How to calculate a Cat’s Age in Relation to Human Years: contrary to what many may think, calculating your beloved cat’s age in relation to your own age is not simply a matter of multiplying by seven.
The age equivalence between cats and humans is more complex, and the explanation lies in the different stages of growth and development that humans and cats go through during their lives.
Let’s understand together how to correctly calculate the approximate equivalent age of your feline friend compared to yours (though it will always be an approximation, mind you).
Contents
Introduction: Understanding the Cat’s Growth Phases
First and foremost, it’s crucial to know that cats mature much faster than humans in the first two years of life.
A one-year-old cat is already in late adolescence or early adulthood compared to a human, and a two-year-old cat is equivalent to a human who is approximately 24 years old.
After the first two years, a cat’s age tends to progress more slowly, with approximately four human years equivalent to each feline year.
With this important premise in mind, let’s now proceed to the actual calculation of the approximate equivalence.
How to Calculate a Cat’s Age: The Formula
Calculating a cat’s age in human terms is based on the following formula:
- The first two years of a cat’s life equate to 24 human years (specifically, it is estimated that the first year of a cat’s life equals 15 human years, and then decreases to 9 for the second year).
- Each subsequent year of a cat’s life is equivalent to four human years.
Let’s now move from theory to practice.
How to Calculate a Cat’s Age: Examples and Curiosities
Let’s consider some practical examples:
How old is a 5-year-old cat?
According to the above formula, if your cat, for example, is 5 years old, the first two years would correspond to your 24 years, while the remaining 3 years would be approximately 12 years of your life (3 years x 4).
Therefore, your 5-year-old cat (in feline years) would be approximately 36 years old when compared to a human (24 + 12).
How old is a 10-year-old cat?
Let’s now consider a mature cat that has already given you many joys.
As in the previous case, we start with the first two “cat” years equal to 24 of yours, and the remaining 8 cat years would be equal to 8 x 4 = 32 human years.
Your mature cat would then have a human age of approximately 56.
How old is a 20-year-old cat?
Let’s move on to the extreme case (fortunately, not so common) of a cat that manages to reach 20 years.
It would be 24 years + 18 x 4 = 96 years, making it ready for the 100-year milestone. Let’s also consider the opposite example.
How long should a cat live to reach 100 human years?
We’ve calculated it for you: 21 years, quite straightforward.
How old is the world’s oldest cat?
One last curiosity. We learn this directly from the Guinness World Records, an authoritative source even when it comes to cats.
Her name is Flossie, an English cat (still alive in 2022) who is 27 years old (in 2023), making her a venerable 124 years old.
Considering that the oldest verified human, Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment, passed away in 1997 at the age of 122 years and 164 days, Flossie’s equivalence is plausible.
And once we know this, can it affect the cat’s care?
Knowing your cat’s age more precisely in relation to human life is interesting and amusing, but it can also help you take care of their health.
“Senior” cats may require more frequent visits to the veterinarian, specific cat food, more frequent examinations, and, in some cases, changes to their routine or environment.
As is often said for humans, age is just a number, and what matters is the health and well-being of your cat. Some cats can remain active and lively even in old age, while others may start showing signs of aging relatively early.
Conclusions on How to calculate a Cat’s Age
The formula we provided is not an exact science, but it offers a useful tool for better understanding your cat’s life stage.
Each cat is a unique living being, and age should never be the sole consideration when it comes to their care.
Your veterinarian can provide you with the best information about your cat’s health and how to ensure they live a long and happy life. We also recommend reading some useful insights we have selected for you.
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