What If I Dont Know My Cats Birth Year
Cats dont typically come with a manufacturers label, which can make it tricky to nail down your adopted or rescued cats birthday. Without a clear date of birth, how can you tailor your care to your cats age?
Fortunately, figuring out a cats age is pretty straightforward for your veterinarian. After that, routine visits to the vet especially as your cat starts to show signs of aging will provide regular opportunities for a licensed professional to chart changes in your cats condition and begin any necessary treatment.
Understanding your cats development by calculating their age in cat years can help you provide balanced nutrition, a healthy environment and the appropriate medical care they need. The 15-9-4 rule is there to help you remember: Cats develop extremely quickly early in life before sticking to a rate of 4 cat years per calendar year. All those cat naps make a lot more sense now.
How Muscle Tone Shows A Cats Age
Younger cats have more energy than older cats. This is why kittens and young cats are more active.
A younger cat will be more muscular and fit than an older cat.
Older cats might have loose or excess skin.
This is especially noticeable when they walk around their belly area.
Older cats also have protruding shoulders and look bonier.
Two Ways To Look At Age
Though the common perspective on cat years and human years is trying to figure out how old our cats are in human years, that conversion can be applied both ways.
That is to say, if you consider the maximum age of a human to be 100 years, then, based on the Cat Calculator, the maximum age of a cat is 20.8 years. On the other side of the coin, if you consider that, as The Cat Bible suggests, 16 human years is comparable to 84 cat years, then a 100-year-old human could be said to be the equivalent of 525 cat years.
Though this is a generally less practical way to consider the relative aging rate, it does serve as an important reminder The way we experience time, the length of our human years, and the meaning we assign to certain-numbered years , is a matter of perspective. Some other oft-quoted ideas come to mind: “Its not the years in your life, but the life in your years” and “Youre only as old as you feel.”
How old is your cat according to the cat years to human years formula? Or perhaps we should ask, how old are YOU in cat years?
Read Also: How To Introduce Your Cat To A New Kitten
Stages Of Life Of Cats
In recent years, and taking into account this increase in feline life expectancy, the stages of life have been redefined. A cat has different stages in its life, not like other pets, the cats have somewhat different. These are like humans, it mainly depends on how we judge, below are the stages of life of a cat which you can see below.
You May Also Know: How Long are Cats Pregnant?
As indicated in the table of equivalences, the stages would be:
Busting Cat Age Myths
A popular misconception is that 1 year of a cats life is equivalent to 7 years of a humans life.
This is actually unlikely considering a 1 old year cat is more mature and developed than a 7 year old human.
A 1 year old cat is considered a full-grown adult.
Cats mature and develop more rapidly than humans. A lot happens in the first year of a cats life!
At one year old, cats have reached sexual maturity and are able to reproduce.
They also develop mannerisms and social behavior that will be with them for the rest of their adult lives.
Don’t Miss: Kittens At The Humane Society
How Long Do Cats Live On Average
What are the facts on cats longevity? The ideal cat can or may live to 20 years and older. On average, wild, homeless, and feral cats live dramatically shorter lives than domestic cats. Outdoor cat lifespan ranges widely, anywhere from three to 10 years. Indoor cats live nearly three times as long as outdoor cats. The numbers varied widely ranging from 14 to 20 years.
According to the site icatcare.org, there are 6 life stages for cats:
- Kitten the young cat is growing rapidly and is usually not quite sexually mature
- the cat reaches full size and learns about life and how to survive it
- Prime the cat is mature physically and behaviourally, and is still usually healthy and active, looking sleek and shiny and making the best of life
- Mature the cat is what we call ‘Mature’, equivalent to humans in their mid-40s to mid-50s
So How Long Is A Cat Year In Human Years
Once you know roughly how old your kitty is, you can compare her age to your own. It turns out that the ratio of cat years to human years isn’t as simple as a single conversion rate cats develop the fastest during their first two years of life and then slow down. So at the end of her first year, your cat is approximately at the same developmental stage as a human that is 10 or 15 years old, and by age two, your cat will be around 25 in human years. After that, cats tend to develop more slowly, Barrack said, aging about four or five human years every 12 months.
Putting your pets age in human terms not only helps you empathize with your cat, it also show the importance of regular veterinary checkups. A year time frame in a cats life is significant, Mears says. Things can change dramatically. If an adult cat year is equivalent to four or five human years, its easy to see how arthritis could develop, organ function could decrease and neurologic changes might develop is such a seemingly short period of time.
