Cat years explained
How to convert cat years to human years
By Toheed MehmoodReviewed How we check facts
In short
The first year of a cat's life equals about 15 human years and the second about 9 more, so a 2-year-old cat is roughly 24. After that, each cat year adds about 4 human years: a 7-year-old cat is about 44 and a 12-year-old about 64.
- 6-month-old kitten
- ≈ 10 human years
- 1-year-old cat
- ≈ 15 human years
- 2-year-old cat
- ≈ 24 human years
- Each year after 2
- ≈ +4 human years
Cat years to human years chart
| Cat age | Human years |
|---|---|
| 1 month | 1 |
| 3 months | 4 |
| 4 months | 6 |
| 6 months | 10 |
| 1 year | 15 |
| 18 months | 21 |
| 2 years | 24 |
| 3 years | 28 |
| 4 years | 32 |
| 5 years | 36 |
| 6 years | 40 |
| 7 years | 44 |
| 8 years | 48 |
| 9 years | 52 |
| 10 years | 56 |
| 11 years | 60 |
| 12 years | 64 |
| 13 years | 68 |
| 14 years | 72 |
| 15 years | 76 |
| 16 years | 80 |
| 17 years | 84 |
The chart continues at about 4 human years per cat year: a 20-year-old cat is roughly 96, and a 25-year-old about 116.
How to calculate a cat's age in human years
- For a kitten under one year, read the chart: kittens reach about 10 human years by six months.
- A cat of 1 is about 15, and a cat of 2 is about 24.
- For older cats, take the age, subtract 2, multiply by 4 and add 24. A 9-year-old cat: (9 − 2) × 4 + 24 = 52.
Cat life stages
- Kitten
- Birth up to 1 year.
- Young adult
- 1 to 6 years.
- Mature adult
- 7 to 10 years.
- Senior
- Over 10 years.
These stages come from the 2021 AAHA/AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines, which vets use to plan check-ups. Senior cats usually need more frequent visits.
Do indoor cats age differently?
The conversion is the same, but indoor cats tend to live longer on average because they face fewer risks from traffic, fights and disease. Many indoor cats live into their late teens. For dogs, use the Dog Age Calculator, which also accounts for size.
Common questions
How old is a 10-year-old cat in human years?
About 56 human years.
How old is a 15-year-old cat in human years?
About 76 human years.
Is one cat year equal to seven human years?
No. Cats mature much faster at the start (about 15 human years in the first year) and then age about 4 human years per year.
When is a cat considered senior?
Over 10 years old, according to the 2021 AAHA/AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines.
Sources
- How to tell your cat's age in human years · International Cat Care
- 2021 AAHA/AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines · American Association of Feline Practitioners