Cat Care
Cat Years to Human Years: Age Chart From Kitten to 25
How old is my cat in human years? A cat's first year equals about 15 human years, their second takes them to about 24, and every year after that adds roughly 4 human years. So a 5-year-old cat is about 36, a 10-year-old is about 56, and a 20-year-old cat is about 96 in human years.
Cat years to human years chart
| Cat's age | Human years | Life stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | about 1 | Kitten |
| 3 months | about 4 | Kitten |
| 6 months | about 10 | Kitten |
| 1 year | 15 | Junior |
| 2 years | 24 | Junior |
| 3 years | 28 | Adult |
| 4 years | 32 | Adult |
| 5 years | 36 | Adult |
| 6 years | 40 | Adult |
| 7 years | 44 | Mature |
| 8 years | 48 | Mature |
| 9 years | 52 | Mature |
| 10 years | 56 | Mature |
| 11 years | 60 | Senior |
| 12 years | 64 | Senior |
| 13 years | 68 | Senior |
| 14 years | 72 | Senior |
| 15 years | 76 | Super senior |
| 16 years | 80 | Super senior |
| 17 years | 84 | Super senior |
| 18 years | 88 | Super senior |
| 19 years | 92 | Super senior |
| 20 years | 96 | Super senior |
| 25 years | 116 | Super senior |
Yearly figures and life stages follow International Cat Care. Month figures for kittens are approximate.
Why isn't it 7 cat years per human year?
Cats grow up very fast. In their first year they go from newborn to the equivalent of a mid-teen, and by two they're young adults. After that, ageing slows to about 4 human years per cat year, so a simple multiply-by-7 rule overestimates young cats and underestimates older ones.
Cat life stages and what they mean
- Kitten (0–6 months): fast growth, vaccinations, socialising. See our kitten age chart.
- Junior (7 months–2 years): reaching full size; see when cats stop growing.
- Adult (3–6 years): prime of life; keep weight and teeth in check.
- Mature (7–10 years): the equivalent of the human 40s and 50s; watch weight and activity.
- Senior (11–14 years): more frequent vet checks are worthwhile.
- Super senior (15+ years): comfort, easy access to litter, food and warm beds matter most.
How to estimate an adult cat's age
For a rescued or adopted cat, vets look at teeth (wear and tartar), eyes (cloudiness), coat, muscle tone and joints. These give a range rather than an exact age. Kittens can be aged much more precisely by teeth and weight.
Frequently asked questions
How old is a 1 year old cat in human years?
About 15 human years.
How old is a 10 year old cat in human years?
About 56 human years.
How old is a 20 year old cat in human years?
About 96 human years.
At what age is a cat a senior?
International Cat Care classes cats as seniors from about 11 years and super seniors from 15.
How long do cats live?
Indoor cats commonly live 12 to 18 years and many reach their 20s. See how long do cats live? or try our pet lifespan calculator.
Sources
Chart and life stages follow International Cat Care. This article is general information, not veterinary advice.
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