How Old Is Your Cat In Human Age: The CORRECT Way To Tell, According To Science

Michelle Hall
Oct 22, 2023
Oct 23, 2023

Have you ever wondered how old your cat is in human age? It’s true that cats age differently than us, but is there any way we can gauge exactly how old they are biologically based on the two species’ rate of aging?

Well, apparently, there are ways we can compare if your cat is as old as you or your old man neighbor Steve, scientists even come up with a special calculator for that! If you are curious to how, let’s dive in.

The 7:1 Rule Is A Myth

Source: Google Images

It’s common knowledge that one cat or dog year equals about seven human years, according to some age-old claims about our furry friends that we don’t know where it started.

Yet, estimating a cat's lifespan isn't as straightforward. The truth is science tells a different story. Cats age at varying rates throughout their life compared to humans, and it's not a one-size-fits-all scenario. Their aging process is faster in their early years but gradually slows down as they get older.

When it comes to understanding a cat's age, it's not as straightforward as dog years. Research shows that a one-month-old cat is roughly equivalent to a six-month-old human.

Source: Google Images

Fast forward to 60 days, and it's like having a 4-year-old human. This rapid aging continues, with a cat aging 11.5 years in the first six months and only 4.5 years in the following six months.

There's another method too. The first two cat years match a 16-year-old human at 12 months and a 21-year-old at two years. Then, each additional human year translates to four "cat years." So, at three, it's like a 25-year-old, at four, 29, and at five, 33.

It's a unique way of looking at feline age, as the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine points out.

So How To Calculate Your Cat’s Age In Human Years?

Source: Daily Mail

Using these formulas, you can calculate your cat's age in human years. One method suggests that a 10-year-old cat is similar to a 53-year-old human, a 12-year-old cat is akin to a 61-year-old person, and a 15-year-old cat matches up to a person 73.

Another method has slightly different figures. A three-year-old cat is around 31, a four-year-old is like a 35-year-old, and at five, it's the equivalent of a 38-and-a-half-year-old human.

Cats typically live to around 14 years old, with the oldest recorded cat, Creme Puff, reaching an astounding 38 years. The fact that these calculators place a cat's middle age at about six (around 41 or 40 years old, respectively) aligns with their expected lifespan.

Cats have seen a significant increase in their average lifespan over the past few decades, with early 1980s cats living to just seven years and those in 1995 reaching a little over nine years. A dental examination is one way to gauge a cat's age.

Why Predicting a Cat’s Age In Human Years Is Complicated?

Source: Google Images

Evaluating a cat's age isn't a straightforward process; it involves assessing various factors. In kittens, it's about gauging their growth extent, while in older cats, vets consider wear and tear. Complex charts help convert this data into the cat's true age.

Moreover, it's crucial to focus on physical traits rather than emotional ones because many cats exhibit kitten-like behavior well into adulthood. One significant indicator is changes in your pet's fur.

Young cats typically have fine, soft hair, while older ones often sport thicker, coarser fur with patches of grey. Elderly cats might appear bonier and have loose skin, protruding shoulder blades, or cloudy eyes.

Certainly, it's not always easy to pinpoint a cat's exact age, but the calculator and table above provide a useful starting point – far more precise than relying on the traditional 7:1 rule.

How Old Is Your Cat In Human Age: The CORRECT Way To Tell, According To Science

The 7:1 Rule Is A Myth

So How To Calculate Your Cat’s Age In Human Years?

Why Predicting a Cat’s Age In Human Years Is Complicated?

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