 The average lifespan of pet cats has risen in recent years . In the early 1980s it was about seven years , rising to 9 @.@ 4 years in 1995 and 12 – 15 years in 2014 . However , cats have been reported as surviving into their 30s , with the oldest known cat , Creme Puff , dying at a verified age of 38 . 
