Cat Years vs Human Years: What's There to Know
If you’re looking for a quick, accurate answer to calculating the age of your cat in human years, you won’t find it. That’s because there is no instant and precise scientific formula like we have for our doggo fur-ends.
Un-fur-tunately, asking ourselves “how old is my cat” is a little more complicated. In the simplest terms, the first 2 years of your cat’s life are approximately the same as the first 25 of yours - can you believe it? After that, 4 cat years are roughly equivalent to each human 1. No wonder our furry friends have 9 lives!
Before getting excited, this is only a rough estimate that most vets agree on. However, if you really want to understand your kitty’s path in life in comparison to your human one, rather look at the different cat age stages.
Cat Years vs Human Years: Compare Stages, Not Numbers
Let’s look at some cat age stages of your feline companion and compare them to human ones. Don’t worry, we won’t cover 9 lives worth!
Kitten Stage: Birth to 6 months
Think of this stage for your cat in human years as the equivalent of a hooman childhood, from birth to about 12 years old. The focus is on playing, positive introductions to others, becoming comfortable with hair brushing and nail trims. It’s that sweet spot between having an adorable newborn and just before hitting sulky teenage years!
Junior Cat Stage: 6 months to 2 years
For us hoomans, this extends from the tweens through teens and young adults up to about 25 years old. Here, the focus on playing continues, but a bit of inter-cat competition may develop and finally sexual maturity. We’ve all been there, right?
Cat Prime: 3 to 6 years
Some studies say that human memory peaks at around age 28, and most creative discoveries are made by age 40. So we’re looking at quite a range here, in human terms. You may consider your cat young and healthy at this stage. Still, regular medical check-ups and disease prevention are essential. You know, before they hit that mid-life crisis and start upgrading on their kitty toys!
Mature Cat: 7 to 10 years
When your cat hits the 7-10 year mark, you may be asking yourself, “how old is my cat” more and more. For us, hoomans, this time would be around middle-age through to our 60s. It’s also when we’d start to look at winding down and enjoying the more beautiful things in life. The same goes for your kitty - cat’s desire to play starts to decline, and weight gain is more likely.
Senior Citizen Cat: 11 – 14 years
Breakout the pensioner’s discount because your kitty just earned their senior status! Imagine this cat age stage as the same as a 70-year-old person. They’re taking things a little slower, need more naps, but are still as purrfect as ever in their golden years.
Geriatric Feline: 15 years and above
As much as it breaks our hearts to see our furry friends getting old, when they’re 15 years and above, it may be time to think of proper care options. In hooman terms, your kitty is the same age as someone approaching their 90s. Regular evaluation for medical problems and possible behavior changes can be expected and should be prepared for.
While it may be easier to do a quick multiplication of 7, this rough guideline might help you to understand the relationship between cat years vs human years. So next time you’re wondering “how old is my cat,” think of it in cat age stages rather than a numbers chart.
If you're wondering about whether cat years are the same as dog years, then you'll want to read more here.
As always, it’s best to check with your vet if you have any questions about your cat’s stage and nutritional requirements. They will be able to give you the most accurate insight into your cat’s development and well-being.
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