How Long Do Tonkinese Cats Live?

by Hayley
How Long Do Tonkinese cats Live

As much as we want to, our cats won’t live forever. Depending on certain factors, they can live for several years maximum. There are some cases when one dies during birth or when they’re just a few months old. Life is just as unpredictable in cats as it is in humans.

One of the main determining factors in a cat’s lifespan is its breed. It’s because this is where things like their personality, lifestyle, and genetics depend on.

That said, if you own a Tonkinese cat, and you’re asking, “How long do Tonkinese cats live?” this article is for you.

What Are The Factors That Will Impact The Tonkinese Cats’ Lifespan

How Long Do Tonkinese Cats Usually Live?

“How long do Tonkinese cats usually live?” This is probably the question of those who are currently looking into getting a Tonk for themselves or those who already have one in their care.

To answer your inquiry, a Tonkinese cat lives for around 15 to 18 years on average. The breed is generally healthy, but it is actually common for them to inherit hereditary diseases. This means that their expected lifespan can decrease if their specific genetic line has health issues.

All in all, considering that your Tonk is properly taken care of, you can rest assured that you can be with it for a long time.


What Are The Factors That Will Impact The Tonkinese Cats’ Lifespan?

A Tonkinese cat’s lifespan isn’t determined by just its breed or just a few surrounding factors. The question as to how long or short it will live will depend on a lot of things, both controllable and uncontrollable.

To shed more light on this topic, below are some of the many factors that will impact the lifespan of a Tonkinese cat:

Genetics

Genetics plays a big part in a cat’s lifespan since this will determine whether the feline will have a certain health disease or not. Diabetes is one of the most common illnesses that they may inherit, but it can also range from skin diseases to sensory issues like blindness.

To deduce whether your Tonk has or will have genetic and hereditary issues, you should look at its parents. If you talk to a reputable breeder, they may even be able to tell you about the whole family line of the Tonk. This will further help you know if there are risks of health issues.

Environment

The environment where the cat lives is another thing that can affect its lifespan. Specifically, you have to consider how cat-friendly the area is, the cleanliness, the people and animals they will interact with throughout their lifetime, and their likes.

For reference, environments that have clean and fresh air, non-hazardous spots, and comfortable outdoor space will give cats a more comfortable shelter. Hence, this means a safer, healthier, and overall longer life.

On the flip side, cats who were found living in cold and wet environments without a stable shelter are found to live shorter because they’re more prone to diseases, physical injuries, and stress.

Read also: How To Tell If A Cat Has Been Abused

Lifestyle

A cat’s lifestyle includes things like the number of times it gets to eat in one day, how long it is able to sleep, the people and animals it interacts with on a daily basis, the activities it does, and all the other things related to how it lives its everyday life.

Now, this is important because lifestyle will affect the cat’s general health, the infections and diseases that it may have, how many risks are exposed to it, and so much more.

This factor, however, is on a case-to-case basis. Some cats live longer by being fully active, while some see better results when they just let their cat be. On the other hand, things like food and sleep should be consistently provided to prolong lifespan.

Keep in mind that lifestyle also includes a cat’s roaming tendencies, but we’ll talk more about this in the later sections.

Health Maintenance

Another thing that will impact how long a cat lives its life is how well-maintained its health is. This refers to things like grooming, vaccination, the vitamins and supplements that it takes, the regular check-ups, and likes.

Check-ups, most especially, will allow both the owner and the cat to know immediately if the latter is dealing with any health issues. Things like grooming, vitamins, and vaccination, on the other hand, are great for preventing any complications from happening in the first place.

Easily said, health maintenance in felines will heavily affect their lifespan. It specifically lies in the said factor’s presence and absence.

Read also: Are Tonkinese Cats Hypoallergenic?

Access to Veterinarians

Although home remedies are popular among pet owners because they’re less costly and, sometimes, effective in getting rid of whatever is bothering our felines. However, you have to know that there are certain issues that can only be treated by professional veterinarians. These include issues like cancer, feline parvo, diabetes, kidney failure, and likes.

That said, it’s evident that a Tonkinese cat’s access to veterinarians and general professional help will play a big part in their expected lifespan. Expect that if they don’t get the right medications and treatments (as per prescriptions), there’s a risk that even the mildest infections can turn into graver ones and, thus, a shorter lifespan.

Roaming Tendencies

Previously, we talked about how roaming tendencies are a part of a cat’s lifestyle. This is where indoor and outdoor cats come in.

Now, according to studies, indoor cats usually live longer than outdoor cats because they’re less exposed to risks like getting into cat fights, having physical injuries, getting lost and possibly losing a proper shelter, and a lot more.

Note, though, that this won’t always be the case. Cats with strong instructs and prey hunting skills actually get to live long even when they’re outdoor felines. This is very common for domestic cats but very rare for Tonks because they’re a little high-maintenance.

Reproductive Status

Several studies showed that neutered and spayed cats live longer than those who are not. This is because of certain reasons, like the cat having low chances of wanting to go outside and roam. If you’re Tonk is a female, then it also won’t have to go through the complications involved in pregnancy and birthing live kittens. 


What Are The Ways To Prolong The Lifespan Of Tonkinese Cats?

We can’t specifically control the exact lifespan of our Tonkinese cats, but we can do some things to prolong the time we’re going to spend with them. Below is the list you can refer to:

Check Your Cat In For Regular Vet Checkups

There’s no better way to prolong your Tonkinese cat’s lifespan than keeping a close look at its health. You can do this by bringing it to regular monthly vet checkups. This may be costly since visiting the vet isn’t really for those who are running on a budget, but it will definitely be helpful in ensuring that your cat is getting everything it needs.

Alternatively, you can always just observe your cat and then take it to the vet only if you notice something wrong.

Pay Attention To What Your Cat Needs

A cat’s basic needs include food, water, shelter, and attention. Some may need more things, such as medical attention. No matter what, you can expect your cat to tell you what it wants to get. This is most especially for communicative felines like Tonks. All you need to do is pay attention and eventually provide them with their necessities.

Provide Your Cat With Complete Vaccinations

Vaccinations don’t serve as a 100% guarantee that your Tonkinese cat won’t catch any health issue, but it’s definitely one of the most effective preventions to ensure that your cat lives with a high immunity rate to infections and diseases. Not only will this save you thousands on paying for treatments, but it will also give your cat the opportunity to live a long and comfortable life.

Read also: My Cat Has Never Been Vaccinated! Should I Worry?

Keep Your Cat Happy

A happy cat is a healthy cat. Of course, healthy will always mean that it can live a long time.

That said, it’s just right that you treat your Tonkinese cat right by giving it attention, providing its needs, bonding with it, showering it with affection, and the likes. These are the keys to ensuring that your feline continues to like living with you.


Do Female Tonkinese Cats Live Longer Than Male Tonkinese Cats?

Although the gender doesn’t really significantly affect a Tonkinese cat’s lifespan, there are some observations stating that female Tonks really do live longer than the male ones.

Note, though, that this won’t always be the case. There is also no substantial evidence that can support the said statement because, as we discussed, there are a lot of factors that can determine how long they will live.


Conclusion

So, how long do Tonkinese cats live?

Considering that you provide it with utmost care and it doesn’t have any hereditary illnesses, an average Tonk can live up to 18 years. It’s actually one of the breeds that can live this long, but they’re also one of the most prone to genetic issues.

Keep in mind that there are a lot more factors that will affect your cat’s lifespan. You have to make sure that you properly provide for it as much as you can, though there are some times when they can still leave you early despite doing so.

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