You May Like: Best Food For Cats Urinary Tract
How Old Is Your Cat In Human Years
Alex Barlow / Getty Images
Historically, people often think every year of a cat’s life is equivalent to seven years of a human’s life, but cats actually age must faster than that. And with age, we know that diseases often follow, but cats also act differently at certain life stages. Because of these things, it’s not only helpful but also important to be able to understand what your cat is going through at each stage of its life.
How Do You Convert Cat Years To Human Years Cat To Human Years Chart
Working out cat to human years isn’t as simple as saying “one human year equals seven cat years”. Although there’s no real scientific way to figure out what cat years are in human years, some research makes it easier to calculate. The American Animal Hospital Association recommends using the following metrics to determine your cat’s human age:
- First year of a cats life = 15 human years
- Second year of a cats life = nine human years
- Every subsequent year = four human years
These AAHA guidelines are based on both the physical and behavioural stages of a cats life, matched to similar stages of a human’s life. If you convert a cat to human years, your adorable, goofy kitten is actually a teenager. And, by the time they’re two years old, they’re already hitting their mid-twenties.
In a similar vein, a senior cat of around 15 years of age could actually be the equivalent of 76 human years!
Trying to do the maths? Put the calculator down. Our handy cat to human years chart below makes it easy to see how old your precious puss is.
Read Also: How Much Is It To Buy A Cat
How Old Is The Oldest Living Cat: 9 Secrets To Help Kitty Defy Age
Cats offer us some of the most fulfilling friendships. They enrich our lives with their playful, loving, and loyal nature. They easily weave their way into our hearts, and we cannot fathom our lives without them. But cat parents often wonder just how long their felines will live. How old is the oldest living cat? What can I do to ensure my cat lives to such a ripe old age? These are some nagging questions that haunt many cat owners.
It is a heart-rending experience to lose a cat. Nothing prepares you for it. While death is inevitable to all living beings, there are sure ways of keeping this heartbreak at bay. A long, fulfilling life with kitty is possible. There are cat owners that are privileged to have their cats live well beyond the expected years. Just what are these people doing right? This is the question we seek to answer.
A long, healthy feline life is not a myth. Cats simply require proper nurturing and care to live long. Yes, it is in your power to affect your cats lifespan! The secret lies in his diet, his vet appointments, his environment, his grooming, and many other factors.
We will explore these life-giving solutions in detail so you can be in your kittys company for a lot longer, but before that, lets take a minute to see how the aging process goes in cats.
How To Estimate The Age Of A Cat
If you have adopted a stray cat, it might not be easy to estimate its age accurately. Still, there are a few indicators that might give you a hint about the age:
- Cat’s teeth. If you had to settle for just one indicator, this should be it. Kittens have their first permanent set of teeth when they’re about four months old. If the cat’s teeth are white, you could assume it’s about a year old. A more yellowish color hints at the age of one to two years old, while tartar build-up or missing teeth indicate an even older cat.
-
Cat’s eyes. Young cats usually have bright, sparkling eyes. Some cloudiness might indicate that your cat is already 10 or more years old. Additionally, the iris of an older cat’s eye appears to be a bit jagged.
-
Cat’s coat. A kitten’s fur is soft and fine, while older cats tend to have a coarser coat. If you find some patches of gray or white, the cat might already be senior.
You May Like: Invisible Pet Fence For Cats
How Long Does The Average Cat Live
Jochen Wittmann/EyeEm/Getty Images
A cat’s lifespan varies with lifestyle and genetics. With optimal health and good genes, a well-nourished and well-exercised indoor-only cat will typically live longer than indoor-outdoor cats. According to a college of veterinary medicine, the average lifespan for indoor only cats is 10-15 years. With that said, indoor-outdoor cats usually live longer than strays and ferals. While this is simply the average, there are always exceptions to every rule.
How Old Is My Maine Coon Cat In Human Years
There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on a number of factors, including the size, weight, and health of your cat. However, a general rule of thumb is that one human year is equivalent to seven cat years. Therefore, if your Maine Coon cat is two years old, they would be approximately fourteen years old in human years.
The average lifespan for a Maine Coon cat is 12 to 15 years. The Maine Coon is a hardy breed of cat with few health problems that is well-liked by many people. In addition to feeding their cats a high-quality diet and regular veterinary health checks, owners can ensure that they exercise and enjoy their pets. Because of their highly intelligent brains and keen intelligence, many people regard Maine Coons to be very similar to dogs. A Maine Coon can live for up to 15 years if properly cared for, attention is paid, and focuses on the factors. Diet, exercise, and grooming are all ways owners can prolong the lives of their Maine Coons. Because Maine Coon cats have a tendency to develop a few health issues, their overall lifespan could be reduced.
