Cat age chart
| Cat age | Human years | Life stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 1 | Kitten |
| 3 months | 4 | Kitten |
| 6 months | 10 | Kitten |
| 1 year | 15 | Young adult |
| 2 years | 24 | Young adult |
| 3 years | 28 | Young adult |
| 4 years | 32 | Young adult |
| 5 years | 36 | Young adult |
| 6 years | 40 | Young adult |
| 7 years | 44 | Mature adult |
| 8 years | 48 | Mature adult |
| 9 years | 52 | Mature adult |
| 10 years | 56 | Mature adult |
| 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 |
| 20 years | 96 | Super senior |
How cat years work
A kitten goes from helpless newborn to fully grown hunter in a year. That's why the first year counts for about 15 human years. By two, a cat is like a person in their mid-twenties. From then on, the pace evens out to roughly four human years per cat year. Unlike dogs, cats don't vary much by size or breed, so one chart works for nearly all cats. Very large breeds like Maine Coons can take up to 3 to 4 years to finish filling out, but they age on the same calendar.
Life stages vets use
- Kitten (0 to 1 year): vaccines, neutering, and lots of socialising.
- Young adult (1 to 6): peak fitness. A yearly check-up and dental care.
- Mature adult (7 to 10): weight gain is common. Start yearly blood tests.
- Senior (11 to 14): watch for weight loss, thirst and changes in litter habits.
- Super senior (15+): check-ups every 6 months and plenty of comfort.
Read more in our guide to cat life stages.
Frequently asked questions
How do you convert cat years to human years?
The first year of a cat’s life equals about 15 human years, and the second adds about 9 more (24 total). After that, each cat year equals roughly 4 human years. So a 10-year-old cat is about 56.
How old is a 1 year old cat in human years?
About 15. A one-year-old cat is fully grown and sexually mature, much like a mid-teen.
What is the oldest age for a cat?
Indoor cats commonly live 13 to 17 years and many reach 20. The record holder, Creme Puff from Texas, lived to 38, which is about 168 in human years.
At what age is a cat a senior?
Most vets consider cats senior from about 11 years (around 60 in human years) and "super senior" from 15. Twice-yearly check-ups are recommended from about age 10.