Cat Years vs. Human Years: How Old Is Your Cat Really?

Knowing their real age can help you be a better pet parent.

by Jackie Brown, | September 16, 2025

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Cat Years vs. Human Years: How Old Is Your Cat Really?

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How old is your cat — really? Cats age way faster in their first couple of years, so by age two, most cats are roughly 24 in human years. Knowing a cat’s age in human years can help you understand their physical and behavioral development and provide the right health care as they get older.

TL;DR: The “seven cat years = one human year” rule is inaccurate because cats age faster than humans. A five-year-old cat would be roughly 36 in human years, while a 10-year-old cat is about 56 human years. This is why cats are considered seniors around 10 years old and geriatric by 12 to 15 years old.

What is my cat’s age in human years?

You’ve probably heard the old calculation that says one cat year equals seven human years. This would mean that a one-year-old cat is seven in human years, a two-year-old cat is 14 in human years, and so on. There’s a problem with this math, though — it’s not accurate at all.

Cats age rapidly in their early months and years. By their first birthday, a cat is approximately the equivalent of 15 human years. Upon their second birthday, you can add another nine human years. Once a cat reaches two years of age, their aging slows down to a more predictable rate of four human years for each cat year.

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For instance, a three-month-old kitten is like a four-year-old human child. Just three months later, a six-month-old kitten is more like a 10-year-old kid. By one year of age, cats are considered “adults,” or 24 in human years. A three-year-old cat’s age in human years is approximately 28, a four-year-old cat is equivalent to a 32-year-old human, and so on.

To find out your cat’s age in human years, look it up on the cat age chart below.

Cat age in human years

Cat’s age	Human equivalent age
1 month	1 year
3 months	4 years
6 months	10 years
1 year	15 years
2 years	24 years
3 years	28 years
4 years	32 years
5 years	36 years
6 years	40 years
7 years	44 years
8 years	48 years
9 years	52 years
10 years	56 years
11 years	60 years
12 years	64 years
13 years	68 years
14 years	72 years
15 years	76 years
16 years	80 years
17 years	84 years
18 years	88 years
19 years	92 years
20 years	96 years
21 years	100 years
22 years	104 years
23 years	108 years
24 years	112 years
25 years	116 years

Source: CatVets

What is the average lifespan of a cat?

Although the average life expectancy of a cat is 13 to 17 years, many variables affect how long a cat will live. Cats are considered seniors by the time they hit seven years of age. After age 10, cats are considered geriatric — but they can live long, healthy lives with proper care. Below are a few factors that play into a cat’s life expectancy.

Indoor versus outdoor lifestyle

According to some estimates, cats who live strictly outdoors live for just three to five years, compared to indoor-only cats, who frequently live 13 to 17 years (or more). This is because outdoor cats face many more dangers, including cars, predators, parasites, and disease. Meanwhile, indoor-only cats are challenged with needing lots of playtime and climbing opportunities, to get enough exercise to stay at a healthy weight.

Veterinary and preventive care

To prevent and remain aware of health issues, visit the vet for wellness checks and practice preventive care, including vaccines, deworming, flea prevention, and heartworm prevention. Adult cats should see a vet at least once a year. Senior and geriatric cats need a checkup every six months, so you can stay on top of developing health issues and treat them before they progress.

Spaying and neutering

Spaying or neutering your cat can extend their life. It eliminates the chances of them developing certain cancers and reduces their urge to escape and roam, which keeps them safe from outdoor dangers.

Breed

Although most cats share the same average lifespan regardless of breed, some cat breeds are known for exceptional longevity, including Burmese, Birman, and Siamese cats.

Individual genetics and health

Each cat has their own genetic blueprint. This affects their overall health and whether or not they develop health conditions that may shorten their lifespan.

How to Choose a Vet for My Cat?

Here are a few tips to help you pick the right vet.

How to tell a cat’s age

If you adopted your cat as an adult — whether as a stray or through an animal shelter or rescue — you might not know their exact age. Luckily, you can ask your vet to look at several physical traits for clues about their probable age.

Teeth: A cat’s teeth are one of the best indicators of their age. Vets can often tell how old kittens are based on how many permanent teeth they have. In adult cats, the level of tartar buildup, wear, missing teeth, and gum disease are good clues to a cat’s age. (Ask your vet for their best guess if you’re not sure.)
Eyes: Young cats typically have clear, bright eyes. Older cats (usually older than seven) often develop cloudiness in the eye lenses, in addition to other changes that indicate advanced age.
Coat: Younger, healthy cats tend to have shiny, full coats. The coats of older cats, even those in good health, might look dull rather than glossy: Their hair might seem thinner or show some graying around the head or ears.
Muscle condition: Senior and geriatric cats often have less fat and muscle than young cats. Adult cats in their middle age might have more fat — especially around the abdomen.
Behavior and energy: Kittens tend to be extremely playful and are filled with energy. Young adult cats might still like to play a bit and tend to have calm but alert energy levels. Senior and geriatric cats often sleep more and might be reluctant to jump up or down if they have arthritis or other age-related joint conditions.

Commonly asked questions

How old is a 14-year-old cat in human years?

A 14-year-old cat is approximately 72 years old in human years. At this age, cats are considered geriatric and should see a veterinarian for checkups every six months.

How do cats age in human years?

Cats age very rapidly in the first two years of life. After they’re two years old, they age about four human years for every one cat year.

References

“2021 AAHA/AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines.” catvets.com, 27 Aug. 2025, catvets.com/resource/aaha-aafp-feline-life-stage-guidelines.

DiGangi, Brian A., et al. “Assessment of Body Weight for Age Determination in Kittens.” Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, vol. 22, no. 4, SAGE Publishing, Apr. 2019, pp. 322–28, doi.org/10.1177/1098612x19844846.

Feline Foster Care Manual. www.montgomerycountymd.gov/animalservices/Resources/Files/Feline%20Foster%20Care%20Manual%202020.pdf.

Kent, Michael S., et al. “Longevity and Mortality in Cats: A Single Institution Necropsy Study of 3108 Cases (1989–2019).” PLOS ONE, edited by Silvia Sabattini, vol. 17, no. 12, Dec. 2022, p. e0278199, doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0278199.

Kustritz, Margaret Root. “Dentistry.” pressbooks.umn.edu, Jan. 2022, pressbooks.umn.edu/vetprevmed/chapter/chapter-8-dentistry.

Montoya, Mathieu, et al. “Life Expectancy Tables for Dogs and Cats Derived from Clinical Data.” Frontiers in Veterinary Science, vol. 10, Feb. 2023, doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1082102.

“The Special Needs of the Senior Cat.” Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, 9 Oct. 2017, www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/special-needs-senior-cat.

Jackie Brown

Jackie Brown lives in sunny Orange County, CA, where she works as a freelance writer and editor. When she’s not on deadline, you can find her paddling her outrigger canoe in the Pacific Ocean or hiking in the foothills with her miniature poodle and two young boys.