The “sphinx”, unfortunately, does not have a long life.
Anyone who is about to purchase, adopt or host a hairless cat, the breed known asSphynx”, perhaps you will be interested in knowing what has just been discovered and published by the researchers Royal Veterinary College (RVC): among cats, they have the lowest life expectancy. Just 6.7 years old, against a general average lifespan of domestic felines estimated at around 11.6 years.
The research carried out by the RVC experts is based on data obtained from veterinarians almost 8,000 UK cats died between 2019 and 2021.
Among the aims of the research, also in the relationship between humans and cats, was to obtain through statistics a general picture of the life expectancy of four-legged friends and at the same time a look at the future of the species.
“Essentially what we’re doing is providing some level of statistical certainty, where previously it was just guesswork,” said Dr. Dan O’Neill, co-author of the study published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery by RVC researchers together with those of National Chung Hsing University of Taiwan.
The results offer us a look at the breeds, including the famous “Burmans”, who live longer and those who on average are destined to die earlier.
The longest-lived cat, again on average, was the “Burmese”, with an average lifespan of 14.4 years..
They follow the Burmese (always 14.4), the various hybrids (11.9 years), the Siamese (11.7), then the Persians (10.9), ragdoll (10.3), Norwegian forest (10), Maine coon (9.7), Russian (9.7), British (9.6), Bengali (8.5) and finally the “sphinx”, with 6.7 years.
Knowing the average age of cats, researchers argue, is not only important on a statistical level, but can also help in terms of choices. For example, it can help “evaluate the value of expensive and painful medical care” for the cat as they approach a possible end-of-life period. Overall, experts remind us, the average remaining life expectancy for cats who are in their first year of life is 11.6 years “with a highest value, 12.5 years, for females, and a lowest value, 11.2 years, for males”.
In general the intersections (nearly 88% of cats in the dataset) they have a higher life expectancy compared to purebred cats (for the latter the average is 10.4 years).
“If someone’s priority is wanting a cat that will postpone death for as long as possible, on average, we now have the evidence to say get a female and a crossbreed,” O’Neill said.
As for the Sphynx the low expectation, experts say, may be related to their increased risk of various diseases. A reduced life expectancy is also what – the data always says – they face unneutered cats, mostly because they are more likely to be neutered in an advanced stage of life, when they could be affected by the operation. Finally the felines with a average body weight have a better chance of a longer lifespan.
Data and facts which, as O’Neill al The Guardiancan have a value especially for those who are in the process of choosing: “Essentially – he concludes – it now means giving the power to the public”.
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