Generally speaking, cats live quite a long time. According to studies conducted, the longevity of a pet is proportional to its size (except for turtles, males and a few other pets).
A small mouse has a short lifespan, a rabbit a little longer, and a dog between 7 and 20 years, depending on its type or size, or both. Felines aren't much bigger than rabbits, but while a rabbit can live for around 8 years, a feline will certainly live on average 12 to 14 years, and it's not uncommon for felines to reach the end of their adolescence and even their early twenties.
There are 6 life stages for cats:
The kitten - 0 to 6 months
Period during which the young pet cat is normally not quite sexually adult.
Cat adolescence - 7 months to 2 years
During this period, the feline reaches its full growth and learns to better understand life and survive in it.
Adult cat - 3 to 6 years old
The feline is mature both literally and figuratively, and is still generally healthy and active, with a smooth, shiny coat appearance, and enjoying life to the fullest.
Full maturity of the cat - 7 to 10 years
The cat is what we call "mature", the equivalent of a human being between 40 and 50 years old.
Senior - 11 to 14 years old
The feline reaches the equivalence of approximately 70 human years.
Super senior - 15 years and over
Many cats reach this stage being so old.
How do I do the Human Equivalence Calculation of my cat's age?
You've probably heard the statement that one year of a feline's life is equivalent to 7 human years...
What you may not have heard is that this is a myth that many of us have come to believe about pet cats and dogs.
Why that ?
It is generally assumed that the "one year for seven years" calculation, for both cats and dogs, was developed simply to demonstrate that our animals age much faster than we do.
However, when it comes to cats, our feline friends actually age a lot faster than you think. How to accurately determine your feline's age in human years?
Let's go...
How do I do the Human Equivalence Calculation of my cat's age?
To know exactly the age in human years of your cat, the calculation is rather basic. Unlike canines, which vary more depending on size and breed, the approach to calculating the age of a cat is quite simple in itself.
- The first year of a cat's life is equal to approximately 15 human years.
- The second year of a cat's life is equivalent to nine additional years.
- After the second year of a feline's life, each additional year is equivalent to approximately four human years...
How old is your feline in human years? You can use our cat age to human years conversion chart below to find out!
Cat Age Chart: How old is your cat in human years?
How do pet cats age?
As you can see, the usual ratio of 1 in 7 years is very misleading: cats age much more quickly during their first two years of life, then the aging process diminishes and continues much more steadily through the years. following.
How did veterinarians choose this calculation of cat age compared to human age?
Ultimately, the AAHA states that its standards are based on the physical and behavioral changes that take place at different phases of a cat's life, and that these phases then correspond to the phases of human life.
In other words, a one-year-old feline is, from a physical point of view, comparable to a 15-year-old human - according to their own methods, both cat and human go through similar stages of development .
Obviously, just like humans (and canines), there will be variations in how your cat ages. However, unlike dogs, there seems to be much less variation between different breeds of felines and their method of maturation.
With dogs, it's much more likely to see smaller types live longer. Additionally, when we look at felines by type, the variations don't seem large enough to add to these types of age distinctions.
How do indoor and outdoor cats age?
Another variable that can play a role in how felines age is whether they are indoor or outdoor cats.
According to studies by scientists, indoor cats are much less likely to experience trauma and be exposed to certain infectious diseases , which can result in a longer lifespan.
On the other hand, indoor felines may be more susceptible to illness due to environmental restrictions.
For outdoor cats, it's the opposite. Although outdoor cats can enjoy a natural, stimulating environment, they are at much greater risk of injury and illness.
Inevitably, it's up to you to decide which of these lifestyle alternatives is ideal for your cat, but it should be noted that this choice may contribute to how your cat ages.
What are the signs of an elderly cat?
With this in mind, there are certain physical signs that can help you get an idea of your cat's age, especially as your adult feline enters the aging phase.
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Teeth: Yellow stains and tartar accumulation, absence of teeth.
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Coat: Graying hair, as well as thicker, coarser hair compared to younger pet cats.
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Eyes: cloudy, tearing and discharge.
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Activity: Much less exercise, loss of weight or muscle mass (ending up being more bony), joint inflammation is also much more usual.
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Behavioral adaptation: More meowing, more wandering, increased level of anxiety, confusion or disorientation.
If you are unsure of your cat's age, you can always turn to your veterinarian for more details.
Your veterinarian will be able to use physical markers as well as behavioral markers to help you make the best estimate of your feline's age.
Why is it essential to recognize the age of my feline?
Since you know exactly how to correctly calculate your feline's age in human years, you may wonder: How long do pet cats live? How long does my pet cat last?
In general, pet cats are considered to live longer than pets - they can live between 20 and 25 years . In fact, according to the Guinness Book of World Records , the "precocious feline ever seen" lived to be 38 years and 3 days old, or 168 years in human years!
However, like pets, once felines reach the age of seven to ten, they begin to transition into adulthood. It is important to know that they have entered this phase of their lives, in order to understand how to ideally care for them.
Throughout this period - 7 to 10 years - you will need to monitor your cat closely for signs of aging , especially since older cats are more likely to develop diseases like cancer, joint inflammation, as well as heart, kidney and liver diseases.
It's also worth keeping in mind that while most dogs are considered "senior" around age 7, AAFP physicists refer to cats between the ages of 7 and 10 as "mature" or " middle-aged", and as "seniors" when they reach 11 years old. Felines are considered “old” up to 14 years old; From the age of 15, the AAFP considers them “geriatric”.
Overall, helping your feline maintain a healthy diet and weight, as well as giving him routine veterinary checkups, will give him the best possible chance of living a long, healthy, healthy life. balanced!
Additionally, you can consider purchasing family pet insurance to cover any type of mishap or unexpected illness. Nevertheless, your cat deserves the best possible treatment, whatever its age -
To conclude on the age of felines...
Ultimately, pet cats age much more quickly during their very first years than most people realize - at age 2, your feline is 24 in human years!
Fortunately, after the age of two, it's quite simple to determine your feline's age in human years - just add 4 for each additional year.
