A 1-year-old cat is about 15 in human years, a 2-year-old cat is 24, and every year after that counts for four: that is the rule given by the charity International Cat Care. So a 10-year-old cat is 56, a 15-year-old cat is 76 and a 20-year-old cat is 96. Forget multiplying by seven. Here is the full cat age chart, from 1 month to 25 years, a calculator, the six life stages, life expectancy as measured by two veterinary studies, and the markers for estimating the age of a cat whose date of birth you do not know.
Cat age: the essentials in brief
| The rule | 15 years for the first year, 24 at 2 years, then 4 years per year |
|---|---|
| 1-year-old cat | 15 in human years |
| 7-year-old cat | 44 |
| 10-year-old cat | 56 |
| 15-year-old cat | 76 |
| 20-year-old cat | 96 |
| Senior cat | from 11 years; “super senior” at 15 |
| Life expectancy | 12 to 14 years on average; reaching 18 to 20 is not unusual |
| Record | Creme Puff, 38 years and 3 days |
Sources: International Cat Care, Cornell University, Royal Veterinary College, Guinness World Records. Details are at the end of the article.
Contents
How do you calculate a cat's age in human years?
The most widely used rule is the one given by International Cat Care: the first two years of a cat's life equal 24 human years, and every year after that equals 4.
- At 1 year, a cat is 15: a teenager.
- At 2 years, it is 24: a young adult.
- After that, add 4 years per year: 28 at 3 years, 32 at 4 years, and so on.
As a formula, for a cat aged 2 or more: human age = 24 + 4 × (cat's age − 2). A 12-year-old cat is therefore 24 + 4 × 10 = 64.
Calculator: your cat's age in human years
The chart below gives the human age year by year.
Why not multiply by seven?
Because a cat does not age at a constant rate. The belief that every “cat year” is worth seven human years is not accurate, writes the Cornell Feline Health Center: a 1-year-old cat is physiologically close to a 16-year-old teenager, where the rule of seven would make it 7. Cats grow up very fast for two years, then age more slowly.
Another scale, give or take three years
Not all scales give exactly the same figure. Cornell's counts 16 at 1 year, 21 at 2 years, then 4 years per year: a 10-year-old cat is then 53 (56 for International Cat Care), a 12-year-old cat 61, a 15-year-old cat 73. The gap never exceeds three years: think in orders of magnitude, not to the month.
Chart: cat age in human years, from 1 month to 25 years
| Cat's age | Human age | Life stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 1 year | kitten |
| 2 months | 2 years | kitten |
| 3 months | 4 years | kitten |
| 4 months | 6 years | kitten |
| 5 months | 8 years | kitten |
| 6 months | 10 years | kitten |
| 7 months | 12 years | junior |
| 1 year | 15 years | junior |
| 18 months | 21 years | junior |
| 2 years | 24 years | junior |
| 3 years | 28 years | adult |
| 4 years | 32 years | adult |
| 5 years | 36 years | adult |
| 6 years | 40 years | adult |
| 7 years | 44 years | mature |
| 8 years | 48 years | mature |
| 9 years | 52 years | mature |
| 10 years | 56 years | mature |
| 11 years | 60 years | senior |
| 12 years | 64 years | senior |
| 13 years | 68 years | senior |
| 14 years | 72 years | senior |
| 15 years | 76 years | super senior |
| 16 years | 80 years | super senior |
| 17 years | 84 years | super senior |
| 18 years | 88 years | super senior |
| 19 years | 92 years | super senior |
| 20 years | 96 years | super senior |
| 21 years | 100 years | super senior |
| 22 years | 104 years | super senior |
| 23 years | 108 years | super senior |
| 24 years | 112 years | super senior |
| 25 years | 116 years | super senior |
Source: International Cat Care, table of ages and life stages (updated November 2025).
A cat aged 7, 10, 15 or 20: what human age, and is it old?
A 7-year-old cat
It is 44. It is entering the “mature” stage, the equivalent of a person's forties and fifties: it is often a little less active, but it is not old. This is the age at which American veterinarians recommend starting regular screening.
