Introduction
Knowing your cat’s age is important for providing proper health care. A cat’s age determines what vaccines and medical tests they need, as well as decoding any changes in behavior or activity levels. Since most adopted cats come without breeding paperwork or veterinary records, cat owners are often left guessing their pet’s age.
This article outlines several ways to estimate your cat’s age based on physical characteristics and clues from their history. We’ll cover examining teeth, weight, eyes, and coat, considering breed averages, reviewing vet records, and using cat DNA tests. With a combination of these techniques, cat owners can get a reasonable estimate of their feline’s age.
Look at Your Cat’s Teeth
Examining your cat’s teeth is one of the best ways to estimate their age. Kittens start getting their baby teeth (deciduous teeth) around 2-4 weeks of age. The incisors come in first, followed by the canines around 3-4 weeks. By around 5-6 weeks, the deciduous premolars have emerged. Kittens will have a full set of 26 baby teeth by around 6-8 weeks of age (Merck Veterinary Manual).
As the permanent adult teeth start coming in, typically around 4-7 months, you can track their progress to determine age. The incisors are replaced first, followed by the canines and premolars. By around 6-7 months the adult canines, incisors and first premolars will have emerged. By 7-9 months, all the permanent teeth except the molars will have come in. The permanent molars come in around 9-12 months. By the time a cat is about 1 year old, they will typically have all 30 permanent adult teeth (Physical Exam Guide).
You can estimate a cat’s age by looking for signs of wear. Kittens and younger cats will have bright white, sharp teeth. As cats get older, their teeth will appear more yellow and worn down. The canine teeth will become blunted and flat. Severe tartar buildup and gingivitis are also signs of an older cat.
Examine Physical Condition
One way to estimate a cat’s age is by assessing their physical condition. As cats get older, they tend to become less energetic. You may notice your cat napping more during the day or becoming less interested in playing. According to Hill’s Pet Nutrition (https://www.hillspet.com/cat-care/behavior-appearance/when-is-cat-senior), senior cats sleep over 70% of the day compared to younger cats that are much more active.
You can also examine your cat’s coat for signs of aging. Greying fur, particularly around the muzzle, is a giveaway that your cat is entering their senior years. White fur on the chin, chest, belly and paws is also indicative of an older cat. Cats can experience hair loss as they age, leaving thinning fur or balding patches.
Weight changes are another sign. Some senior cats lose weight as their metabolism slows down. Others may gain weight due to less activity and mobility. Dramatic weight changes in either direction can signify your cat is aging.
Overall, if your cat seems less energetic, has greying fur, or has had recent weight fluctuations, they are likely past middle age and entering into their senior years. Examining these physical conditions can help narrow down your cat’s age.
Review Veterinary Records
If your cat has visited the veterinarian before, reviewing their medical records can help determine your cat’s age, especially if they were seen as a kitten. Veterinarians will record the cat’s estimated or actual birth date during appointments. This gives you a definitive way to calculate your cat’s current age.
For adopted cats or strays that first visited a vet later in life, the records may only provide a rough estimate of age based on the veterinarian’s examination at that time. However, it still offers a professional opinion on age that may be more accurate than your own guess. Call your vet and ask them to check past files for any notations about your cat’s estimated age or birth date.
Veterinary records provide the most reliable age documentation if available. However, for cats taken in as strays or adopted later in life, earlier vet visits may not exist. In these cases, you’ll need to depend more on physical signs of aging and the vet’s best assessment.
Estimate by Size
One way to estimate a cat’s age is by looking at its size and development. Kittens grow rapidly in the first 6 months, gaining about 1 pound per month. So generally, a 6 month old kitten will weigh about 6 pounds.
After 6 months, kittens transition into adulthood and their growth slows down. An adult cat’s size can provide clues about its age. Smaller cats tend to be younger, while larger cats are usually older. However, this varies a lot between breeds. Smaller breeds like Siamese reach full adult size around 9-10 months, while larger breeds like Maine Coons don’t reach full size until age 3-4.
You can get a rough estimate by comparing your cat’s size to a breed standard growth chart. But size is not a very accurate indicator of age on its own. Two cats of the same age may differ greatly in size due to breed, nutrition, health, and other factors. Size should be considered along with other clues like teeth, coat, activity level, and vet records to estimate age.
