We’ve all heard of cat years and dog years to figure out how old our pets are. Experts believe that your cat’s first year of life equates to a whopping 15 human years! The second-year is then equal to a further nine years, making our feline friends around 24 after just two years. After that, every year equates to roughly four human years.
It is exciting to think that our cats have enjoyed a happy childhood and formative adolescence all by the time they turn one. But what if we simply don’t know when our furry friend came into the world? Fortunately, there are a few telltale signs to work out the age of your cat.
Teeth
A cat’s permanent ‘adult’ teeth begin to form around 4-7 months of age, which means the formation of teeth can only tell us whether or not a cat is very young or not. As a cat grows older, observing the level of staining or tartar on their teeth is the best way to gather information about their age.
Eyes
Changes in the appearance of your cat’s eyes as they grow older is another useful way to tell their age. By the age of seven, the eyes become denser, and by age ten, owners can usually notice some cloudiness. You may also be able to see some changes in the appearance of the iris, such as the edges becoming distorted. Another natural development is that the pupils may appear larger.
Activity
Like humans, cats naturally slow down with age. While all cats are different and some remain spritely until a much older age, it is natural for them to reduce their activity levels over time. So, perhaps expect less in the way of caught prey turning up on the doorstep.
Coat
We can expect to see a few grey hairs creeping in as our feline friends grow older. Just like human hair, the colour changes to a cat’s coat happen at different ages, so this does not offer a totally sound way to measure age. Nevertheless, a grey-haired cat will tend to be of the more mature variety!
Average life expectancy
Even if you know the age of your cat based on when you brought them into your home as a little kitten, it is not always obvious what stage of their life they are at. This is where taking note of the average life expectancy can be useful. For domestic cats, this is between 12-14 years on average.
Keeping your cat happy as they grow older
It isn’t uncommon for cats to experience stress and anxiety as they get older and potentially develop health problems. In addition to keeping on top of your cat’s physical health, it is beneficial to do what you can to keep your cat happy. Our range of products at Pet Remedy is widely used and rated by UK vets to reduce pet stress and have naturally calming effects. By using natural oils without the need for sedation, our range of products starts to help immediately to help your cat feel more settled and enjoy a calm transition into senior life. After all, age is but a number!
