Do you have any clue about cat age in human years? And how to translate its years to human years? Our guide today will show you how to do it right, so check it out now!
In history, people used to think one year of a cat’s life is equal to seven years of our lives. But in reality, they age much faster than expected. So today, we’d like to talk about cat age in human years. This helps you understand what it has to go through at different stages of its life. Then how could we work out its age to human years?
Before digging into it, you need to know that the longevity of an animal is generally based on its size. But cats might not be bigger than rabbits, and they can live on average around 12 – 14 years. In other words, you can’t only base on the size to draw the final decision. Check out below for more cat’s life stages.
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How old is my cat in human years?
For those who want to know how to calculate the age of a cat, come to use the below information as a guide. It gives you deeper insights into how its age translates to human years.
First life stage: Newborn kitties
- Kitties younger than one-month-old are equal to one-year-old in human years.
- Kitties between 2 – 3-months-old are equivalent to 2 – 4 human years.
- Kitties between 4 – 5-months-old are equivalent to 5 – 9 human years.
- 6-months-old kitties are equivalent to 10 human years
As you see, the initial six months of a kitty’s life are mostly related to the way it opens eyes and ears right after birth. At this time, it’s around two and three weeks of age. This is also the chance for physical and mental growth to fly up. In detail, the kitty has to deal with different sights, sounds and smells at the same time just like how a human baby newborn does.
Every animal, object, and even anyone the cat interacts with will help build up its typical personality. Through the upcoming few weeks, the socialization skills of a kitty get influenced based on those natural exposures and interactions. Only after it can leave the mother cat, it becomes more curious. This event happens when it comes at around 2 – 3 months of age. Interestingly, the kitten will begin exploring its surrounding environment.
Your kitty might have some minor trouble when starting to chew things. In fact, we don’t recommend it to chew what it shouldn’t. And kittens’ teeth will soon develop. The growth you see here takes place quickly over this course. And before a kitty turns six months old, it’s equal to a 10-year-old human child.
Second life stage: Adult
- Cats between 7 – 12-months-old are equal to 12 – 15 human years.
- Between 12 – 18-months-old are equivalent to 17 – 21 human years.
- 2-years-old cats are equal to 24 human years.
- 3-years-old cats mean 28 human years.
- Cats between 4 – 5 years-old cats are equivalent to 30 – 35 human years.
- 6-years-old cats are equal to 40 human years.
As I mentioned above, a six-month-old kitty is equal to a 10-years-old child. Your cat keeps testing their limits when they develop into the mature animals. Before the cat turns one year old, it needs to arrive at its adult size. Apart from that, some striking habits will be created gradually.
A 1-year-old cat is comparable to a 15-year-old person. Meanwhile, a 2-year-old cat can be seen as a 24-year-old person. Also, most mature cats won’t need several vaccinations like how kitties need in the early times. They’re already healthy, but don’t ignore your cat’s health.
Here comes a chance for cat owners to give their cats some blood work. Along with that, don’t forget about cat grooming, proper dental care, and check-ups with a vet. These procedures are essential things to do if you want to maintain a young cat healthy.
Though a 6-year-old cat is an adult cat, it’s not a senior yet. But what you might set your mind free is that the cat has less trouble as it comes to health issues. It’s true that a few of them still suffer some chronic or congenital issues, but it won’t happen commonly. And we suggest you give the cat annual checkups with a vet and frequent vaccinations. It probably suffers a health issue at times, but this age period, it’s totally healthy.
Third life stage: Elderly
- Mature cats between 7 – 9-years-old are equal to 43 – 50 human years.
- 10-years-old senior cats are equivalent to 75 human years.
- 20-years-old mature cats are equivalent to 100 human years.
Right at the moment when the cat comes at around 7 – 8-year-old, you can consider it as a senior cat. Sure enough, this is also a crucial life stage to maintain proper nutrition for your aging cat, especially when obesity is the most common concern in this age period. Besides, always check whether it has grown dental issues, kidney problems, or any murmur.
Offer them blood work that was carried out in their younger years. Doing this ensures no remarkable change in the cat’s organ functions. More usual check-ups should get done with the vet as well. Trust it or not, a cat is a true senior once it reaches 11 years old. However, joint-related issues easily occur, and all cat owners must take action right away. If not, your cat’s organ function begins degrading.
Don’t miss make some beneficial changes in its diet as the cat comes to this age. It’s because most elderly cats need special nutrition once their bodies start changing. If it’s possible, try to consult with your vet about some changes, pain, or discomfort your cat has to experience in this period.
In general, cats have a long life. A 15-year-old cat is equivalent to a 70-year-old human. Before these cats turn 20, you would be nearly 100 years old. Cats at that age or older should come to visit a vet at least once every 6 months. They need some particular medications and special foods as well as supplements to maintain body systems. But wait, how to know if it’s a senior cat?
What are the signs of a senior cat?
Bear in mind that there are a few physical signs that might give you some clues about your cat’s age. Try to observe them once your mature cat reaches the senior stage.
- Teeth: You would spot some yellowish stains and tartar establishment, or even some missing teeth.
- Fur: Most senior cats own gray or white fur. Their coat seems coarser as compared to those of younger cats.
- Eyes: The cat experiences cloudiness or debris in the front of the eyes. Their pupils become dilated in high light. An eye exam should be done, and it might require medications and surgery if it’s needed.
- Activeness: An elderly cat has less activity for sure. More than that, it weighs less and owns muscle loss.
- Behavior changes: An aging cat would have some visible behavior changes such as being less active and more aggressive. If the cat begins acting weirdly, then it could be a sign of aging issues.
- Food intake: There’s a decline in cat’s appetite that is common in cats with kidney issues.
Taking care of cats when they’re aging
One of the most crucial things you can do here to boost the whole health status of your senior cat is to bring it to a vet for usual check-ups. The veterinarian makes some useful recommendations on your cat’s diet, supplements, and medications. Doing so helps boost the pet’s longevity.
It’s always best for them to get examined frequently to ensure any health issues do not show up and be solved soon. Not only that, but you should also concern their dental issues. It’s common in aging cats. They mostly have pain in their teeth, and oral tumors could affect their life badly. Such infections in a cat’s mouth easily get into the bloodstream and then worsen its kidneys, liver, and heart.
Therefore, you must pay attention to your cat’s dental health since it’s the key to take good care of them during the senior years.
Moreover, how about making some positive changes to your house to help the cat feel more relaxed? Well, let’s invest in a litter box with lower sides to help the cat get in and out with ease. Also, don’t miss getting a pet ramp that might help your feline friend climb up and down the stairs without difficulty.
Final words
We bet that you’ve already known how old your cat age in human years is after this article. When a cat gets adopted or a stray one, let’s use the above clues to determine the exact age in its years. More importantly, a veterinary examination and dental care should get carried out. Doing so can enhance the quality of your cat’s life and even help expand its lifespan.
