Understanding When Your Cat Becomes a Senior

Many pet owners are familiar with the adage that dogs age seven years for every human year, and while this isn’t entirely accurate, cat owners have wondered how cats age. Let’s discuss the different feline life stages, how cat years compare to human years, what factors influence feline aging, and when cats are officially considered seniors.

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Stages of a cat’s life

According to the most recent AAHA/AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines, cats have four main life stages:

Kitten: birth to 1 year

Like humans in childhood, cats experience the most growth during their kittenhood stage, when they transform into tiny kittens and young cats. Female cats typically begin their estrus cycle between five and nine months.

It’s a crucial time for socialization and learning in a cat’s life. This is the best time to get them used to being handled, being around other pets and people, learning to use their carriers, and going to the vet. Positive interactions are essential during kittenhood to help prevent future fears, phobias, or aggression.

Young adult: 1–6 years

The young adult years are when cats mature and develop their personalities. It’s also a time when behavioral problems, like aggression or urine spraying, tend to start, especially in unneutered male cats. It’s always important to provide plenty of resources for your cat (enough toys and litter boxes), especially in multi-cat homes, and consult your vet if your cat shows signs of behavioral problems.

Mature adult: 7–10 years

As cats advance into their adult years, they’ll begin to slow down a bit. They may sleep more and be less playful and active. This is also a time when they can become more likely to gain weight and start to develop some age-related health problems, like arthritis. Good nutrition and regular vet check-ups are essential at this stage.

Senior: 10+ years

The senior cat stage is when it becomes much more apparent that your feline friend is advancing in age. They may have more visible signs of aging, such as coarser fur, decreased muscle tone, and changes to their appetite, sleep, grooming, and litter box habits. Senior cats are also more likely to develop health conditions like kidney disease and cancer, so monitoring their health and scheduling senior check-ups is vital.

How old is my cat in human years?

Cats age differently than humans; within their first year of life, they will reach a comparable age of about 15 in human years. On their second birthday, they reach the human equivalent of about 24. After the second year, cat years are more comparable to about four years of a human lifespan, so a three-year-old cat is about 28 human years, a four-year-old cat is about 32 human years, and so on.

When is a cat considered a senior?

Unlike dogs, where size and breed can heavily influence life expectancy, cats follow the same life stage guidelines. This means they become seniors around age 10. The average lifespan of a cat is 13–17 years, but some cats can live well into their 20s.

Senior cats at a more advanced age, typically 15 and older, are sometimes called geriatric. Geriatric cats tend to have a more significant age-related decline in health and activity.

Factors affecting aging in cats

While certain aspects of aging are unavoidable, even the healthiest of cats will show signs of their age at some point, there are factors that can influence how a cat ages.

1. Genetics. Some cat breeds can be predisposed to certain health problems and/or have a shorter lifespan which can affect how they age.
2. Nutrition. Proper nutrition is essential for optimal feline health at all stages. Cats should be fed a complete and balanced diet that corresponds with their specific life stage (or medical condition if on a prescription diet recommended by their vet) and is AAFCO-certified and/or WSAVA-compliant. Cats not fed a proper diet can have nutritional deficiencies that lead to poor health as they age.
3. Lifestyle. Cats that live indoors have their needs met and live a mostly stress-free, happy life. They may age better and live longer than outdoor cats exposed to environmental dangers, stress, and a lack of food.
4. Weight. Overweight or obese cats can face more challenges as they age. Extra weight can pressure aging joints and increase the risk of developing certain health conditions, such as diabetes.
5. Veterinary care. Cats receiving regular veterinary care throughout their lives may enter their senior years in better health. Regular check-ups can catch health conditions early when they’re more treatable, vaccines and parasite preventatives fend off infectious diseases and parasites, and dental care can help prevent dental disease.

Signs of aging in cats

As our feline friends celebrate more birthdays or “gotcha” days, most cat owners will notice telltale signs of aging. While these changes can be a normal part of growing older, some can also signal an underlying illness, so it’s important for cat owners to report any physical or behavioral changes to their veterinarian.