A 10-year-old cat
It is 56. This is the last year of the mature stage: it becomes a senior the following year. Many cats begin to show age-related changes between 7 and 10, and most do so by 12, Cornell notes.
A cat aged 12, 13 or 14
It is 64, 68 or 72: a senior. It moves less, and may need help getting to its things. The signs to watch and how often to see the vet are in our guide senior cat.
A cat aged 15, 16 or 17
It is 76, 80 or 84: a “super senior”. Many cats reach this stage, and some show no sign of being so old, notes International Cat Care, which advises keeping a close eye on small changes in behavior.
A cat aged 18, 19 or 20
It is 88, 92 or 96. A fine age, but not an exception: it is not unusual for a cat to reach its late teens or early twenties, writes International Cat Care.
The six life stages of a cat
- Kitten, 0 to 6 months: growing fast and discovering the world. Socialization at this age makes confident adults.
- Junior, 7 months to 2 years: the teenager and young adult. The cat has reached its full size.
- Adult, 3 to 6 years: mature in body and behavior. Exercise and mental stimulation matter for its well-being.
- Mature, 7 to 10 years: a person's forties and fifties. The cat is less active.
- Senior, 11 to 14 years: it may need a low-sided litter box and ramps to reach its favorite spots.
- Super senior, 15 years and over: an age that many cats reach.
American veterinarians (AAHA and AAFP) use a simpler breakdown in four stages: kitten up to 1 year, young adult from 1 to 6, mature adult from 7 to 10, senior over 10.
At what age is a cat an adult?
At 1 year, according to the American veterinarians' breakdown, and that is also the marker given by Filalapat, the service of the French national pet identification registry. A cat reaches its full size between 7 months and 2 years, and full behavioral maturity at around 3, according to International Cat Care.
At what age is a cat old?
At 11 for International Cat Care, over 10 for the AAHA and AAFP. Some call a cat senior earlier, from 7 or 8: that is when the first changes can appear. But aging is not a disease, Cornell points out: many of the problems of older cats can be controlled, provided they are spotted early.
What changes at each age, and how to help
Kitten and junior
This is the age of vaccinations, parasite control (see our guide to cat fleas), neutering and a growth diet, as the AAHA sums it up. It is also the age of play: something to chase, like feather mice, and a scratcher to build good habits.
Adult
The issue is weight: the same guidelines ask owners to keep the cat at its ideal weight through diet and exercise. It is no small matter, since being overweight or underweight is associated with a shorter life (see life expectancy). To keep your cat moving while you are out: an interactive toy or our cat toys range.
Mature
From 7 years, veterinarians suggest regular screening, in particular of the kidneys and teeth, and a diet adapted to a changing metabolism.
Senior and super senior
The Cornell Feline Health Center describes what changes, and what helps:
- The cat grooms itself less well: mats form. Daily brushing removes loose hair.
- Its claws overgrow, becoming thick and brittle, because it uses its scratching post less: check them every week, with nail clippers at hand.
- Dental disease is extremely common and painful: brushing the teeth with a pet toothpaste is the most effective way to prevent it. A silicone finger brush makes it easier.
- Arthritis is common: without limping, the cat finds it hard to jump and climb. Put its litter box, bowls and water within reach, with no stairs to climb.
- It copes less well with change: keep its routines, and avoid bringing in a new pet.
- Vet visits become more frequent, with blood and urine tests at least once a year.
For comfort, a warm bed on the floor, like our self-heating mat or a donut bed, saves your cat from jumping. A raised bowl brings the food up to mouth height.
An old cat whose behavior changes is not “just old”: if it starts meowing at night or peeing outside its box, see our guides to cat meowing and cat urine, and talk to your vet.
How do you tell the age of a found or adopted cat?
The first thing to do with a found cat is to take it to a vet, who will check its identification and can contact its owners, as Filalapat points out. The vet will also give you the best estimate of its age. If the cat seems lost, see our guide lost cat: what to do.
