Siamese longevity

Question
Dear Jessica

My Siamese "Branquinha" - a lady - has turned 20 years old at
the beginning of 2006. Although she is rather frail and sleeps
most of the time, she seems to be in fairly good health and
keeps us company whenever she is awake. Of course, we give
her special attention - with food, drink, a warm place to be and
lots of affection.

I was curious to know about Siamese cats' longevity, but could
not find information in the Guinness site.

Would you have something to tell me about the statistics on the
Siamese's life spam?

Thank you very much for your attention.  

Answer
Hi, Jose.  To my knowledge, the longest-living Siamese lived to be 28 years old.  They are the longest-living of all breeds, and life expectancy is generally into the late teens.  Certainly, your Branquinha has lived a long life!  But it isn't uncommon to see Siamese live into their early twenties.  I recently made the acquaintance of a 23-year-old Siamese who behaved not a day over 10.

Keep up the good work!  And if she begins losing weight or you notice new behavior, don't hesitate to consult a vet.  Though geriatric cats do slow down, these symptoms are often associated with legitimate health problems.  There are common conditions in older cats, like high thyroid, that can certainly be managed with treatment.