls have a very relaxed nature and are called ragdolls because they tend to go limp and relaxed when picked up! They are a large cat breed that have a long coat which is often pointed (darker markings on the face, legs and tail rather than the main body), and lovely large blue eyes.
Unfortunately they have one of the lowest life expectancies of common cat breeds, averaging just over 10 years old with heart problems and bladder stones common in the breed.
Health rating: 5/10
Sphynx
The Sphynx cat has large ears and is strikingly hairless. They are known for being very affectionate and can act more like what you would expect from dogs compared to some cats.
Unfortunately the Sphynx suffers from genetic issues with their heart that commonly leads to disease at a young-ish age. Heart disease can be managed with medications, but is still progressive and eventually affects quality of life. In a recent study, they were found to have the shortest lifespan of most of the common breeds.
Health rating: 4/10
Savannah
The savannah cat started as a cross between a wild serval cat and a Siamese. They are similar in size to Maine coons and Norwegian forest cats and have distinct markings and large ears.
They have specific nutritional requirements and are more prone to heart disease than some breeds. They can also exhibit some wild behaviours such as aggression or urine marking which makes them not a breed to be taken on lightly. They can, however, live into their late teens.
Health rating: 3/10
Scottish fold
These cats have distinct folded ears, which is unfortunately due to a genetic condition called osteochondrodysplasia (OCD) which affects cartilage throughout the body and can be a very painful condition.
As such, breeding them is banned in several countries, but they have grown in popularity due to several celebrities owning them. As well as OCD they are prone to Polycystic Kidney Disease.
Health rating: 1/10
Bullycats
These are a cross between Sphynx cats and Munchkin cats and are bred to look similar in appearance to XL Bully dogs. They are not banned like XL Bully dogs, however they have deformed joints which leads to painful arthritis and are prone to skin infections so not one I would recommend!
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Health rating: 1/10
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