How old is my cat in human years?
Convert cat years to human years with the AVMA's chart: about 15 at one, 24 at two, then 4 more each year. The calculator also shows your cat's life stage.
Cat years to human years chart
| Cat's age | Human years | Life stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 15 | Young adult (kitten until 1) |
| 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 | Senior |
| 11 years | 60 | Senior |
| 12 years | 64 | Senior |
| 13 years | 68 | Senior |
| 14 years | 72 | Senior |
| 15 years | 76 | Senior |
| 16 years | 80 | Senior |
Human years from the AVMA's chart, which calls them approximate. Life stages from the 2021 AAHA/AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines, which put 10-year-olds in both mature adult (7 to 10) and senior (10 and up); this chart counts 10 as senior.
How the cat years to human years conversion works
Cats grow up quickly. By its first birthday a cat is roughly where a 15-year-old person is, and by two it is like a 24-year-old adult. From then on the AVMA chart adds about 4 human years for every cat year, so a 10-year-old cat is about 56 and a 16-year-old about 80. Between birthdays the calculator draws a straight line between the chart's values for the two years, so 5½ comes out at 38.
The chart is a comparison of life stages, not a health check. It does not tell you how long your cat will live or what care it needs: your vet works from its actual age and health.
Cat life stages
The 2021 guidelines from the AAHA and the AAFP (now the Feline Veterinary Medical Association) split a cat's life into four age-based stages plus an end-of-life stage, and vets plan check-ups around them.
| Stage | Age |
|---|---|
| Kitten | Birth up to 1 year |
| Young adult | 1 to 6 years |
| Mature adult | 7 to 10 years |
| Senior | 10 years and older |
| End of life | Any age |
Cats compared with dogs
The AVMA's cat chart has the same numbers as the American Kennel Club's chart for small dogs, those 20 lb or less. Larger dogs age faster after their second birthday: see dog years to human years. For a kitten whose birthday you don't know, the kitten age chart estimates its age from weight, teeth and eyes, and the pet age calculator covers cats and dogs together.
Questions owners ask
How old is a 10-year-old cat in human years?
About 56 on the AVMA's chart: 24 human years for the first two years, then 4 for each year after that.
Is one cat year equal to seven human years?
No. Cats grow up fast: on the AVMA chart the first year is about 15 human years and the second brings a cat to 24. After that, each year adds about 4 human years.
When is a cat a senior?
The 2021 AAHA/AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelines call a cat a senior from 10 years old. Before that come kitten (up to 1 year), young adult (1 to 6) and mature adult (7 to 10).
Do cats and dogs age the same way?
Not exactly. The AVMA's cat chart has the same numbers as the AKC's chart for small dogs, but larger dogs age faster after the first two years. See dog years to human years for the dog charts.
How can I tell my cat's age if I don't know it?
For a kitten, weight, teeth and eyes narrow it down well: see the kitten age chart. For an adult cat, ask your vet for an estimate.