In the past, it was common knowledge that a cat’s lifespan was equivalent to seven years in a person’s life. Cats, however, mature far more swiftly than that. We also know that illnesses often appear as people age, but cats also display varied behaviors at various stages of their life. Understanding what your cat is going through at each stage of its life is important and advantageous because of these factors.
Cat Age to Human Age Conversion Chart
Visit the chart below to find out how old your cat is in human years.
Kittens, from birth to six months
The first six months of a kitten’s life are literally jam-packed with life-changing events. A kitten’s eyes and ears open between one and two weeks after birth, and from that moment on, its physical and mental development rockets. A cat experiences sights, sounds, and smells just way a human newborn does. Every new animal, person, and thing it experiences shapes its personality. All of these interactions and exposures during the ensuing weeks have a substantial impact on a kitten’s ability to socialize.
A kitten will start to become more autonomous and inquisitive after leaving its mother at roughly two to three months old. These cats may be receiving medications, or they may be eating particular foods and supplements, to support various physiological systems. A kitten grows swiftly throughout these months; by the time it is six months old, it is roughly the same size as a 10-year-old child.
A series of vaccinations are required for kittens, and they are often spayed or neutered at around six months of age. Your veterinarian is likely to discover any genetic or congenital issues at this time.
Between HALF A YEAR and THREE, kittens reach adulthood.
As they develop into adult cats, older kittens and younger adult cats will continue to test their limitations since at six months old, a kitten is already the same age as a human child in the double digits. By the time your cat reaches adult size, the majority of its preferences, routines, etc. will have already been set.
A one-year-old cat is physiologically equivalent to a human who is fifteen years old, while a two-year-old cat is equivalent to a person who is twenty-four years old. Despite the fact that adult cats frequently have good health and don’t need as many vaccinations as kittens, now is a good time to have some baseline blood work done to determine what your cat’s typical findings are. You’ll be glad you did it when your cat is older and you have something to compare its blood work to typically. Young adult cats typically only need routine dental care, occasional grooming, and yearly checkups with a vet.
Prime cats are aged three to six.
While not quite a senior cat, a cat between the ages of three and six is nonetheless an adult. While mostly trouble-free in terms of health, some cats do have chronic diseases or congenital disorders that require treatment.
A prime cat may benefit from early joint support supplements to keep its hips and knees operating regularly, will need annual checkups with usual vaccinations, and may occasionally experience a health concern, but overall, this age range is often a healthy one.
The peak of a cat’s adulthood occurs when it is five years old, which is about equal to when a person is in their mid-30s.
Mature cats are seven to ten years old.
Cats typically survive until their late teens, therefore they are not yet regarded as senior citizens, despite the fact that some veterinarians may start referring to your cat as a senior once it is approximately seven or eight years old. Cats who are nine or 10 years old may qualify for an AARP card if they were people, but they haven’t quite reached retirement age.
Middle age is when obesity is most common, so it’s vital to make sure your elderly cat is eating appropriately. Additionally, check to see whether your cat can still easily jump on and off of objects and if dental disease, kidney issues, or a heart murmur have not yet arisen in your cat. Blood testing from the animal should be compared to blood work from when it was younger to look for any trends in changes in organ function. Additionally, your veterinarian could suggest more frequent examinations.
Cats in their eleventh to fourteenth years.
When your cat becomes eleven, they are finally regarded as a true senior. Joint problems in older cats should be addressed by their owners because organ functions may start to deteriorate. Blood testing should be reviewed in accordance with your veterinarian’s recommendations to make sure that common problems affecting elderly cats are recognized early. Given that senior cats’ bodies typically demand various nutrients at this age, dietary modifications may also be advised.
Even though this is generally only the result of discomfort, joint stiffness, or even brain abnormalities and confusion in senior cats, some older cats do appear to become crankier as they age. Any alterations you notice should be shared with your vet because they can be an indication that your cat has additional health problems.
Cats in their Fifteens to Twentys and Older
Cats live a very long time. If cats were people, they would be about 100 years old by the time they are 20, making a 15-year-old cat almost the same age as a mid-70s human. Geriatric cats should visit the vet at least once every six months if they will be 15 years or older. It will explore its surroundings when its adult teeth begin to erupt, get into mischief, and possibly chew on things it shouldn’t. Cats usually spend the majority of the day napping, which results in age-related impairments in their hearing and vision.
Similar to a 90-year-old human, cats of this age frequently exhibit cognitive impairment. Screaming at night and urinating or defecating close to the litter box but not within it are two indicators of cognitive impairment in cats.
A cat this old is still a success, and these elderly cats should definitely receive extra care. Although living into your 20s is more common for cats than dogs, this is still a remarkable lifespan.
If you suspect your pet is sick, contact your veterinarian straight away. When in doubt about your family pet’s health, always see your veterinarian. They have examined your pet, are aware of its medical history, and may be able to offer the best guidance for your pet.
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