Helene Brøgger Nielsen¹, Filippa Schwartz¹, Josefine Loines¹, Betina Børresen¹, Monica Nielsen¹, Anna Müller¹, Peter Sandøe², Helle Proschowsky², Maja Arendt¹

¹University of Copenhagen, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Frederiksberg, Denmark. ²University of Copenhagen, Department of Animal Sciences, Frederiksberg, Denmark

Objectives

The study aim was to investigate age and cause of death in companion cats, and the effect of breed, sex and environmental factors.

Methods

A structured digital survey was designed addressing demography and cause of death in cats dying between 2014 and 2024, supplemented by questions on feeding habits and environmental factors. The survey was shared on relevant digital platforms. Data was summarized using descriptive statistics, and group differences were analyzed using non-parametric tests. Associations between environmental factors and cancer were evaluated using logistic regression.

Results

In total, data representing 6,531 cats were included. The overall median age at death was 11 years with Persian and Burmese cats having the highest (13 years) and Ragdolls having the lowest median age at death (8 years). Accidents (16.9%) and kidney/urological disorders (14.6%) were the leading cause of death. Overall, 7.3% of cats were reported to disappear (median 4 years). In 19.5%, the cat died spontaneously. Of these, 54.1% died due to accidents. Cancer was cause of death in 11.7% of cats (median 12 years). An increased odds ratio for death due to cancer was found for cats living with tobacco-smoking owners (OR 1.34 p=0.002). This significance persisted when adjusting for potential confounding variables.

Statement: Impact/ Clinical Significance

This questionnaire-based study provides an overview of owner-reported mortality in cats and highlights events which might not be evident from clinical or insurance records. Large differences in longevity were identified between different breeds, and, importantly, the data support that environmental factors play a role in risk of dying from cancer.