In recent years, feline ages and life-stages have been redefined, cats are considered to be elderly once they reach 11 years with senior cats defined as those aged between 11-14 years and super-senior cats 15 years and upwards. When caring for older cats it sometimes helps to appreciate their age in human terms.
Some cats begin showing age-related physical signs as early as age seven, while others are still friskier than kittens at ten. A general rule of thumb is that a cat is classified as "senior" if she's over 11 years of age.
The rule of thumb is that at about age 7, a cat is considered to be middle-aged. At age 10 and above, a cat is considered to be in old age. As you can see, a seven year old cat is well into middle-age.
Older cats tend to be less active and playful, they may sleep more, gain or lose weight, and have trouble reaching their favorite places. Don't chalk up health or behavior changes - often gradual - to old age, however.
Your cat may be a senior citizen now, but these days, cats live longer and healthier lives, thanks to great pet owners like you, good nutrition and quality veterinary care. Some cats even live into their 20s!
The average lifespan for a pet cat is probably around 13 to 14 years. However, although their lifespan varies, a well cared for cat may commonly live to 15 or beyond, some make it to 18 or 20 and a few extraordinary felines even pass 25 or 30 years of age.
Of course while some cats get more affectionate as they age, this is not true for all cats and can depend on a number of different factors such as personality, environment, breed and more. Age also comes with physical effects that often cause cats to decrease activity and become less playful.
If your cat is drinking a lot of water and there urinating more frequently, they may be experiencing early signs of kidney disease. Your vet will likely recommend bloodwork, urine testing, and blood pressure if there is concern for compromised kidneys.
As they age, kittens turn into our steady and aloof companions; they are calming fixtures in our lives. With modern medicine advancing, cats are living longer. Once they age, many people describe cats' personalities as irritable, moody or just plain grumpy.
The transition to adulthood ordinarily occurs from 1 to 2 years old. At this time, and possibly after neutering, a cat may retain a lot of energy but should be notably calmer with it reaching full maturity at 2. From 3 to 10 years old, a cat is relatively calm but remains active.
The oldest cat in recorded history is a cat named Crème Puff who passed away in 2005 at the age of 38 years and 3 days. A cat's average lifespan is 12 – 14 years – but many cats live much longer. Indoor, neutered cats live much longer than outdoor cats.
While younger cats and kittens require close to 20 hours or more a day of sleep, adult cats 3 to 10 years in age average around 13 to 16 hours of sleep a day.
The Task Force has designated four age-related life stages (Table 1): the kitten stage, from birth up to 1 year; young adult, from 1 year through 6 years; mature adult, from 7 to 10 years; and senior, aged over 10 years. The fifth, end-of-life stage can occur at any age.
Even if a pet has had a name for years, if you don't like “Keller”, “Gin,” or “Juice”, the Motley Zoo staff and volunteers tell adopters it's okay to come up with a new name for your new pet. “I feel like 99 percent of the time it's completely okay to rename your pet,” says Thomas.
If your cat has recently switched from wet food to dry food, they may experience increased thirst. Keep an eye on it, but bear in mind that cats who eat dry food do need to drink more.
Well-recognized causes of weight loss in old cats include chronic renal disease, diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, and dental problems, to name a few.
As cats age, their metabolism changes, and their bodies lose muscle mass. Your feline may be feeling hungrier to keep up with these changes. Your veterinarian can help determine the amount of fats, proteins, amino acids, and carbohydrates your cat should ingest daily to help lessen the cries for more food.
While a cat's gender doesn't seem to make a difference in terms of affection, Posluns notes that studies of cat personality also suggest it has little influence on the type of relationship with their owner.
As cats age, they're prone to developing an overactive thyroid and kidney disease, and either one may result in excessive meowing.
Your cat constantly walking around can be due to boredom, stress, anxiety, hormones, old age, hyperthyroidism, and a variety of other health conditions. If you notice your cat constantly walking around, bring them to the vet as soon as possible so they can figure out what's wrong.
Cats pick their favorite people for pretty easy-to-empathize-with reasons—they prefer to be around those who understand what they're communicating and make an effort to meet their feline needs.
Indoor cats generally live from 12-18 years of age. Many may live to be in their early 20s. The oldest reported cat, Creme Puff lived to be an amazing 38 years old. Outdoor cats generally live shorter lives due to being more likely to be involved in traumas such as motor vehicle accidents or dog attacks.