Cat's Age | Finding Out Your Cat's Age

Believe it or not, when your cat turns two years old, he's the equivalent of a twenty-four-year-old human. Then by the time she hits 6, she's into her forties by cat standards! Understanding cat aging stages is crucial for providing the best care throughout your feline friend's life.

Many cat keepers come to us needing clarification about the age of their fur balls. This happens most frequently when someone adopts a stray or rescued kitty. The big question we often run into is: How to figure out a cat's age if there's no paper with a birthday on it? If you are thinking of adding new feline friends to the family or just wondering about the age of your present feline friend, you must get the life stage correctly to be able to take care of him or her properly.

So we compiled an easygoing guide to assist you in figuring out your kitty's age based on obvious physical and behavioral signs. We'll indicate what you have to look for based on their teeth as well as their energy level. Ready to learn how to age a cat? Let's dive right in!

A Simple Introduction to How Cats Age

How to Understand Cat Growth Stages

Cats, like us people, grow through different phases, and each of these phases makes demands for different care and attention. We've come to realize it's utterly essential to know these phases to ensure we provide ideal care for our feline buddies.

The rundown of the various cat stages that a cat climbs through:

Kitten (0-6 months)

They are growing very fast, so now is a good time to teach them things and make them amiable cats.

Junior (6-24 months)

Mainly growing up through puberty and now into their full size.

Prime Adult (3-6 years)

This is simply the prime of a cat's life.

Mature Adult (7-10 years)

It would be the middle-aged years of cats.

Senior (11-14 years)

Imagine the start of the golden years.

Geriatric (15 and more than that)

Pretty aged now, so they need some TLC.

Not all cats grow old at an equal age: living conditions have tons to do with it. Indoor cats usually live 13 to 17 years, while outdoor cats sabotage their life span by roughly 2 to 3 years in comparison to their cozy indoor cousins. Understanding cat lifespan and feline life expectancy can help you provide better care throughout your cat's life stages.

Back in 2011, it is worth mentioning that over 20% of house cats in the USA were aged 11 and older. When a kitty begins to become a senior cat all depends on many factors, including breed types, genetics, surroundings, and dietary habits.

As cats qualify for their senior years, it becomes their most important duty to vet them two times within the year. It allows for the early detection of health problems and tailored medical attention based on age, thus securing their old age.

Features of Age in a Cat

We keep an eye on particular signs on a cat that reveal its true age when it comes to cats. Let's get down to what the veterinarian trusts most with cat age determination.

Dental Changes

Dental changes are useful indicators of age. By about 2-4 weeks of age, kittens will have their milk teeth ready to erupt. Deciduous incisors will erupt first, while the premolars will come in at weeks 5-6. By the time they reach six months, the number of teeth has grown in number to a complete set of 30 adult teeth. There may be erosion of the teeth and accumulation of tartar as age advances, and signs of gum changes and wear patterns are observable in cats from the ages of 5 to 10. Cat dental care becomes increasingly important as dental problems in cats can be a sign of aging and affect overall health.

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Coat and Skin Changes

Coat and skin changes are great indicators too. Adult cats that are not yet old maintain a nice soft coat, giving off the impression that they can clean themselves quite well, as can be observed. When a cat begins to age, the coat may become coarser and woofy, with the following observations:

• The skin becomes less elastic.

• The coat may take on a gray or white appearance, most often around the vicinity of the nose.

• Self-cleaning is not like it used to be, and the coat tends to become clumped.

• The skin is thinner and doesn't bounce back like it used to.

These are all physical signs of aging in cats that can help in determining a cat's age.

Body Changes

Body changes occur as a cat ages. Young adults have a well-built muscle tone and can always be kept in shape. However, in the older set, the muscles tend to shrink slightly along with the advancement of age. Arthritis in cats becomes more common, leading to cat mobility issues that may affect their activity levels.

Interestingly, we noticed that cats don't get shabby old like some dogs do. Perhaps they have gotten more pigment-forming cells a priori, or these cells last longer. What this means is whenever a cat starts finding its coat changing color, it signifies clearly that it has lived a few years.

Signs in How They Act: Cat Behavior by Age

Observing the behavior of cats gives clues regarding their age. It's amazing how much we can learn from them just by observing their daily activities, way of living, and degree of social interaction along with looking for physical signs.

Changes in Levels of Activity

Cats grow weaker and more lethargic as they age. Adult cats are also slightly less hyperactive with age (7-10 years) than during their busy years. Super senior cats of considerable age may often be found curled up more than not in their typical 16-hour nap.

Social Behavior

Several personality changes have been noted among animals of different ages:

• Clingy versus Standoffish

• Different kinds of meowing, many more at night

• Not grooming routinely

• Attitudes towards humans and other animals

• Changes in their day-to-day routine, naps, and wake times

It is interesting to note that over 50% of kitties aged 11 to 15 show symptoms of feline cognitive dysfunction (FCD), rising to 85% for cats older than 16. Cognitive dysfunction in cats can cause them to seem confused, often getting lost and behaving differently around other cats.

Older cats, those over 11 years often show what might look like a change in their personality. The cats that used to love solitude may get clingy, while those that were always keen on a cuddle may become distant. These personality changes mean that they are getting on. However, should you observe any sudden change in the behavior of your cat, please get them to the vet to ensure that they are not suffering from any disease.

You have to remember that a cat, like a person, has its peculiarity. Therefore, you cannot say by just looking at the way they act how old they must be. Therefore, one has to analyze their behavior in conjunction with factors such as teeth, coat condition, and how thin or fat they are in estimating their approximate age.

Conclusion

When you know your cat's age, you get to take better care of her through the many stages of her nine lives. The look of her teeth, whether she has an unkempt coat, or whether she has put on or lost weight all go hand in hand with the kind of behavior the kitty had, giving you the full picture of the stage of life in which it finds itself.

Cats don't age equally; it depends on how they spend their lives. Indoor cats are more long-lived compared to daring outdoor cats. From sassy kittens to laid-back golden oldies, they go through several life phases, and every phase calls for differences in the kind of attention and care we give them.

Certainly, with some added mileage, there would be likely some change in the behavior and look of your cat. But hey, not every ball of fur looks the same. Regular veterinary checkups, observation of new habits, and attention to changing characteristics are among the key factors in noticing the potential gradual changes brought upon by age. This, in turn, helps one take proper care of an elderly cat.

Simply put, it enables us to make better decisions in picking the right foods they'll eat, periods of playtime they'll need, and other such health issues. With this knowledge in mind, we can lavish the best love and care on our feline buddies, no matter how many candles are on their birthday cake. Senior cat care and geriatric cat health management become crucial as our feline friends age, ensuring they remain happy and healthy throughout their golden years.