How old is Your Cat in Human Years?

​The "seven-year" rule most of us have heard is inaccurate; because cats age more rapidly during the first stages of their lives, and that rate slows as cats get older. This article will discover all about your cat's lifespan and how old they are in human years.

How old is my cat in Human years?

​Here is a simple breakdown of your cat's age:

​Kitten ​0-​1 Month / Human Yrs 0-1
Kitten ​2 Months / Human Yrs  2 
Kitten ​3 Months / Human Yrs  4
Kitten ​4 Months / Human Yrs  6
Kitten ​5 Months / Human Yrs  8
Kitten ​6 Months / Human Yrs 10
Junior ​7 Months / Human Yrs  12
Junior 12 Months / Human Yrs  15
Junior 18 Months / Human Yrs  21
Junior 2 Years / Human Yrs 24
Adult 3 Years / Human Yrs 28
Adult 4 Years / Human Yrs 32
Adult 5 Years / Human Yrs 36
Adult 6 Years / Human Yrs 40
​Mature 7 Years / Human Yrs 44
​Mature 8 Years / Human Yrs 48
​Mature 9 Years / Human Yrs 52

​​​Mature 10 Years / Human Yrs 56
Senior 11 Years / Human Yrs 60
Senior 12 Years / Human Yrs 64
Senior 13 Years / Human Yrs 68
​Senior 14 Years / Human Yrs 72
Super Senior 15 Years / Human Yrs 76
Super Senior 16 Years / Human Yrs 80
Super Senior 17 Years / Human Yrs 84
Super Senior 18 Years / Human Yrs 88
Super Senior 19 Years / Human Yrs 92
Super Senior 20 Years / Human Yrs 96
Super Senior 21 Years / Human Yrs 100
Super Senior 22 Years / Human Yrs 104
Super Senior 23 Years / Human Yrs 108
Super Senior 24 Years / Human Yrs 112
Super Senior 25 Years / Human Yrs 116

What is the Average Cat's Life Expectancy?

The cat's life expectancy can result from the care and the life they live. Suppose you take adequate care of your cat, like providing them the proper foods, providing a peaceful environment, and consulting a veterinarian about their health. In that case, you can expect your cat to live longer.

However, the average life expectancy differs from an indoor to an outdoor cat. For example, an indoor cat is expected to live 13 to 17 years but can live well over 20 years.

For instance, according to the 2010 edition of Guinness World Records, the oldest cat ever recorded passed at an old age of 38 years and 3 days. Creme Puff (August 3, 1967 – August 6, 2005) was a domestic cat owned by Jake Perry of Austin, Texas.

Sadly, an outdoor cat's life expectancy is 3 to 5 years due to the many dangers outside their control. 

The breed is yet another significant factor that determines life expectancy. Some species live longer than others.

What are the stages of my cats’ age?

Every living thing undergoes certain development stages before growing old and eventually saying goodbye to the world. However, cats age quite faster. Below are the procedural phases of a cat.
 
Kitten
It is the first stage of a cat. It's the fastest growth stage of a cat's life. It begins at birth and reaches its climax after 6 months. Like humans, cats at this stage are actively involved and require a lot of food to replace the energy used hence the faster growth rate.
 
Junior
It is the second stage of a cat and starts when they hit 7 months to 2 years. The stage is the teenage stage of a cat. Cats have similar characteristics to 12 to 14 years humans at this stage.
 
Adult
The adult stage of cats starts when they reach 3 to 6 years. It is a crucial stage for these feline friends since it signals the end of teenage life and ushers in the maturity stage. After that, their growth starts to move gradually and remains constant till their senior years.
 
Mature
The maturity stage of cats begins at 7 to 10 years. It is equivalent to 44 to 60 human years. Though the cat's physical appearance remains younger, they grow older internally.
 
Senior
It is the stage that cats become pretty dull and relatively inactive. The senior stage starts when the cat reaches 11 years and extends to 14 years.
 
Super Senior
When your cat hits 15 years and above, you must have done something right. A 15-year-old cat is equivalent to a 76-year-old human. At this stage, they are now in their bonus years. Then, unfortunately, they become weak, and their coat loses their attractive appearance.

​How can I tell my cat's age?

​Raising cats from the kitten stage makes it easy for you to determine their age in human years. However, sometimes you may get a cat not knowing its actual age. Luckily, various ways can help resolve their age. 
 
Checking their Teeth
A cat's baby teeth will emerge between 2 to 4 weeks after birth. Their permanent teeth will displace the baby's teeth around 3 to 4 months of age. All their adult teeth are typically in place by the 6 months. Therefore, after 6 months of age, the growth is no longer helpful to determine a cat's age.

Generally, the more stained a cat's teeth are in older cats, the older they are. As human beings, younger cats' teeth are naturally milk-white, but as they get older, their teeth turn yellow. If they are yellowish, the cat's age is probably between 1 and 2 years. When the cat turns 3 to 5 years, tartar builds up on all the teeth. However, tartar may not be a good indicator with readily available pets teeth cleaning products. Also, some cats are more liable to tartar buildup due to their diet.
 
The Cat's Coat
The appearance of the cat's coat gives a clue about their age. For example, a kitten's fur is fine and soft, but its fur appears coarser and thicker as the cat ages. When a cat nears senior status, its coat may develop patches of white or gray individual hairs.

Additionally, how well a cat grooms itself can help indicate how old the animal is. Cats are clean creatures, but an older cat might begin slacking on grooming as it gains weight with age, or arthritis makes it painful.

The Cat's Eyes
Young cats usually have eyes that are very clear and bright. However, cats in their later years, usually 10 years old, may develop a cloudy appearance of their eyes, including tearing or discharge.
​
However, if you notice cloudiness in your kitty's eyes, ask a veterinarian quickly since the problem might become severe and lead to discomfort.

​Summary

​The life expectancy is pretty low since they mature faster, but cats live longer if well taken care of. Their average life span is approximately 13 to 17 years, but it depends on where the cat lives. The 13 to 17 years remain the average life expectancy of an indoor cat. In comparison, outdoor cats' lifespan drops to between 5 and 7 years due to the different dangers they are exposed to. Like humans, cats undergo various stages in their life. They go through six stages; kitty, junior, adult, mature, senior, and super senior or geriatric stages. Sometimes you might adopt a cat and find it hard to tell its age, but the clues mentioned above can help you solve the riddle. Use the clues and determine the approximate age of your cat. With a little luck, your cat may live a long and healthy life, just like "Creme Puff."