Cats usually live longer than most dogs and it is no longer unusual for them to live until 20 or beyond. How long an individual cat will live depends on many factors such as genetics, whether kept indoors or not, type of diet and of course the appropriate veterinary care received.
The rule of thumb is that at about age 7, a cat is considered to be mature. At age 11 and above, a cat is considered to be a senior.
| CAT'S AGE | HUMAN AGE EQUIVALENT |
| 6 months | 10 years |
8 months
| 13 years |
10 months
| 14 years |
| 1 year | 15 years |
| 18 months | 21 years |
| 2 years | 24 years |
| 4 years | 32 years |
| 6 years | 40 years |
7 years
| 44 years |
8 years
| 48 years |
| 10 years | 56 years |
| 14 years | 72 years |
| 16 years | 80 years
|
| 18 years | 88 years
|
20 years
| 96 years
|
| 21 years | 100 years
|
As you can see, a seven year old cat is well into his 'forties'. And since one year for a cat is equivalent to four human years, many changes can take place in what for us, is a fairly short period of time. That is why the American Veterinary Medical Association as well as the American Animal Hospital Association now recommend twice-annual physical exams plus appropriate blood work on all cats who are five years and older.
