How Old Is This Cat?

Digg

Del.icio.us

Stumble

How Old Is This Cat?

By: PetPlace Staff

See Larger Image

You adopt an adult cat from the local shelter or a stray steals your heart. Either way, you have a new family member. But how old is she? Aging an adult cat is not an exact science, even among veterinarians. But there are some physical clues that will help you determine your new cat's age.

The teeth. As with people, kittens lose their baby teeth and develop adult teeth at a predetermined point in life. By the time the kitten is 6 months of age, all the baby teeth have been replaced with adult teeth. After this, the accumulation of tartar and wear of the teeth help narrow down the age range.

By 2 years of age, the molars typically have some mild tartar. By 5 years, the tartar is more pronounced on the molars and affects the canines as well. This method is not very reliable since the type of diet and whether or not the teeth are brushed can affect tartar buildup.

By middle to older age, the incisors begin to wear down, and as he ages even more, teeth may begin to fall out. By age 12, some incisors may be missing.

The eyes. The presence of lenticular sclerosis can help determine your cat's age. In older cats, the lens of the eye begins to develop signs of aging. Thin lines begin to show up on the lens of the eye at around age 6. The lines do not affect vision and are not the same as cataracts, though they can be confused with cataracts.

Gray hair. The graying process on the face varies from cat to cat. As with people, premature graying can occur. For this reason, this is not a reliable method of aging your cat.

Aging an adult cat is difficult and the best you can ask for is an approximation, which may be off by 2 to 4 years. Thankfully, the age of your cat does not affect her ability to provide you with a loving companion and friend.

Printable Version

Digg

Del.icio.us

Stumble

Share this Article with a Friend Email To:

Have a Pet Question?

Review the Most Frequent Questions
Answered by Dr. Jon and His Staff of Veterinarians

Dr. Jon's Newsletter

Yes! Send Me the Latest Health Information, Pet Tips, Pet Stories and more...

Search Over 15,000 articles

1 Homemade Treats for the Older Cat
Even though your kitty may be getting up there in age, she may still enjoy a special indulgence now and then. Try these homemade cat treat recipes.
Read More
2 World's Oldest Cat: 140 in Human Years, But Who's Counting?
Until his passing in July 2001, 31-year-old Spike was the world’s oldest living cat. The British ginger and white tom had been certified by the Guinness Book of World Records.
Read More
3 Hyperthyroidism – It Can Strike Your Older Cat
If your adult cat suddenly begins to lose weight despite a voracious appetite, he may have a hormone problem, specifically the hormone produced by the thyroid gland.
Read More
4 Chronic Kidney Failure in Cats
Chronic kidney failure is a common problem in all cat breeds. The digestion of food produces waste products, which are carried by blood to the kidneys to be filtered and excreted in the form of urine....
Read More
5 As Old as He Feels – Caring for Your Elderly Cat
They say old age creeps up on a person like a thief in the night. This is especially true of your cat. Cats seemingly race through adolescence and adulthood, and suddenly at around 8 years of age, they...
Read More
6 Lenticular Sclerosis in Cats
As the animal ages the nucleus of the lens becomes denser, harder and somewhat cloudy in appearance. In the geriatric cat, lenticular sclerosis can be so cloudy that the condition is easily mistaken for...
Read More
7 6 Ways to Make Your Cat Comfy
Cats are born pleasure seekers and will find lots of comfortable places around your home to hang out. You can expand your pet's comfort zone by selecting the right supplies and equipment. Here are six...
Read More
8 Life Expectancy in Cats
Life expectancy in cats depends on many things, but the most important factor is whether he is an indoor-only cat or an outdoor cat. Life expectancy varies significantly between the two.
Read More

Over 10,000 Veterinarian Approved Articles

Dogs & Puppies

Dog Breeds

labrador retriever, golden retriever, yorkshire terriers, german shepherds, beagle, boxers

Dog Medication

dog allergy medication, dog pain medication, dog anxiety medication, dog flea medication

Dog Products

dog bowls, dog crates, dog toys, dog beds, dog ramps, dog food storage, dog tags

Dog Symptoms

dog vomiting, dog limping, dog diarrhea, dog bad breath, dog coughing, dog seizures

Dog Health

dog cancer, dog diabetes, dog epilepsy, dog hip dysplasia, dog health, sick dog

Dog Care

dog vaccination, dog microchipping, dog grooming, dog neutering, dog spaying, dogs mating

Dog Training

dog aggression, dog barking, dog chewing, dog behavior, dog jumping, dog whisperer

Dog Pictures

puppy pictures, funny dogs, cute dogs, dog breeds, sleeping dogs, silly dogs, small dogs

Cats

Cat Breeds

persian, siamese cats, devon rex, ragdoll cats, sphynx, maine coon cat

Cat Medication

cat flea medication, cat heartworm control, cat tick medications

Cat Products

cat litter box, cat food, cat bed, cat flea collar, cat carrier, cat urine odor

Cat Symptoms

cat vomiting, cat limping, cat diarrhea, cat bad breath, cat coughing

Cat Health

cat health, cat liver cancer, cat diabetes, cat scratch fever, cat aids, sick cat

Cat Care

cat vaccination, cat grooming, cat microchipping, cat neutering, cat spaying

Cat Behavior

cat urine marking, cat furniture scratching, cat litterbox training, cat toilet training, cat fears

Cat Pictures

cute cats, funny cats, playful cats, fat cats, jumping cats, lazy cats, sleeping cats, cute kittens

1World's Oldest Cat: 140 in Human Years, But Who's Counting?
Until his passing in July 2001, 31-year-old Spike was the world’s oldest living cat. The British ginger and white tom had been certified by the Guinness Book of World Records.
Read More
2Hyperthyroidism – It Can Strike Your Older Cat
If your adult cat suddenly begins to lose weight despite a voracious appetite, he may have a hormone problem, specifically the hormone produced by the thyroid gland.
Read More
3Chronic Kidney Failure in Cats
Chronic kidney failure is a common problem in all cat breeds. The digestion of food produces waste products, which are carried by blood to the kidneys to be filtered and excreted in the form of urine....
Read More
46 Ways to Make Your Cat Comfy
Cats are born pleasure seekers and will find lots of comfortable places around your home to hang out. You can expand your pet's comfort zone by selecting the right supplies and equipment. Here are six...
Read More
5As Old as He Feels – Caring for Your Elderly Cat
They say old age creeps up on a person like a thief in the night. This is especially true of your cat. Cats seemingly race through adolescence and adulthood, and suddenly at around 8 years of age, they...
Read More
6Homemade Treats for the Older Cat
Even though your kitty may be getting up there in age, she may still enjoy a special indulgence now and then. Try these homemade cat treat recipes.
Read More
7Lenticular Sclerosis in Cats
As the animal ages the nucleus of the lens becomes denser, harder and somewhat cloudy in appearance. In the geriatric cat, lenticular sclerosis can be so cloudy that the condition is easily mistaken for...
Read More
8Life Expectancy in Cats
Life expectancy in cats depends on many things, but the most important factor is whether he is an indoor-only cat or an outdoor cat. Life expectancy varies significantly between the two.
Read More

How Old Is This Cat?

How Old Is This Cat?

Related Articles

Over 10,000 Veterinarian Approved Articles

"How Old Is This Cat?"

To view the requested article, please register below.

Success! - You Are Now Part of the Petplace Family!