True or False: One year of a cat’s life is equivalent to seven human years.
Wait a second …
Many consider this myth to be a reality. It is usually applied to both cats and dogs. The theory usually spread for an unknown amount of time. The belief is that the one-to-seven-year ratio has demonstrated that we believe that pets age much faster than humans.
In fact, our cats age much faster than even rumors suggest.
So what’s the best way to determine how old your cat is compared to humans?
Read on.
Cats
Cats are the second most popular animal in the world after dogs. These are domestic members of the feline family and the smallest of them. Like felines, domestic cats have a flexible body with a low stance, long tails that help maintain balance, a graceful head shape, and special claws and teeth that are useful for hunting.
Like their lion and tiger cousins, domestic cats are essentially carnivorous. And, as any tabby cat owner knows, they are surprisingly agile, tend to be strong and unusually coordinated when they move and jump.
Numero uno – a dog – before domestication lived in packs. The dog easily adapted to the role of a pet. The cat was not so easy to subdue. Domestic cats are independent and loners. They are curious, brave creatures and get into trouble easily. But it’s hard to get mad at them. No matter what risk they take, you are too happy to be angry.
Cats are beautiful and smart. Their purr of happiness is candy for many cat owners. They do not require the maintenance of other animals, especially dogs. You can leave them at home alone if they have access to food and water. A kitten may appreciate a companion – a dog or another kitty, but they do not panic or anxious when left alone.
When you get home, they will run up, purr and rub your shins. And not only because they know that food is coming soon.
Cats have won the favor of your life by becoming beloved family members.
Is it important to know your cat’s age?
Felines live longer than dogs. On average, your kitten can live between 20 and 25 years.
Knowing if your pet is approaching old age is critical to knowing how to care for it. We believe that dogs reach maturity or older at seven years old, and cats mature – middle age – seven to ten years old. The cat gets older at the age of 11. They are senior until the age of 15, after which they are classified as geriatricians.
The age of an animal greatly affects its weight and diet, as well as how often it should have regular check-ups. Your veterinarian will help ensure the best chance of your kitten living a healthy life.
It might make sense to take out pet insurance before your cat gets too old. Like humans, older cats will develop anticipated illnesses or unexpected accidents.
Age table from cat to human
Turning a cat into human years is not as easy as using seven human years for every feline year. Mainly because kittens mature faster in the first years of life than humans and dogs.
It is generally accepted that 15 years are added to the first year of a cat’s life. You add 10 years to the second year. From that moment on, there are four years of human life for every animal year. Using calculations, you will find that your cat matures by the age of two, which is the equivalent of a human being a quarter of a century old.
| stage | Cat age | In human years |
|---|---|---|
| Kitten | 1 month | 1 year |
| 3 months | 4 years | |
| 6 months | 10 years | |
| Jr | 12 months | 15 years |
| 18 months | 21 years | |
| 3 months | 4 years | |
| 2 years | 24 years | |
| Adult | 3 years or more | 28 years and four years for each additional year of the cat |
| Senior | 11 to 14 years old | 60 and four years for each additional year of the cat |
| Geriatric | 15 years and older | 82 years and four years for each additional year of the cat |
How cats age
As stated, the usual value from one to seven is misleading. Felines experience the equivalent of many human years during the first two years of life. The aging process will slow down for a while before sustained aging begins.
The calculation of cat-to-human aging is based on behavioral and physical changes that occur at different stages in your cat’s life. These stages coincide with those that are present in the samples of human life.
The theory is based on the concept that at the age of one year, a kitten is physiologically similar to a 15-year-old person. Studies show that relatively at these times in their lives, humans and cats are at a similar stage of development and growth.
Cats, dogs and humans age differently. But cats usually have fewer differences in how they age depending on the breed. Dog years (like humans) can vary between breeds. For example, small breed dogs live longer. But you cannot use this concept for a tabby cat. It seems that, regardless of breed, the differences in aging are not significant enough. Cat breeds follow very similar patterns as they age.
Domestic cats versus street cats
It may sound strange, but where your pet stays indoors, outdoors, or indulges in both, can play a role in how it ages. While this is a controversial topic in the animal kingdom, there is reportedly strong evidence to support both sides of the argument.
Animals that remain indoors are not exposed to injuries or infectious diseases that can result from running outdoors. This can lead to an increase in life expectancy. But the other side argues that felines are at greater risk of disease due to environmental constraints.
The exact opposite applies to street felines. They can have a stronger immune system if they are placed in a stimulating, natural, new environment. But they also increase the likelihood of stress, injury, and illness as they explore the unknown.
Owners, knowing the signs of aging and their cat’s lifestyle, will be better able to decide how to manage their pet as it ages.
Signs of an older cat
There are distinctive physical indicators to help you determine the age of your animal. This is especially true when your adult kitten reaches the senior phase.
- The teeth will turn yellow and tartar will appear on them. The cat will also begin to lose teeth. If all teeth are clearly stained, the cat is probably three to five years old. The absence of teeth indicates that the cat is decently 10 to 15 years old. Remember, felines can just have bad teeth!
- Older animals become thicker and rougher and begin to turn gray. Soft and thin fur for the young, like plump hair!
- Eyes are a useful resource for determining your cat’s age. The eyes may have cloudy, discharge, or watery eyes. The iris may have a characteristic cracked appearance as opposed to being naturally smooth. This can distinguish a young cat (smooth) from an older one (cracked). After 12, it is usually cloudy. Tears are a sign of maturity.
- Arthritis is common in older cats, but only regular check-ups will show it. In fact, most of the signs of age are almost hidden, so you need to pay attention to this. As in humans, the level of activity affects the definition of muscles. Kittens play, run and jump – a common thing for young people. If your pet’s muscle mass decreases or it moves significantly less, you are looking at an older animal. Older people will be more bony and have protruding shoulder blades or loose skin.
- The pet will show loss of muscle mass or weight and become more bony.
- Even the most laid-back feline will show signs of low energy.
- Behavioral changes may include wandering, more meowing, disorientation, or confusion.
- Older kittens may forget where the litter box is.
The oldest cat in the world
There are many stories about the oldest kitten in the world. We turned to the most reliable resource for business management. The Guinness Book of Records states that the oldest cat is 38 years old and 3 days old. This is 168 human years. His name was Creme Puff. Creme Puff was born on August 3, 1967, died on August 6, 2005. Its owner, Jake Perry, lived in Austin, Texas. Curiously, Perry also owned Granpa Rex Allen, another feline owner – at the time – the oldest living tabby cat.
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