Don’t Miss: Is Clove Oil Safe For Cats
Of : Handling The End
Dont Miss: How To Catch A Cat In Your House
How To Calculate Your Cats Age In Human Years
At first its a little tricky, but then it gets very simple, Becker says. Thats because cats will develop rapidly in their first two years of their livesreaching the human equivalent of the mid-20s by the time theyre 2 years old.
Heres how Becker lays out the process: A 1-year-old cat is the equivalent of a 15-year-old human. Then, a 2-year-old cat is 25 in human years. Then it gets much easier: Each year of a cats life is roughly equal to four human years, so a 3-year-old cat is about 29 a 4-year-old cat is 33 a 5-year-old cat is 37 and a 6-year-old cat is 41. And so on and so on. If your cat gets to 20, shes around 97 human years old.
Unlike dogswho have different human age equivalents depending on their sizethe formula for cats is universal because theyre all roughly the same size.
To find out the exact human age of your cat, look at the chart below!
Also Check: Cat C13 Exhaust Manifold Gasket Replacement
Elderly Cat Friendly Home
All the recommendations for a cat friendly home will work as well for the elderly with a little modification. There is rarely the need to make drastic changes to the home to accommodate your cat as it gets older but small adaptations to the existing cat resources can make a significant difference to the quality of life. If your cat is finding stairs difficult to negotiate, for example, then it may be spending prolonged periods on one level, either up or downstairs. Ensuring that all your cats needs are met on that one level will avoid any risk of being unable to access important resources.
In order to make activity and movement in general easier for your older cat, it is important that it feels comfortable walking. Laminate, tiled or wooden flooring can be slippery and old cats can become unstable on slippery surfaces making them less inclined to be active. Equally, carpet can catch on your cats claws that overgrow easily without regular stropping and remain protracted as the muscles weaken. Cut pile carpets are more comfortable for your cat than loop pile so if your flooring is the latter you can compromise by providing cut pile runners throughout the home to enable your cat to walk in comfort. This is also the ideal surface on which to play, particularly if your cat likes to lie down in the process.
Here’s How To Figure Out Your Cat’s Age
Is your cat wise beyond his years and he’s only 2? As it turns out, cats actually age way faster than humans. So how old is your cat, really?
Well, theres no sense speculating !
When it comes to cats, their age, average lifespan and even details on the oldest cat ever weve got you covered.
If you want to know how old your cat really is, keep reading to find out how to calculate cat years to human years and how to figure out his age. You just might be surprised at the answer.
Also Check: Why Does My Cat Rub Against My Legs
How To Calculate Cat Age In Human Years
Itâs commonly stated that one human year is the equivalent of 7 cat years. This is an effort to demonstrate that cats age more quickly than humans. However, they do not age proportionately.
Cats reach maturity at a much faster rate than humans in the beginning of their lives. Once they reach adulthood, their aging slows down.
Itâs difficult to draw a direct comparison between a catâs age and its human equivalent, but the general consensus is that a cat ages the equivalent of 15 human years in the first year of their life.
From 2 years on, experts believe cats age at a rate of approximately 4 human years per cat year.
How Long Can Cats Live How Long Do Cats Live On Average
Cats have an average life expectancy of 16 to 18 years, though some cats may live even longer. In fact, according to the Cornell Feline Health Center, many cats live to be 20 or 21.
Certain cat breeds are known to have notably long life expectancies while some are more susceptible to certain health issues than others. For instance, both Siamese and Savannah cats are said to have a life span as long as 20 years. Meanwhile, Ragdoll and Persian cats are both susceptible to Polycystic Kidney Disease .
According to the UC Davis Department of Veterinary Medicine, indoor cats are expected to live much longer than outdoor cats. This is largely because indoor cats face fewer hazards than cats who live outdoors. Outdoor cats are vulnerable to threats like predators, traffic, toxins, and diseases from other animals that indoor cats may never come into contact with. Keep outdoor cats safe with these tips.
Of course, nothing is ever guaranteed. Even indoor cats that are extremely well cared for may fall ill unexpectedly, while breeds that are highly prone to certain health afflictions may never be affected by them. As frustrating as it may be, thereâs just no way of knowing how long your cat will live.
Feeding your cat a balanced diet and ensuring they maintain a healthy body weight can help increase your catâs life expectancy and keep them agile and active well into old age.
Also Check: How To Draw Pete The Cat