A kitten's age: teeth, eyes, weight
- The eyes start to open at around 6 days and are almost open at 1 week. They stay blue for the first weeks; the final color shows at around 2 months, says Alley Cat Allies.
- The baby teeth come through between the 2nd and the 6th week: incisors at 2 to 4 weeks, canines at around 3 to 4 weeks, premolars at 4 to 6 weeks.
- The permanent teeth start replacing them between 3 and a half and 4 months; the adult teeth are in place from 6 months, according to the veterinary guide of La Compagnie des Animaux.
- Weight: about 100 g at birth, then a little over 100 g per week, which makes roughly 1 kg at 2 months (700 to 800 g for a female). A 500 g kitten is therefore around one month old, an 800 g kitten around seven weeks. This marker is less reliable than the teeth: a street kitten is often lighter.
- Walking: first wobbly steps at around 2 weeks, steady walking at around 3 to 4 weeks.
An adult cat's age: teeth, eyes, coat
- The teeth remain the best clue, according to Purina: tartar on a few teeth at around 1 to 2 years; on all the teeth, at least 3 to 5 years; missing teeth, more like 10 to 15 years. Some cats do have bad teeth very young, though.
- The eyes: a slight haziness of the lens and a lacy-looking iris are common changes with age, without affecting vision, Cornell explains.
- The body and coat: an older cat is less alert, less agile and sleeps more; its coat may look less good.
Be modest about the result: it is very hard to determine a cat's age precisely, especially between 4 and 10 years, Filalapat warns. You only get an approximation.
What is a cat's life expectancy?
A cat lives 12 to 14 years on average, according to International Cat Care. Two British studies, based on the records of veterinary clinics, give more precise figures:
- 11.7 years of life expectancy at birth, according to the life tables drawn up in 2024 by the Royal Veterinary College from 7,936 deaths. Females live longer than males: 12.5 years against 11.2.
- A median age at death of 14 years, according to a 2015 study of 4,009 cats in England. The oldest was 26.7 years old.
The two figures do not contradict each other: the first is an average, pulled down by the cats that die young; the second is a median, meaning that half of the cats in the study died before 14 and the other half after.
What lengthens or shortens a cat's life
- Neutering: in both studies, unneutered cats live shorter lives.
- Weight: being overweight or underweight is linked to a shorter life.
- Breed: crossbred cats live longer than purebred cats (a median of 14 years against 12.5). Among the breeds studied in 2024, the Burmese and the Birman come out on top (14.4 years of life expectancy), the Sphynx last (6.7 years).
- The road: before the age of 9, road traffic accidents are the leading cause of death (45.6% of deaths), according to the University of Bristol's follow-up of 2,444 cats.
- Lifestyle: a cat that lives indoors is better protected from accidents, fights and disease, stress the veterinarians at Sevetys, a French network of vet clinics.
Can a cat live to 20?
Yes. It is not the rule, but it is not rare: 20 cat years is 96 in human years.
The oldest cat in the world
The record belongs to Creme Puff, a female cat born on August 3, 1967, who died on August 6, 2005 in Austin, Texas: 38 years and 3 days, according to Guinness World Records. With International Cat Care's rule, that would be 168 in human years. No cat has reached 40 in the Guinness records.
Among living cats, Guinness recognized Flossie in November 2022, a British cat born on December 29, 1995. She turned 30 on December 29, 2025, reports TF1 Info: 136 in human years, with the same rule.
Cat age and dog age: the chart
For dogs, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) gives a similar rule for a medium-sized dog: 15 years for the first year, 9 for the second, then about 5 years per year. So dogs age faster than cats after the age of 2.
| Actual age | Cat | Medium-sized dog |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 15 years | 15 years |
| 2 years | 24 years | 24 years |
| 5 years | 36 years | 39 years |
| 7 years | 44 years | 49 years |
| 10 years | 56 years | 64 years |
| 12 years | 64 years | 74 years |
| 15 years | 76 years | 89 years |
Sources: International Cat Care for cats; AVMA, quoted by the American Kennel Club, for dogs. Large dogs age faster than small ones.
