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Pawrennial

Cat Age Calculator

Find out how old your cat is in human years, and what their life stage means for their care.

Enter your cat's age

How do you want to enter the age?
How old is your cat?

Unlike dogs, cats of all breeds and sizes age at a similar pace, so age is all we need.

Your cat's age in human years

A kitten, a grown cat, and a gray-muzzled senior cat sitting together

Enter your cat's age or birthday to see their age in human years.

How old is my cat in human years?

A cat's first year is roughly equal to 15 human years, and by their second birthday a cat is like a 24-year-old. After that, each year adds about 4 human years. So a 10-year-old cat is around 56 in human years, and a 15-year-old is around 76.

Unlike dogs, cats don't vary much in size, so breed has little effect on how fast they age. The calculator above only needs your cat's age or birthday.

Why “1 cat year = 7 human years” doesn't work

The 7 year rule makes a 1-year-old cat sound like a young child. In reality, most cats are fully grown and independent by their first birthday, more like a teenager. Cats race through kittenhood, then settle into a steady pace of about 4 human years for every cat year.

Cat years to human years chart

Find your cat's age on the left to see the human equivalent.
Kitten ages in human years
Kitten ageHuman years
1 month1
3 months4
6 months10
9 months13
18 months21
Cat ages 1 to 13 in human years
Cat ageHuman years
115
224
328
432
536
640
744
848
952
1056
1160
1264
1368
Cat ages 14 to 25 in human years
Cat ageHuman years
1472
1576
1680
1784
1888
1992
2096
21100
22104
23108
24112
25116

Senior years highlighted. Source: International Cat Care.

Cat life stages

Vets group a cat's life into stages, each with its own care needs (AAHA/AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines).
  1. A playful kitten batting at a toy

    Kitten

    Birth to 1 year

    Growing fast, curious about everything, and learning how the world works.

    Watch for: Climbing, chewing cords, and boundless energy. Play every day to burn it off.

  2. A sleek young adult cat leaping playfully

    Young adult

    1 to 6 years

    Fully grown, confident, and usually at peak health and energy.

    Watch for: Boredom in indoor cats, which can show up as overeating or scratching furniture.

  3. A calm adult cat sitting contentedly

    Mature adult

    7 to 10 years

    Settled and content, often a little less active than before.

    Watch for: Gradual weight gain, bad breath, and changes in how much they drink.

  4. A gray-muzzled senior cat curled up on a soft blanket

    Senior

    11 years and older

    Slowing down and loving comfort, with a few new needs to watch for.

    Watch for: Weight loss, increased thirst, stiffness, and changes in grooming or litter habits.

Helping your cat live a long, happy life

  • Keep them at a healthy weight. Extra weight raises the risk of diabetes, arthritis, and other problems. Measure meals rather than free-feeding.
  • Look after their teeth. Dental disease is one of the most common problems in adult cats.
  • Keep life interesting. Indoor cats need daily play, climbing spaces, and scratching posts.
  • See the vet regularly. Yearly checkups for adults, and every six months for seniors, help catch problems early, when they are easier to treat.

Curious how long cats usually live? See cat life expectancy by breed.

Have a dog too? Try our dog age calculator, which adjusts for size and breed.

Frequently asked questions

When is a cat considered a senior?

Vets generally consider a cat a senior from about 11 years old. Under the AAHA and AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines, cats are kittens up to 1 year, young adults from 1 to 6, mature adults from 7 to 10, and seniors after that. Senior cats often benefit from a vet checkup every six months.

Is one cat year equal to seven human years?

No. Cats grow up much faster than that at the start. A 1-year-old cat is roughly like a 15-year-old person, and a 2-year-old is like a 24-year-old. After that, each cat year adds about 4 human years.

How long do indoor cats live?

Indoor cats commonly live 12 to 18 years, and many reach their 20s. Cats that roam outdoors face extra risks like traffic, fights, and infectious diseases, so their lives are often shorter on average. Good food, a healthy weight, dental care, and regular checkups all help.

How old is the oldest cat on record?

The oldest cat on record is Creme Puff from Austin, Texas, who lived to 38 years and 3 days, according to Guinness World Records. In human years, that is well beyond 160.

How can I tell my cat's age if I don't know their birthday?

Your vet can estimate it from your cat's teeth, eyes, coat, and muscle tone. Kittens are the easiest to age, because their baby teeth come in at around 2 to 4 weeks and adult teeth by about 6 months. For adult cats, tartar, tooth wear, and cloudy eyes give clues, and the estimate is usually a range of a few years.

Do cats age faster than dogs?

In their first two years, cats and dogs age at a similar pace. After that, cats add about 4 human years per year, like small dogs. Large and giant dog breeds age faster than cats, which is one reason cats often outlive big dogs.

Sources

Sources last checked: . How we calculate

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