How long can a wild cat live?

The lifespan of a wild cat varies greatly depending on the species. Here's a breakdown of some common wild cats and their average lifespans:

Small Wild Cats:

* Domestic cats (Felis catus): 2-15 years (average 13-17 years in captivity)

* Bobcat (Lynx rufus): 10-12 years in the wild

* Lynx (Lynx spp.): 10-15 years in the wild

* Caracal (Caracal caracal): 12-13 years in the wild

* Jungle cat (Felis chaus): 8-10 years in the wild

Large Wild Cats:

* Lion (Panthera leo): 8-14 years in the wild (up to 20 years in captivity)

* Tiger (Panthera tigris): 8-10 years in the wild (up to 26 years in captivity)

* Leopard (Panthera pardus): 10-12 years in the wild (up to 23 years in captivity)

* Jaguar (Panthera onca): 11-15 years in the wild (up to 23 years in captivity)

* Snow leopard (Panthera uncia): 15-18 years in the wild (up to 20 years in captivity)

Factors Affecting Lifespan:

* Habitat: A wild cat's lifespan is directly affected by the availability of food, water, and shelter in its environment.

* Predation: Predation by larger animals can significantly reduce a wild cat's lifespan.

* Disease: Infectious diseases can also be fatal to wild cats.

* Human activity: Habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict can all shorten a wild cat's lifespan.

It's important to note that these are just averages, and individual wild cats can live longer or shorter lives depending on a variety of factors.