The right gear for each age: our picks
We do not sell food or veterinary care. What we do have: things to get a young cat playing, and things to make life gentler for an older cat.
Feather mice, set of 5View product
Sisal wall scratcherView product
Interactive feather and ball toyView product
Self-heating matView product
Donut bedView product
Raised stainless steel bowlView product
Stainless steel nail clippersView product
Finger toothbrushView product
Frequently asked questions about cat age
How do you calculate a cat's age in human years?
Count 15 years for the first year, 24 at 2 years, then add 4 years per year. An 8-year-old cat is therefore 24 + 4 × 6 = 48.
How old is a 1-year-old cat in human years?
About 15: a teenager. At 2 years, it is 24.
How old is a 10-year-old cat in human years?
56. It is at the end of the “mature” stage and becomes a senior at 11.
How old is a 15-year-old cat in human years?
76. From 15 years, a cat is a “super senior”.
How old is an 18-year-old cat in human years?
88. A 20-year-old cat is 96, a 21-year-old cat 100.
Should you multiply a cat's age by seven?
No. Cats mature very fast in their first two years (15 then 24), then age about 4 years per year. The rule of seven underestimates young cats.
Is 7 old for a cat?
No: 7 years corresponds to 44. The cat is entering the “mature” stage, and it is the age to start regular check-ups.
Is 15 old for a cat?
Yes: it is 76 in human years, beyond the average life expectancy. Many cats nevertheless reach that age in good shape.
At what age is a cat an adult?
At 1 year according to veterinarians. It reaches its full size between 7 months and 2 years, and full maturity at around 3.
At what age is a cat a senior?
At 11 for International Cat Care, over 10 for American veterinarians. The first age-related changes often appear between 7 and 10.
What is a cat's life expectancy?
12 to 14 years on average. A 2024 British study gives 11.7 years at birth: 12.5 years for females, 11.2 for males.
Do neutered cats live longer?
Yes: in two large British studies, unneutered cats live shorter lives than neutered cats.
Can a cat live to 20?
Yes. It is not rare: 20 cat years equal 96 in human years.
What is the oldest cat in the world?
Creme Puff, a cat from Texas, lived 38 years and 3 days, from 1967 to 2005: that is the Guinness World Records record.
Can a cat live to 40?
No cat has done so in the Guinness records: the record is 38 years and 3 days.
How do you tell the age of a found cat?
Have it examined by a vet, who will also check its identification. The teeth give the best clue; between 4 and 10 years, you only get an approximation.
How do you tell a kitten's age?
By its eyes (open at around 1 week), its teeth (baby teeth between 2 and 6 weeks, permanent teeth from 3 and a half months) and its weight (about 100 g more per week).
Which cat breed lives the longest?
In the 2024 British study, the Burmese and the Birman come out on top, with a life expectancy of 14.4 years. Crossbred cats live longer than purebred cats.
Sources
- International Cat Care, how to tell your cat's age in human years
- Cornell Feline Health Center, the special needs of the senior cat
- AAHA and AAFP, 2021 Feline Life Stage Guidelines and their publication in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery
- Teng et al., Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 2024: life tables for cats in the UK
- O'Neill et al., Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 2015: longevity and mortality of cats in England
- Taylor et al., Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 2025: mortality in young cats, University of Bristol cohort
- Guinness World Records, oldest cat ever
- TF1 Info, Flossie turns 30 (in French)
- Filalapat (I-CAD), how to work out the age of a found cat (in French)
- La Compagnie des Animaux, veterinary advice: the age of a cat (in French)
- Purina, estimating a cat's age (in French)
- Alley Cat Allies, kitten progression at a glance
- Sevetys, a cat's life expectancy (in French)
- American Kennel Club, how to calculate dog years to human years
Article updated on October 4, 2026. These equivalences are orders of magnitude: they are no substitute for your vet's advice. The photos in this article were generated by AI. Read also: cat sleeping a lot, cat meowing, cat urine and our Maine Coon guide.
