If you’ve been with your cat since she was an infant, the age of her cat could be an unanswerable question. You know how long you’ve had your cat throughout your life, but you may not know what age she was when you first fell in love with her. Your cat may provide many clues to help you estimate her actual generation in the cat years.
Cat Age Stages
Indoor-only cats can live for an average of between 12 and 15 years. Cats with access to outdoor space or who live in complete outdoor areas are shorter on average by less than 2-7 years due to greater risk of illness or injury, predation and car accidents.
In different stages of their lives, cats require different levels of care in terms of nutrition, food to play and exercise, and even regular visits to the veterinarian. Cat life stages can be classified into six categories.
Neonate (Newborn) Kitten
From 4-6 weeks old, kittens depend on their moms for most of their requirements. At around four weeks, is the time when kittens begin being introduced to weaning. In this stage, the mother cat must be feeding kittens food.
Kitten
When a kitten begins eating food and using litter boxes and a litter box, they are in an early stage called the kitten. They are considered to be kittens until around 12 months old. Kittens need several vaccinations up to the point that they reach the age of sixteen weeks of age. They must receive cat food during the first 12 months of their life. Kitten food is specifically designed to help support healthy growth and development. Kittens are very active and require lots of moments and social interaction.
Young Adult Cat
Between 1-4 years old, cats are in the stage of young adult life. This is the time of their life when they are most active. They are active and lively and have the characteristics of kittens, however, with less destructive tendencies.
Mature Adult Cat
They are considered at the age of 4 until they reach the age of 10. The management of weight is expected to become more critical at this phase of life because the activity level of cats is reduced. Adult cats must undergo a yearly blood test with their annual physical exam and any other vaccinations.
Senior Cat
Ages between 10 and 15 are considered the prime age for cats. As they reach this stage, cats need to be fed high-quality senior food and should begin seeing their veterinarian at least every six months to check. Urine tests and blood pressure should be included in their annual blood tests. Senior cats might require special care at home, including heated bedding in winter and low-sided litter boxes.
Geriatric Cat
Cats that live more than 15 years enter the senior period of their lives. Senior cats slow down and rest for the majority of the time. They might require assistance with grooming.
How Old Is My Cat in Human Years?
Cats age in different ways in different stages of their lives. In the early years, the cat’s age is rapid. The first six years of an animal’s existence is roughly ten years for humans. At the age of 1 year, your cat will be a teenager in human form. At two years old, they have a lifespan of around 24 years in human years.
After two and age every calendar year, the cat’s lifespan is approximately four human years. This calculator of a cat’s age is an excellent guide to determining your cat’s age in human years.
How Old Is My Cat? 7 Ways to Tell
Seven clues to identify the age of your cat:
Weight
Up to 5 months, the cat’s age can be determined by weight. Kittens gain around 1 pound every month, meaning their weight is equal to their cat’s age in terms of months. For instance, a 4-pound cat is about four months old.
Adult Teeth
The teeth of a cat can offer valuable clues regarding its actual age. Kittens begin growing their adult teeth around three months old, and their adult teeth erupt at the age of 6 months and can have all of the adult teeth at eight months.
Teeth Staining, Plaque, and Tartar
Cats are most likely to develop tooth staining around two to three years old. Even cats with well-maintained, healthy teeth can develop an odour line into the middle teeth at age 3. The more staining is seen on other teeth, the more seasoned the cat is.
As they age, cats develop tartar and plaque, usually beginning with the larger upper premolars in the back of their mouths. Around 2 to 3 years old, there will be tartar that grows over time. Older cats are more tartar-prone unless a vet cleans their teeth. gingivitis (gum condition) (gum disease) is the most common type. It isn’t a good indicator of age since some cats suffer from severe gingivitis starting at a young age.
The vet can also assess the pulp/tooth ratio using dental X-rays to determine your cat’s age. It’s a measure of the length of the cavity called the pulp (where the blood vessel and nerve are inside the tooth) about the size of the tooth (fang). The ratio decreases as you age.
Eye Changes
There are many changes to the eyes that happen as cats get older years. They can be useful in determining age. Lenticular Sclerosis (nuclear Sclerosis) is a typical age-related change. The eye’s lens develops a blue look with a hazy appearance. It is visible at around the age of 10.
Iris atrophy is also a typical alteration in the ageing process of cats that is seen in the majority of seniors who are over ten years old. If you examine the inside of an older cat’s eye (the coloured portion), you will notice that the edges aren’t smooth but instead has a slightly feathered appearance. Iris’s atrophy doesn’t affect the cat’s vision, but it can cause her to be more attracted to bright light since she’s unable to restrict her pupil as tightly.
Coat Color
As humans age and dogs grow grey muzzles, their skin and coat may reveal clues about a cat’s age. Cats do not develop grey muzzles as canines do. However, their vibrant colours can change with they the passage of time. This is particularly true for dark shades. Outside cats can change their coat colours in the early years because of sun damage. Changes in the coat’s colour and not just gradual fade could be a sign of a hormonal problem and need to be treated by a vet.
Skin and Coat Health
Senior and geriatric cats cannot be groomed, and their fur can appear dull, greasy or matted. In addition, overweight cats might not be able to reach all parts of their bodies to clean so that they can get the appearance of an older cat early in their lives. Additionally, senior cats are more likely to have thin, papery skin, comparable to ageing humans.
Movement
Cats are agile until, at most, their mature adult years. Then, you’ll find your cat less likely to leap on the counters or do the gymnastic feats of their younger years. Older and senior cats may even be reluctant to step over the high-edged litter box and could be slow to wake up at the beginning of the day. This may suggest arthritis.
Cat Age and Health
If you cannot pinpoint the date the cat you adopted was born, even the best idea is just an estimation. However, health is far more crucial than the chronologic age. Therefore, the more you ensure that your cat is healthy as she gets older, the more years of good health she’ll enjoy.
Do not assume that any change you notice in your cat’s appearance may be “just old age.” Veterinarians say which states that ” age is not a disease.” The fact that your pet is growing old does not mean she will feel any less than she does. If you notice any changes in your cat, you should have your vet check your cat. There are likely easy ways to manage your cat so your cat can live to her golden years regardless of the age of her actual cat.
