Last Updated on August 23, 2023 by Fumipets
How to Calculate Cat Age in Human Years
Calculating a cat’s age in human years involves more nuance than the traditional “7 cat years to 1 human year” rule. In the early years, cats age more rapidly, leveling off as they get older.
For a more accurate estimate, consider the first year of a cat’s life as roughly equivalent to 15 human years, and the second year as about 9 human years.
After that, each cat year is approximately equivalent to 4 human years. Understanding a cat’s age in human years is essential for tailoring their care and lifestyle according to their life stage, promoting their overall health and well-being.
How to Calculate Cat Age
Knowing how old our cats are in human years is a logical next step as cat owners all across the nation are renowned for treating their pets much like their human children.
Fortunately, it’s really simple to accomplish, according to Marty Becker, DVM, creator of Fear Free Pets. If mathematics aren’t your thing, feel free to just scroll down to the helpful graphic below.
How to Calculate Your Cat’s Age in Human Years
According to Becker, it’s a bit difficult at first, but after that it becomes really easy. This is due to the fact that cats grow quickly throughout the first two years of life, reaching the human equivalent of the mid-20s by the time they are two. Who else hopes puberty could pass by that quickly? It cannot be just me.
This is how Becker describes the procedure: A cat that is one year old is the age of a human being who is fifteen. A 2-year-old cat is thus equal to 25 in human years. Then it becomes a lot simpler: A 3-year-old cat is about 29 years old, a 4-year-old cat is 33 years old, a 5-year-old cat is 37 years old, and a 6-year-old cat is 41 years old. A cat’s lifespan is roughly equivalent to four human years. And the list goes on. Your cat will be around 97 years old when she reaches the age of 20.
In contrast to dogs, who vary in human age equivalents based on size, cats have a universal formula since they are all around the same size.
Look at the table below to get your cat’s precise human age!
Cat Age Calculator Chart
When Is a Cat No Longer Considered a Kitten?
It’s almost astonishing how much your kitty will grow in her first year.
The first year is “the terrible twos and the teenage years in one year,” according to Becker.
Oof. For this reason, it would be wise to use this manual to learn how to take care of your cat. Then, you’ll want to confirm that you have everything you need.
When Is a Cat Considered a Teenager?
Most likely when she stops paying attention to you, puts off doing her tasks, and begins looking at her phone excessively. In actuality, this starts a few weeks before your cat turns 1 and lasts for a few months thereafter.
She’ll be a young adult cat by then.
How Old Is an Adult Cat?
Cats are essentially considered young adults when they reach 1 according to human standards. They will have completed their physical growth by that time and will be awaiting the completion of their mental development, according to Becker.
“They possess the physical maturity of a younger person. Their level of cerebral development is lacking, he claims.
That will happen as they approach the end of their second year on earth and transition firmly into adulthood.
When Is a Cat Considered a Senior?
Around their 11th birthday, when their human age begins to creep into the 60s, cats turn senior. They’ll start thinking about retiring at that point from their physically demanding careers.
How Many Years Do Cats Live on Average?
Today, it’s common to see cats live to be 20 years old (almost 100 in human years!), so it’s safe to assume a healthy cat will live to be at least a few years older. The oldest cat in the world just reached the age of 31.
There are a few things you can do to extend your cat’s life, however we can’t promise that it will live to be 30. Becker names inheritance, environment, and diet as the three key determinants of your cat’s lifespan.
Once you bring your cat home, there isn’t much you can do about heredity, according to Becker. However, you can try your best to secure her environment. This necessitates minimizing your cat’s time spent outdoors, where hazards like predators, moving cars, and parasites might harm it. Because of this, outdoor cats often have shorter lives than inside cats.
The third aspect is nutrition, therefore you should work with your doctor to make sure your cat maintains a healthy weight as much as you can. According to Becker, cats that are at or close to their optimal body weight will live longer than those who aren’t.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the “7 cat years to 1 human year” rule accurate?
The “7 cat years to 1 human year” rule is an oversimplification. Cats age more rapidly in their early years and slower as they get older.
How do you calculate a cat’s age more accurately?
To get a better estimate, consider a cat’s age in the first two years as about 15 human years for the first year and 9 human years for the second year. After that, each cat year is roughly equivalent to 4 human years.
Can breed and size affect a cat’s aging process?
Yes, larger breeds may age slightly faster than smaller ones. Some breeds are also predisposed to certain health issues that can influence their aging.
Why is knowing a cat’s age in human years important?
Understanding cat age in human years helps in tailoring their care, medical needs, and lifestyle according to their life stage.
Do indoor and outdoor cats age differently in human years?
Yes, outdoor cats may experience more wear and tear, potentially aging faster due to exposure to environmental factors, risks, and stressors.