Physical changes

Physical signs of aging in cats in cats can include:

• Skin and coat changes. Older cats will groom themselves less, sometimes due to underlying health conditions, like arthritis, which restricts their movement. Cat owners may notice a thinner, duller, more unkempt coat that needs more frequent brushing and what appears to be extra skin, but this is due to a loss in skin elasticity.
• Weight and muscle loss. Aging cats can experience a loss in body weight and muscle mass. While a cat may appear thinner overall, the most noticeable areas are typically between the shoulder blades and around the hips, where the bones may become more visible or easily felt while petting.
• Overgrown claws. The claws of senior cats can become brittle and overgrown due to a lack of activity and reduced grooming habits. Many older cats will need more frequent nail trims.
• Cloudy eyes. As cats age, their eyes may become cloudy or hazy-bluish. This can be caused by lenticular sclerosis, an age-related thickening of the lens, or conditions such as cataracts or glaucoma.
• Dental problems. Senior cats are prone to dental disease. Owners may notice yellow stains or tartar build-up on their cat’s teeth. Broken or missing teeth can also be common in senior cats.

Behavioral changes

Behavioral signs of aging in cats in cats can include:

• Reduced activity. As cats age, they slow down and become less active than their younger counterparts. Cat owners may notice them sleeping more and having less interest in playing. This is normal for aging cats but can also indicate a health problem, especially if a cat seems overly lethargic for extended periods.
• Mobility issues. A reluctance to jump, climb, or play in older cats can be common. This can be due to having lower energy, which is normal, or it can indicate an underlying problem, such as arthritis. It's estimated that 90% of cats over 10 have some degree of arthritis.
• Changes to eating or drinking habits. As cats age, they may eat or drink more or less than usual or become more picky with their food. Sometimes, this is due to normal age-related changes, but other times, it can indicate a problem. Both increased and decreased appetite in cats can signal an underlying medical condition.
• Cognitive changes. Like humans, cats can experience cognitive impairments as they age. This can manifest in many ways, including restlessness, irritability, elimination outside the litter box, disrupted sleep patterns, and frequent yowling, especially at night.
• Trouble navigating their environment. Some senior cats may develop hearing or vision problems as they age. This is typically noticeable by a change in their behavior when navigating their environment. Cat owners may notice their feline friend bumping into things, being overly cautious around objects, or not reacting to sights and sounds that they used to.

Health issues common in senior cats

Many signs of normal aging in cats can also be signs of medical conditions, so it’s vital for cat owners to be aware of some of the most common health issues senior cats can face.

• Arthritis. A degenerative joint disease that causes pain and inflammation in the joints, leading to reduced mobility and trouble with daily activities like climbing stairs or self-grooming.
• Dental disease. This can cause tooth decay, tooth resorption, inflamed gums, and poor oral health. This can become painful and make it difficult for a cat to eat.
• Kidney disease. A loss of kidney function can cause increased drinking and urination, lethargy, and weight loss.
• Metabolic disease. Two common metabolic diseases in senior cats include diabetes, an inability to properly process glucose, resulting in elevated blood sugar, and hyperthyroidism, an abnormal increase in thyroid hormones. Both cause similar signs, including weight loss and increased appetite, thirst, and urination.
• Cancer. Many types of cancer can affect cats of all ages, but older cats are at an increased risk. Signs can include new lumps or bumps appearing on the body or mouth, changes in behavior and appetite, weight loss, lethargy, and gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea.

Caring for a senior cat

Just as humans may need a little extra help and adjustments to their environment as they age, so can our feline friends. Monitoring your cat's comfort and quality of life as they age and speaking to your veterinarian about any changes is essential. Many effective treatments and medications can manage many of the medical conditions common in senior cats and environmental changes that can help keep them more comfortable.

Senior cats may need some help with grooming and dental care, more accessible food bowls, and litter boxes, and they may prefer some more comfy beds and blankets to keep warm and support achy joints. While we can’t stop the clock for our feline friends, we can ensure they sail into their golden years as comfortably as possible. Good nutrition, regular vet check-ups, and ensuring they have a comfortable, stress-free environment can go a long way in helping cats stay healthy and happy in their senior years.