Cat Age Calculator
Enter your cat age in years and months to calculate their age equivalent to human years.
Understanding Your Cat's Age: Beyond the Myth of 7 Cat Years
For pup parents, the "one cat year equals seven human years" rule has been a familiar, if inaccurate, way to estimate our fur babies’ age. Thankfully, recent advancements offer a more nuanced understanding of canine aging, taking into account factors like size, breed, and even DNA.
Where the 7-Year Myth Came From
The 7-year conversion myth most likely got its start with the fact that cats do mature incredibly rapidly in the first couple years of their life. For instance, a puppy’s first year is equivalent to roughly 15 human years, developmentally-speaking!
The 5 Life Stages for Cats
The American Animal Hospital Association outlines five life stages for cats:
- Puppy (birth to 6-9 months)
- Young adult (6-9 months to 3-4 years)
- Mature adult (3-4 years to the beginning of the last quarter of their lifespan)
- Senior (last quarter of lifespan to end-of-life)
- And end-of-life
Just like humans, cats will experience physical changes as they age. In their senior years, a cat will often begin to have less energy, get up with stiffness, or develop vision problems. These signs can vary depending on breed size, with smaller cats showing them later in life compared to larger breeds.
Factors Affecting a Cat's Lifespan
While breed size and genetics play major roles in cat lifespan, there are other factors that also help to determine how long your pup will live:
Lifestyle
Serious injuries, infections, and obesity can shorten a cat's life. Regular vet checkups, a healthy diet, and proper exercise are crucial for promoting longevity. Mental stimulation and social interaction are also important for overall well-being.
Diet
Providing a balanced diet rich in high-quality protein, essential fats, and complex carbohydrates fuels your cat's body and supports healthy aging. Freshwater should always be readily available.
Dental Care
Dental disease is a common problem in cats and can contribute to other health issues. Regular teeth brushing and professional cleanings are important for maintaining good oral health.
Spaying or Neutering
Spaying and neutering your cat can offer several health benefits, including reducing the risk of certain cancers and infections. This can potentially contribute to a longer lifespan.
Knowing Your Cat's Age: Why it Matters
Understanding your cat's age allows you to tailor their care accordingly. Look for signs of aging in smaller cats around 7-8 years old and in larger breeds around 5-6 years old. Early detection of age-related issues like vision problems, hearing loss, or cognitive decline can significantly improve your cat's well-being. Veterinarians can recommend age-appropriate adjustments to diet, exercise routines, and preventative healthcare measures.
Pet Insurance: Helping Your Cat Live a Long and Healthy Life
While pet insurance isn't a magic bullet for canine longevity, it can significantly impact your ability to provide the best possible care throughout your cat's life. Pet insurance removes financial barriers that might otherwise prevent you from seeking necessary treatment by covering unexpected vet bills, from accidents and illnesses to surgeries and diagnostic tests. This allows for early intervention in health issues, potentially leading to better outcomes and a longer lifespan.
Some pet insurance plans also offer wellness benefits that reimburse costs for routine checkups and preventive care like dental cleanings, further contributing to your cat's overall health and well-being. With peace of mind regarding veterinary expenses, pet insurance empowers you to prioritize your cat's health at every stage of life.
Our Pet Parents reviews for Cat
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out of 5
Rosie's Clim
I've had 2 other Claims for Rosie that went very well. The most current one had a lot of complications and had to make several calls and ask the Vet to send in information several times. I finally got Samantha who was GREAT and understood what was wrong and got a supervisor involved and got my Claim...
BREED: American Shorthair
BY: Linda Green
POSTED: 09/06/2024
out of 5
Best insurance
My experience has been very positive. I had some very big bills and I was not only reimbursed for most of the bills but also done very quickly.
BREED: American Shorthair
BY: Ada Rivera
POSTED: 08/29/2024
out of 5
So Incredibly Thankful for Pets Best
We have a cat who tends to be more pukey and for about two days straight we thought he was trying to cough up a hairball, well when we realized that he started gagging more and more frequently with nothing coming out, we got very worried. We thought he had swallowed something he shouldn't have and s...
BREED: American Wirehair
BY: Iva Mihaylova
POSTED: 08/27/2024
out of 5
Pets Best - Amazing Company
As my cats were aging I decided to invest in a pet insurance policy about 5 years ago, and chose Pets Best because of their affiliation with Progressive, which is where I bundle the rest of my insurance. I didn't really use it much at all in the first several years, but as they both got older they b...
BREED: Siamese
BY: Kris Applegate
POSTED: 08/25/2024
out of 5
Quick and Easy!
I recently used the PetsBest mobile app to submit a claim for my cat's illness visit to her vet. The process was incredibly easy and took mere minutes (if that). I was pleasantly surprised that my reimbursement check arrived in less than a week. Almost everything from the visit was covered, with the...
BREED: Domestic Short Hair
BY: Tanya Peterson
POSTED: 08/22/2024
out of 5
I couldn't ask for better!
They have been very informative and quick to answer questions or concerns. Their processing time is surprisingly quick. After a major procedure for my cat, they even contacted me to see how she was doing. As far as rates, I did a lot of research before deciding to go with them years ago and they rem...
BREED: American Domestic
BY: Krystal Catlett
POSTED: 08/22/2024
out of 5
Thank you for your service
Always easy to claim my insecurities , takes about few minutes to fill up all the questions . Never had any problems getting my money back. Money is returned within a couple of minutes. Thank you for your service!
BREED: Domestic Short Hair
BY: Iryna Semenenko
POSTED: 08/21/2024
out of 5
Awesome!
I am surprised that others have rated MetLife poorly. I have not had any issues with them. I know that in order to get my money back after making a claim, I need to submit all of the necessary paperwork, including the SOAP notes from the vet. Once I submit my paperwork, I normally receive my money w...
BREED: Mixed Breed
BY: Cindy Serrano
POSTED: 08/17/2024
out of 5
Easiest way to claim Ever!
I took my cat, glitter to her yearly checkup and got majority of the expenses back from lemonade!
BREED: Domestic Short Hair
BY: Abby ZLATA
POSTED: 08/10/2024
out of 5
Some technical difficulties but besides that very easy!
5 starts except that the last two claims I submitted had an unknown error on the website and they could not be submitted to I had to manually fill out a claim form and email it in. Which is super easy, just annoying to go through the online process for it to not work. Besides that ASPCA has been gre...
BREED: Domestic Long Hair
BY: Tessa Pargiter-Hatem
POSTED: 08/09/2024