The Cat Breed That Lives The Longest

Cats are the ultimate high-landers in that they can plummet from high-rises and walk away mostly unscathed. In a kinder world they would also be Highlanders like Connor MacLeod of the clan MacLeod. Then it could fall from the clouds without risking a whisker. Unlike most felines, a MacLeod cat wouldn't have nine lives because there can be only one. But it would need only one life because the kitty would be immortal, vulnerable only to the decapitation by a sword-wielding Puss in Boots. 

If MacLeod existed, perhaps the Kurgan wouldn't have thought it better to burn out than to fade away. Instead he got himself beheaded, because who wants to live forever if cats must die? You can't always get what you want, and an immortal cat falls in the un-gettable category. But if you're lucky, you can get a cat that lives a really long time.

Before passing away in 2018 at the age of 30 (136 in cat years), Scooter was the oldest-living feline in the world, per the BBC. Scooter was a Siamese, a breed known for longevity. However, estimates vary across sources. The Spruce Pets and PetMD list their life expectancy as 15 to 20 years while Hill's Pet Nutrition writes that Siamese cats live for 8 to 12 years. Described as elegant and intelligent, these iconic kitties are incredibly friendly and crave lots of attention. They also enjoy heights, making them high-landers in their own right. 

PetMD asked veterinary acupuncturist Rachel Barrack and Petplan veterinarian Jennifer Maniet to weigh in on which cat breeds are least likely to have an early grave, and the Balinese was paws-down one of the healthiest on their list. With a lifespan of 18 to 22 years, these fluffy lovelies edge out the Siamese on average. An author on the Spruce Pets gives a lower estimate with a wider range, placing the feline's life expectancy at 12 to 20 years. Ever the party pooper, Hill's Pet Nutrition lists the Balinese's lifespan as 8 to 13 years. 

Balinese and Siamese cats are related, just as the Highlander Duncan MacLeod belonged to Connor MacLeod's clan. Unsurprisingly, the cats have some similar characteristics, such as a love of heights. But since they're not immortal swordsmen, there can be more than one. So you can have both breeds. No cat lasts forever, but a "fur-ever" friend can be yours today, and hopefully for decades to come.