At What Age Is A Cat A Senior
Introduction
Although humans are living longer than ever, it seems like our four-legged companions are living even longer lives. This is especially true for felines. The average life expectancy for a cat is around 15 years, with some living into their 20s. So even at nine or 10 years old, your cat still has plenty of pep in his step, and he isn’t likely to slow down too much for another couple of years.
With that being said, it’s important to recognize when your cat is entering the senior phase of his life so you can make adjustments and provide him with the care he needs as he ages. But exactly when does middle age end and senior status begin?
Most cats enter their senior years at about 10 to 12 years of age, a little sooner for larger breeds. This means that the majority of cats are considered senior citizens when they are between 58 and 68 in human years.
Most people are familiar with the concept of a “senior citizen”, but not everyone knows what it means. A senior citizen is someone who has reached their 60s in human years and has been retired for several years since then.
A cat’s average life expectancy is between 10 and 20 years, so you may be wondering when your cat will enter its senior years. This question can be answered by comparing the life spans of cats to humans and other animals:
The average lifespan of a dog is 10–15 years; it’s eight times longer than that for humans (72). The lifespan of cats is roughly half that at 5-12 years (73). Thus, considering their short lifespans relative to most other mammals would make sense that they reach old age earlier than most other species—including dogs—and certainly before us humans do!
The average life expectancy for a cat is around 15 years, with some living into their 20s. So even at nine or 10 years old, your cat still has plenty of pep in his step, and he isn’t likely to slow down too much for another couple of years.
While you may have gotten used to thinking of your cat as a youngster, he’s actually entering senior status around age 11 or 12. And even if he is starting to show his age, it’s not likely to be until after age 13 that his lifespan will begin to drastically shorten.
That’s good news for anyone who wants their feline friend around for another decade or so: at nine or 10 years old, most cats have plenty of life left in them!
When it comes to determining when your cat is considered a senior citizen, there really isn’t a strict definition. However, most veterinarians agree that felines reach senior status around age 11 to 13. To keep track of your cat’s age in human years, simply subtract two from your cat’s age; then add 24 to arrive at her feline age equivalent in human years (for example: 2 (cat’s age) – 2 = 0; 0 + 24 = 24).
When it comes to determining when your cat is considered a senior citizen, there really isn’t a strict definition. However, most veterinarians agree that felines reach senior status around age 11 to 13. To keep track of your cat’s age in human years, simply subtract two from your cat’s age; then add 24 to arrive at her feline age equivalent in human years (for example: 2 (cat’s age) – 2 = 0; 0 + 24 = 24).
While the exact cause of seniority-related changes in cats can vary from one animal to another, many symptoms are similar for all felines who have reached this stage of life. It is important for you to recognize these signs so that you can take steps toward helping your pet lead a healthy and comfortable lifestyle as he gets older or she begins aging naturally.
Conclusion
If your cat is a senior, you may need to help her with grooming more often. Cats of all ages benefit from regular brushing, but seniors can sometimes have difficulty reaching certain areas of the body.