Cat Years to Human Years

Ever wondered how old is your cat is in human calendar years? as you may aware cats are ageing faster than us and  NO – seven years is not equal to one cat Year.

• First two years of the Cat = 25 years of a human
• Then every year of human is equal to 4 Cat Years. However, this depends on how active your Cat is, and use our cat years calculator to convert their age. This calculator will give you a rough estimate of cats’ age to human years.

That old chestnut about one cat year being the equivalent of seven human years is just plain wrong. For example, a six-month-old human is a babe in arms, whilst a six-month-old cat can look after themselves and have kittens of their own. Converting cat years to human years is complex because our feline friends age rapidly in their first couple of years and then slow up.

But more important is knowing your cat’s life stage. This matters because the organs work differently as the body ages. When you adjust their diet to put a minimum strain on their kidneys, this helps extend the average lifespan of a cat.

World oldest cat ever

Creme Puff was born in August 1967 and lived until August 2005 in Texas USA (38 Years)

As humans, we love anthropomorphizing cats. However, giving human years to our cats is not as whimsical as it sounds at first. In fact, it is quite helpful. Knowing our cats’ age in the calendar or human years helps us determine their life stage and therefore understand their needs and provide life-stage specific care.

If you just bought a meow home, You might be wondering how old is my cat? The most trusted and objective way of determining a cat’s age is by examining its teeth. Knowing a few anatomy facts is a good starting point.

• A kitten that is 2 to 4 weeks old will have its baby incisors coming in.
• A kitten that is 3 to 4 weeks old will have its baby canines coming in.
• A kitten that is 4 to 6 weeks old begins growing its baby premolars on the lower jaw.
• A kitten that is 8 weeks old has all of its baby teeth fully grown.
• A kitten that is 4 months old begins growing its permanent incisors.
• A kitten that is 5 to 7 months old has all of its permanent teeth fully grown.
• A cat that is 1 year old has clean and pearly white teeth. There should be no signs of plaque formation and tartar buildup.
• A cat that is 2 years old may have a dull yellow teeth discolouration.
• A cat that is 3 to 6 years old has slightly worn out teeth. There may be signs of plaque buildup and tartar formation.
• A cat that is 10 to 15 years old will have missing teeth, signs of gum disease, bad breath and moderate to severe plaque buildup on the remaining teeth.

Cats have six life stages:

1. Kitten (up to 6 months)
2. Junior (6 months to 2 years)
3. Prime (3-6 years)
4. Mature (7-10 years)
5. Senior (11-14 years)
6. Geriatric (15 years and older)

It is no secret that ageing comes with a price. As cats age, they show several changes that can be appropriately categorised as:

• Behavioural changes – includes altered sleep cycles, vocalisations and reduced tolerance to stress.
• Changes in the appearance – the eyes become cloudy, the skin loses its elasticity, the nails thicken and the teeth become discoloured, worn off and damaged.
• Daily functional changes – the sharpness of the senses declines and the willingness to be physically active decreases.

If you can spot the above-listed changes, it is safe to assume that your feline baby is no longer a baby – in fact, it is getting old.

It goes without saying that a cat’s lifespan is affected by a plethora of factors. Some of the more important factors are breed, lifestyle, sexual activity, diet and exercise and veterinary care.

Breed

Thanks to their genetic diversity, mixed cat breeds have a longer lifespan than purebreds. The record for the oldest cat is held by a mixed breed cat named Crème Puff who was born in 1967 and lived for an amazing 38 years. However, certain purebreds can live particularly long lives. For example, the Manx and the Siamese are well-known for their longevity. On the other hand, the Burmese and the Sphynx are not classified as long-lived breeds, but records show that the oldest Burmese cat died at the age of 35 while the oldest Sphynx died at the age of 34.

To be more accurate, the average lifespan of the Birman cat is 16 years, the average lifespan of the Siamese, Burmese and Persian cat is 14 years; the average lifespan of the British Shorthair and Maine Coon is 11-12 years and the average lifespan of the Ragdoll and Abyssinian cat is 10 years.

 Lifestyle

Generally speaking, indoor cats live between 13 and 17 years, while outdoor cats live between 10 and 14 years. This difference is perfectly normal – outdoor cats are exposed to many dangers such as feral diseases, traffic accidents and other animals’ attacks.

Sexual activity

Fixed (spayed or neutered) cats live longer than non-fixed cats because they are not at risk of developing certain health problems such as testicular cancer, uterine infections and breast cancer.

Diet and exercise

Using the right, high-quality and healthy food and in the right amount is crucially important. Implementing a regular exercise regimen is also important. Keep in mind that cat exercise comes in many forms – playtime, leash walking, chasing smaller pets.

Cats that tend to overfeed and do not exercise are more prone to obesity. Obesity is a complex condition that both triggers and aggravates other health issues such as heart and liver problems, diabetes, arthritis, breathing problems and certain types of cancer.

Veterinary care

It is no secret that cats hate going to the Vet. However, regular trips to vet ensure prevention of diseases, early diagnosis and improvement of the overall health status.

Compared to other members of the animal kingdom, cats are relatively long-lived creatures. They are strong and easily adaptable. However, feline immortality is still out of our reach.

Luckily, keeping our feline babies as safe and healthy as possible is within our rich. As responsible cat parents, it is up to us to make the best out of our kittens’ 9 lives.