It may be that you have become an owner and do not know the age of the cat. This is normal, as this can be difficult to define. Determining how old your cat is can provide a better quality of life for him, as you know what to offer at each stage of life.
The veterinarian will be your best partner in determining a cat’s age, as well as ensuring your cat’s health, quality of life and longevity.
Continue reading the content to find out how to identify your pet’s age and how his body parts can help with this task. Check out!
How many years does a cat live?
A cat’s longevity depends on some essential factors that involve the furry person’s quality of life over the years.
Regular physical exercise, good nutrition, mental stimulation and environmental enrichment are circumstances that will influence the age your feline can reach.
Generally, cats live between 14 and 20 years. However, as we said, this period can be extended or shortened depending on the animal’s lifestyle.
Stages of a cat’s life
Just like humans, kittens go through phases throughout their lives. Each of them corresponds to the cat’s age range, as well as its needs and body changes.
1st phase: puppy | 0 to 12 months
It’s the beginning of these little animals’ lives. During this period, they are still discovering their own bodies, baby teeth start to emergethe ears begin to take shape and the cat begins to become aware of its own space and also its hunting instinct.
2nd phase: adolescence | 1 to 2 years
From the moment they pass childhood and enter adolescence, it is common for cats to be quite autonomous, in addition to having a lot of energy to hunt, play, run and receive affection. The most obvious physical change at this stage is the beginning of tartar on the teeth.
3rd phase: adult | 3 to 6 years
Tartar, at this point, already takes up a large part of the feline’s teeth, which requires owners to pay a lot of attention and care for the animals’ oral health, in order to prevent teeth from falling out in old age.
4th phase: mature | 7 to 10 years
The color of the gums undergoes small changes, just as there is a tendency to tartar in all teeth. You Oral health care at this time is no longer enough. As you approach old age, taking care of your diet, muscles and hydration are essential.
5th phase: senior | 11 to 14 years old
The age of cats at this stage of life can already be considered old age, and therefore deserves special care, aiming to maintain a good quality of life. The food must be age-specific, as well as the toys and the environment in which the cat lives.
6th phase: super senior | 15+
Kittens that reach super seniority are already elderly and present several problems characteristic of their age, such as difficulty moving around, loss of interest in games and a strong tendency to idleness.
Oldest cats in the world
Is it possible for a kitten to exceed the expected average age for the species? Sim! Although rare, there are several cats around the world who have defied statistics and lived much longer than expected.
See the 10 oldest cats ever recorded in the world:
| Name | Age | Race | Country | |
| 1º | Creme Puff | 38 years and 3 days | Mixed tabby cat | USA |
| 2º | Baby | 38 years | Black cat | USA |
| 3º | Puss | 36 years and 1 day | Tabby cat | United Kingdom |
| 4º | Ma | 34 years and 5 months | Tabby cat | United Kingdom |
| 5º | Grandpa Rex Allen | 34 years and 2 months | Sphynx–Devon rex | USA |
| 6º | Sarah | 33 years and 6 months | — | New Zealand |
| 7º | Core Maz | 33 years | — | Switzerland |
| 8º | Sasha | 33 years | Tortoiseshell cat | United Kingdom |
| 9º | Rubble | 31 years and 2 months | Maine Coon | United Kingdom |
| 10º | Nutmeg | 31 years | Tabby cat | United Kingdom |
How do I determine my cat’s age?
A thorough veterinary examination of the cat’s entire body usually helps determine its approximate age. However, veterinarians tend to look at certain parts of the body when trying to estimate a cat’s age.
Teeth
A cat’s first baby teeth emerge between 2 and 4 weeks. Permanent teeth develop above the baby teeth when the kitten is 3 or 4 months old, which is when the baby teeth (also called deciduous teeth) begin to displace.
Typically, all adult teeth are in place by 6 months of age.
