The common formula of 7 human years for every 1 dog year
cannot be applied to cats. In fact,
feline aging is much more rapid during the first two years of life. A cat reaches the approximate human age of 15
during its first year, then 24 at age 2.
Each year thereafter, it ages approximately four “cat years” for every
calendar year. Thus, a 5-year-old feline
would be approximately 36 in cat years.
Note: It should be remembered that a cat who lives outdoors ages far
more quickly, perhaps even twice a fast, than an indoor cat.
|
Calendar Age
|
Indoor Cat Age (years)
|
Outdoor Cat Age (years)
|
|
2 months
|
3
|
3
|
|
4 months
|
6
|
6
|
|
6 months
|
9
|
9
|
|
8 months
|
11
|
11
|
|
10 months
|
13
|
13
|
|
1 year
|
15
|
15
|
|
1 ½ years
|
20
|
20
|
|
2 years
|
24
|
24
|
|
3 years
|
28
|
32
|
|
4 years
|
32
|
40
|
|
5 years
|
36
|
48
|
|
6 years
|
40
|
56
|
|
7 years
|
44
|
64
|
|
8 years
|
48
|
72
|
|
9 years
|
52
|
80
|
|
10 years
|
56
|
88
|
|
11 years
|
60
|
96
|
|
12 years
|
64
|
104
|
|
13 years
|
68
|
112
|
|
14 years
|
72
|
120
|
|
15 years
|
76
|
128
|
|
16 years
|
80
|
136
|
|
17 years
|
84
|
144
|
|
18 years
|
88
|
152
|
|
19 years
|
92
|
160
|
|
20 years
|
96
|
168
|
Indicators of a Cat’s Age
If you’ve taken in a stray or adopted a cat whose age is
unknown, there are some ways to determine her age. Here are some things vets check to get a
general sense of how old a cat is:
The Teeth:
Teeth are a great indicator of age. Older cats tend to have more staining than
younger cats, assuming the previous owner was negligent in brushing the cat’s
teeth. And a kitten’s teeth come in
between two to four weeks; their more permanent set appears at around four
months of age. So if you open a cat’s
mouth and find permanent, white teeth, the feline is likely to be around a year
old. Some yellowing might place the cat
between 1 and 2, and a tartar build-up on all the teeth indicates that the cat
would be between 3 and 5. Missing teeth
may mean you have a senior cat on your hands.
Muscle Tone:
Younger cats are more likely to have some muscle definition
from their higher activity level. Older
cats are usually a bit bonier and may have some extra skin hanging or
protruding shoulder blades.
The Coat:
A younger cat usually has a soft, fine coat, whereas an
older cat tends to have thicker, courser fur.
A senior cat may display grays or patches of white.
The Eyes:
Bright, clear eyes without tearing or discharge are common
in younger cats. A cat with some
cloudiness in their eyes is likely to be 12 years old or so. While inspecting the lens, also examine the
iris of the eye. Young cats have smooth
irises, while the iris of an old cat can sometimes appear somewhat jagged.
Source: www.catster.com
