Siamese cats can make very loving pets. With their sweet personalities and beautiful coloring, they’re a wonderful adoption choice for any home. If you’ve fallen in love with a Siamese cat, you’ll likely have your little furball for a long time. So just how long do Siamese cats live? They can sometimes live as long as 20 “human” years or even longer.

Siamese Cats Live Longer than Most Breeds

Siamese cats live a long time. Indoor Siamese cats have an average lifespan of 15 to 20 years.1 But sometimes they can live much longer. In 2016, Guinness World Records crowned Scooter, a Siamese, as the oldest living cat in the world. Scooter passed away shortly after, living to the impressive age of 30.2 Even in his last years, he still woke up his owner every day at 6 a.m. and waited every night for her to come home from work.

In terms of average lifespans, the Siamese cat has one of the longest lifespans of most cat breeds. The only other cats with similar lifespans are the Burmese, Savannah Cat, Ragdoll, Balinese, Russian Blue, Bombay, and the American Shorthair.3

Two of these—the Balinese and the Burmese—are actually related to the Siamese. The Burmese was originally a cross between a Siamese and a brown cat from Burma.

The Balinese is technically a type of Siamese cat.4 This cat developed from a spontaneous mutation of a purebred Siamese that resulted in the same coloring and features, but with a long coat.

Indoor Cats Live Longer

Outdoor cats tend to have shorter lifespans than indoor cats, simply because of all the risks involved in roaming outside. To give your Siamese the longest life possible, consider keeping him indoors. You can always give him outdoor adventures by setting up a catio, an outdoor tent, or training him to walk on a harness.

Have Regular Vet Checkups

Siamese cats may have some health issues, as can be the case with many purebred cats. You’ll want to have regular yearly checkups with your veterinarian and keep your cat’s vaccinations up-to-date.

They Have a Loving Personality

Siamese cats have a loving personality. That is why the Siamese is a highly sought after breed. When you adopt a Siamese cat, you’re adopting a new best friend. They crave human attention and can be sad or bored if left alone for too long.5 Some people adopt them in pairs so they have a companion. They love to meow and talk to you whenever they can. Some crosses of Siamese cats, like the Javanese, are even considered hypoallergenic.

Siamese cats make wonderful, loving companions who tend to live a long time. If you’re considering adopting a cat or kitten, here’s a look at what you can expect.

1. Davis, Jen. “What Is the Expected Life Span of a Blue-Point Siamese Cat?” The Nest, https://pets.thenest.com/expected-life-span-bluepoint-siamese-cat-9778.html.

2. Newsbeat. “Oldest Cat in the World, Scooter, Dies Aged 30.” BBC.co.uk, 14 May 2016, http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/36292937/oldest-cat-in-the-world-scooter-dies-aged-30.

3. Fratt, Kayla. “The Best Cat Breeds with the Longest Lifespans.” The Spruce Pets, 30 November 2019, https://www.thesprucepets.com/these-cats-live-the-longest-4693535.

4. Johnstone, Gemma. “Balinese Cat (Long-Haired Siamese): Cat Breed Profile.” The Spruce Pets, 23 January 2020, https://www.thesprucepets.com/balinese-cat-full-profile-history-and-care-4686126.

5. PetMD. “Siamese Cat.” PetMD.com, https://www.petmd.com/cat/breeds/c_ct_siamese.