How long has my old cat got left?

[BlackeyedPetitsPois]

Bless her she has just turned 18 yrs old (I've had her since 10 weeks old!). She is a moggy with quite a bit of Maine Coon in her, and in pretty good nick according to the vet. She's on medication for her arthritis, her weight is good, and doesn't do much anymore, except sleep!

I just wondered if anyone had any experience with geriatric moggies, it breaks my heart to think she'll be gone soon, but how soon?

It does seem to be so individual.

BuggersMoggy is 15-16 but still hunting, jumping the garden wall that's taller than me and brawling much to my annoyance . He's more vocal than when we first met him many years ago, but that's about it. My dad jokes that he's going to outlive the lot of us

DP's cat (left with his parents when he went to uni) was decidedly geriatric in nature by about 12 and on a stack of medication. Nonetheless she stubbornly pottered her lazy way to 15 before passing on after a very brief period of deterioration / going off her food.

I wouldn't overthink it OP. There's a wide variation and I'm sure you'll know if her quality of life isn't there.

After my dog died in January I wanted to get an old rescue cat - to have a few years with a cat then to get another dog, so as not to blur my dogs, if you follow. Anyway, I ended up getting two 'old' cats - who are 12.

After reading this thread I now realise that my girls are not old at all - and in fact I may be too old myself to get another dog, when I finally have a cat-free home

My cat died last year at 23. I spent her last 5 years holding my breath as she looked like a little haggard old woman but was in great health and would frequently bolt upstairs or attack the dog. Still purred. She ate like a Queen for her last year, lots of ham and chicken and then stopped eating and we had her PTS. I'm pretty sure she died at the touch of the needle, she certainly didn't need much to finish her off. She didn't suffer and she was lovely .

...Anyway, I ended up getting two 'old' cats - who are 12...

When I was a child that would have been seen as old - but not so much now as you've said. Sure they come into the age range for an increased likelihood of certain problems but there are plenty of people around who would be prepared to take them on afresh at such an age. My own boy was about 14 when I got him.