How Can I Determine the Age of my Cat?
how do you tell how old your cat is?
shantae
creve coeur Illinois usa
Aging a cat is as much an art as a science. To be truly good at it, one needs to have evaluated hundreds (or preferably thousands) of cats.
The teeth generally are the first area of the body to be evaluated when trying to determine a cat’s (or dog’s) age. Kittens less than three weeks old may have no teeth. Deciduous (baby) teeth erupt between three and six weeks of age. These are replaced by adult teeth between four and six months of age.
For the first year or two of life, the adult teeth will be clean and white, with minimal evidence of dental disease. Over the next several years, the teeth will show progressive discoloration, infection, gum loss, and root exposure.
Cats who benefit from good oral care (tooth brushing or regular dental work) will not develop characteristic symptoms of dental disease as rapidly as those whose teeth are neglected. Well-cared-for cats with healthy mouths tend to look (and feel) much younger than they are.
The eyes can assist in determining a cat’s age. At about seven years, most cats develop a slight hazy discoloration in the lens. This phenomenon does not compromise quality of life, but it does become more prominent as cats mature.
Young cats tend to have very soft and supple coats. As most middle aged men can verify, youthful hair rarely lasts forever. Elderly cats (especially those over 12) often have coarse, dry fur that appears to grow in clumps.
Finally, the flexibility of the rib cage changes as cats mature. Young cats have very supple ribs. After about seven years of age, the ribs become progressively firmer and more brittle. Always be gentle when feeling a cat’s ribs!
Remember that each individual ages in a unique fashion. Some cats age more gracefully than others. Some cats look young for their age; others appear older than they are.
You have questions. 
Hi, I am Casper, and I am 15 yrs “young”! My teeth are yellow, and my white fur has gotten a little “scrufty” as I have gotten older. I also walk a little “gimpy” as my hips are a little “off” (I have always been a little “Cow-Hocked)
Chloe is next, because she is 10, now. After our Sister, “Patches” (age 16) recently went to the Bridge, Chloe started to lose a little weight, also, which scared Momma. She also shed alot of her fluffy coat (A Ragdoll) and looks a little “tatty” since it it very hot here. Both of our furs is a little “oily” looking. Chloe eats constantly! MOL!
Moochy is very pudgy, and Momma thinks she is around 8. She is a Himalayan, and was Spayed & fully declawed, when Momma found her. She has been with us for over 5 yrs She is very Fluffy! Her long fur is hard to keep brushed!
…Junior is the “Baby” and he is only 4. He is very youthful and handsome, “Healthy” looking, and his coat is very luxurious. He has “Perfect” fur! But I have earned every bit of the scrufty appearance I have, and am very “satisfied” with my apearance. After alll, “15 is the new 80″ MOL!
Hi
im sharron, i have 7 cats that own me completely. I am lucky to get a place on my own bed. My cats ages are 22 male 16 female 15 female, then we drop to 6 yrs 4yrs 2 1/2 and 2 Only my 22yr old has a fur problem. It tends to be quite thin when you take out the winter coat in the summer, but it is still shiney and soft. What does worry me is i can feel his backbone and other parts of his skeliton. My vet assures me that this is normal, as old people do tend to get thin and boney as they get older, unless they suffer from being overweight. he still weighs just under 5kilos which i am told is a good weight for a cat. I usually take 2 of the older ones in to the vet at the beggining of the summer and have them groomed and dematted This is less stressful to them than me chasing them round the floor trying to brush them which they hate.They seem to come back half the size that they went in. I have to weight them to make sure that their weight is right . I do keep a check on their weight as they all have the corona virus. I cant win if i put any weight on my old boy the vet tells me off, but i still feel uncomftable feeling some of his bones through his fur. Anybody else have this problem????????????????
Hi,
I’m Gump. I turned 15 this past summer. My fur is soft, supple and shiny, and my coat is full. It’s not “coarse dry fur that grows in clumps…hmmm.” Check out my photos on catster.
My meowma does feed me a quality canned and raw diet. I think that helps my coat and my overall health. I am diabetic, but need very little insulin. Today meowma gave me .25 units (that is 1/4 unit) of PZI and it was almost too much as I started going low soon. I am doing really well even though I have this diabeasties thing and I have to get poked a lot. I am very active for an older diabetic boy, I also like to chase around and “wrassle” with this new little sister-fur being that mewoma found. We really go at it even though I am 15 and she is only 1.5 years old!
Well. anyway, just noticed this post and wanted to say hi and also tell you that all the oldies don’t have dry coarse fur :)
Thanks for all the informative posts Dr.B. :)
Wet food rules!