How Old is Your Cat in Human Years?

Introduction

When Charlie adopted the sweet, rambunctious kitten he named Luna, he couldn’t help but wonder how her age translated to human years. As Luna grew, so did Charlie’s curiosity about her development and how it compared to a human’s. It wasn’t until Luna’s first birthday that he realized he didn’t have a clear understanding of her true age. This realization led Charlie on a quest to find out how to accurately convert the age of his cat in human years.

A good rule of thumb is to assume your cat is older than it is in human age. This is because young cats grow much faster than humans do. They grow continuously during her lifetime, so you can tell how long she’s been around. If you want to know how old your cat in human years is, there are things you should consider. Check out our chart below.

Age of a Cat in Human Years Chart

Cats age differently than people. Find out how your cat age in human years.

You can figure out how old your cat is in various ways.

Check The Teeth of Your Feline

Teeth are one of the best ways to keep your cat healthy. But what about your pet’s teeth? What does it mean if your feline doesn’t have any teeth?

There are several telltale signs that your cat is getting up there in years. One of the easiest ways to find out how old your cat is is to look at her teeth. A cat with ten teeth would be considered younger than a cat with 12 teeth.

Cats lose their baby teeth around eight weeks, and adult cats usually have 32 permanent teeth. However, some cats don’t permanently shed their adult teeth, and others may retain their baby teeth into adulthood. Therefore, if your cat has lost their baby teeth, they are probably well beyond six months of age.

Yellow stains on your cat’s tongue indicate that your furry friend is over six months old. Your cat’s teeth will begin to yellow when it is ten years old or older. This coloration is caused by tartar buildup, indicating that your cat needs regular dental care. Tartar buildup occurs naturally as your cat ages, but it becomes especially problematic if your cat isn’t brushing their teeth regularly.

Missing teeth could mean that your kitty is older. Some cats stop growing teeth as they reach maturity, while others continue to grow teeth throughout life. So if your cat’s teeth is missing, she might be older than you think.

Sexual Maturity

Male cats reach sexual maturity at about six months old. Females typically have their first heat between five and nine months old. After that, cats become interested in exploring their sexuality. They begin to explore their environment and learn about sex through trial and error.

Sexually mature cats can often be identified by looking at the genitalia. Early spaying or neutering makes placing kittens over six months old easier. Spayed females tend to live longer than intact females. Neutered males tend to live longer than unspayed males.

At around six months of age, kittens begin to play with each other. This is when they practice mating behavior. Kittens may be able to mate with another kitten, but most often, they try to mate with adult females.

When a male cat reaches sexual maturity, his testicles descend into his scrotum. Then, he begins to produce sperm, and his penis becomes erect. Male cats who haven’t matured sexually typically grow until they’re two years old. After that, they stop growing.

Female cats reach sexual maturity at approximately one year of age. Then, she begins producing eggs, and her ovaries enlarge. Female cats who haven’t matured physically typically continue to grow until their second birthday. After that, they no longer grow.

If you have a male cat, keep him indoors during the summer because heat stress causes premature ejaculation. Also, avoid exposing him to extreme temperatures. If you have two or more cats, separate them when they fight. Separating them reduces the risk of injury.

Coat Development

Once a younger cat reaches three months old, they are considered fully grown. Now that the kitten is mature, their coat should be groomed once every two weeks.

It grows long enough to cover most of the body in ten months. After one year, the coat begins to thicken. At three years, the coat becomes coarse and thickens further. Cats reach full maturity at five years.

To keep the coat looking great, brush the kitten regularly and use a comb to pull out any tangles gently. Don’t worry too much about getting rid of dead hair; clean off the excess.

When brushing, avoid pulling on the kitten’s skin. Instead, stroke the coat back and forth across the kitten’s body. Also, never use a wire brush or comb to brush the kitten’s fur. These tools can damage the coat and cause bald spots.

Eyes

Cats’ eyes change color over time. Therefore, the most common method to determine a cat’s age is examining its eyes.

When cats reach adulthood at six months, their eyes turn yellowish brown. At 12 months, they become orange. And after 18 months, they’re entirely black.

Older cats may have cloudy eyes. It’s also a sign that your cat is getting older. They may be caused by allergies, infections, or even dry eyes. Some older cats have discharge around their eyes, which may indicate eye problems. If you notice any changes in your kitty’s behavior, take her to the vet.

This technique works because the iris (the colored portion) of a cat’s eye turns darker when it ages. So, if you notice that your cat’s eyes are changing color, you can use this information to estimate its age.

However, keep in mind that there are exceptions. For example, some breeds of cats have blue eyes. And some cats may be born with green eyes. But regardless of the color of their eyes, cats usually lose their baby blues between 2 and 4 years of age.

Frequently Asked Questions