In older cats, the amount of stains or tartar is also an indicator of age. However, if this animal has been cared for by practicing oral hygiene, tartar may not be a good indicator.
Size
Until cats are about 4 to 6 months old, a good rule of thumb is that they gain one pound each month. So, a 1kg kitten is approximately 2 months old, a 2kg kitten is 4 months old and so on.
However, if the cat is in poor health, weight may not be a reliable indicator.
Sexual Maturity
Male cats reach sexual maturity at around 5 months. Signs of puberty include territorial spraying and testicles becoming more prominent.
Cats will have their first heat sometime between 5 and 12 months, and there may be some variation depending on whether they are overweight or underweight.
The signs of heat are very visible: the kitten will become very active and vocalize much more. In fact, the female can become pregnant and give birth at around 7 and a half months of age.
What can prevent age verification on a kitten is if she is spayed, which is a very common practice nowadays. Neutering as a kitten not only helps prevent early pregnancy (which is more difficult for both mothers and kittens), but the surgery itself is considered easier for cats at a younger age.
Coat
A puppy’s fur is fine and soft, like a baby’s hair. However, as the cat ages, its coat becomes thicker and rougher. It can also change color, becoming darker or lighter.
When a cat reaches senior status, it may even develop patches of white or gray fur, just as humans do as they age. Although it is not a guarantee of age, changes in the coat help the veterinarian determine the cat’s age.
Additionally, how well a cat takes care of itself can help indicate the cat’s age. Cats are incredibly clean creatures, but an older cat may not be as careful when they reach an older age.
Eyes
Kittens or younger cats have very clear and bright eyes, with no evidence of tearing or discharge.
Most older felines, however, may develop a cloudy appearance in their eyes, including tearing and/or discharge. This usually doesn’t happen until the cat is at least 10 years old.
It’s worth noting that determining a cat’s age without knowing its history is really a guessing game.
The cat’s eyes and teeth can be analyzed, blood tests can be done and see how different organs are working, the heart can be listened to and even muscles and fat can be measured. However, there is no specific attribute that allows us to reliably say the feline’s age.
Cat age compared to humans
After all, is it possible to compare the ages of cats to humans? Despite not having scientific proof, there is a method widely used by veterinarians and professionals in veterinary medicine and biology.
The cat grows very quickly in the first 2 years of life. The initial 12 months, for example, correspond to 14 human years. The period from 12 to 18 months corresponds to another 10 years of human life.
Therefore, 24 years of human age represent only 24 months of a cat’s life. From this stage onwards, each year of the cat’s life adds another 4 years to the age of humans.
Understand better how to calculate the age of cats in the table below:
| Cat age | Human age |
| 3 years | 28 years |
| 4 years | 32 years old |
| 5 years | 36 years |
| 6 years | 40 years |
| 7 years | 44 years |
| 8 years | 48 years |
| nine years old | 52 years |
| 10 years | 56 years |
| 11 years | 60 years |
| 12 years | 64 years |
| 13 years | 68 years |
| 14 years | 72 years |
| 15 years | 76 years |
Tips for your cat to live a long and healthy life
Regardless of your cat’s age, there are many ways to help him stay healthy and happy. To live long, the cat needs its basic needs to be met and, above all, receive all the affection from your tutors.
Therefore, invest in a quality food and that meets all of your furry friend’s nutritional needs. Premium and Super Premium rations are healthy and complete alternatives.
A castration is essential so that he lives long. The method is capable of reducing the chances of future illnesses and improving the pet’s quality of life. The procedure is extremely safe and recommended by professionals in the field.
Also bet on environmental enrichment of the kitten and allow its natural stimuli to be met. Balls, scratching posts, teethers and interactive toys can improve your pet’s physical and mental health.
Tudo de Bicho’s online pet shop has everything your kitty needs to have fun! Just click on the banner below and choose the best toy for your cat’s adventures. This way, you offer more quality and longevity for it. We’ll wait for you there! 😸
