duh. Cats.

Question
When I was young in the '50s, an average lucky cat had a life span of 15 years. It was a big deal for a cat to exceed 20 years in lifespan. Recently, I have read that housecats, if well cared for, may live to be over 20. If that is true, what transpired over the last forty + years to increase the life span.

Answer
Chris,

In a pinch, more people keep their cats indoors, and veterinary medicine has made some real leaps forward.  Major causes of geriatric problems are better understood and many are treatable.  With proper treatments and prevention (more and better vaccines, better understanding of diet, etc.) cats are living longer.

If you need more detail on any of the above, please let me know.

Best regards... Norm.