Consider Breed
Breed plays an important role in determining both lifespan and maturity rate in cats. Some breeds tend to live longer than others. For example, Siamese and Persian cats often live into their late teens or even early 20s. On the other end of the spectrum, Maine Coon cats tend to have shorter lifespans of 10-13 years on average.
Maturity rates also vary significantly by breed. Smaller breeds like Singapuras and Devon Rex cats reach full maturity by age 2. Larger breeds can take up to 4 years to reach full maturity. Maine Coon cats, for instance, don’t reach their full size until age 3-5. Ragdoll cats are also slow growing, not considered fully mature until age 4.
So when estimating your cat’s age, consider both lifespan and maturity rates typical for their breed. A 2 year old Siamese may be fully mature, while a 2 year old Maine Coon still has some growing to do. Checking breed lifespan charts can provide a useful starting point for gauging age based on size and development.
Ask About Background
If you adopted your cat from a shelter or rescue group, inquire about your cat’s estimated age. Shelters will often assign an approximate age range based on the cat’s teeth, coat condition, and other factors. According to PetFinder, many rescues will classify kittens as “baby” (0-2 months), “junior” (2-6 months), “adolescent” (6-12 months), and “adult” (1 year and over).
For adopted cats with an unknown history, the shelter staff can provide their best guess at age. According to the ASPCA, estimating age is challenging with adopted cats, but clues like teeth condition, energy level, and medical issues can help narrow the range. If adopting from a foster home, the foster parents may also have useful insights into the cat’s likely age.
Similarly, if adopting directly from a previous owner, ask them how old the cat is. Previous veterinary records may also have an age estimate. While it’s difficult to know for sure, any information on the cat’s estimated age from a rescue group or previous owner can provide a helpful starting point.
Get a Vet’s Opinion
One of the best ways to get an accurate estimate of your cat’s age is to schedule a physical exam with your veterinarian. Vets are trained professionals who can examine your cat’s overall health and physical characteristics to make an informed determination about their age.
During the exam, the vet will look at your cat’s teeth, eyes, joints, muscles, bones, and coat condition. They will check for signs of aging like cloudy eyes, dental disease, weakened joints, or graying fur. The vet can also feel your cat’s bones and muscles to gauge development and fitness. In older cats, they will look for arthritis, cancer, kidney disease, and other age-related conditions.
Your vet can compare your cat’s condition to what is typical at different ages. They have extensive medical knowledge and hands-on experience with cats of all ages. This allows them to make the most accurate age estimate possible based on the totality of your cat’s health.
Providing your vet with any prior veterinary records, especially if you adopted your cat, can further help to narrow down age. But ultimately, a physical exam tailored to evaluating age is the best way to get a professional opinion you can trust.
While age is just an estimate with cats, your vet’s expertise provides the closest approximation possible. Their insight allows you to better understand your cat’s health and provide age-appropriate care.
Use DNA Tests
In recent years, companies like MyCatDNA and Affordable Pet Labs have begun offering cat DNA tests that can estimate a cat’s age range. These tests analyze your cat’s DNA biomarkers to determine their biological age. According to Pumpkin, these tests examine changes and patterns in a cat’s genes that correlate with aging. The tests provide age estimates in ranges (e.g. 2-5 years old) rather than specific ages.
While DNA tests can provide helpful age estimates, they have some limitations. The estimates may not be incredibly precise, especially for older cats. Environmental factors and health can also affect how a cat’s DNA ages. And DNA tests can be expensive, with costs typically over $100. Still, they provide a non-invasive option for gaining insight into an adult cat’s likely age range when their history is unknown.
Conclusion
As we’ve seen, there are several ways pet owners can estimate their cat’s age if they are unsure. While counting teeth or examining physical condition can provide clues, reviewing veterinary records and knowing your cat’s background and breed specifics tend to yield the most accurate approximations.
Since cats often show few overt signs of aging, estimates usually involve a combination of methods. Work with your veterinarian to evaluate all available information. They can best assess your cat’s health and age-related needs.
Exact age is difficult to pinpoint in cats over 5 years old. What matters most is paying attention to changes that may indicate illness or discomfort. Focus on providing excellent care tailored to your cat’s life stage. With attentive ownership and routine vet visits, your feline companion can enjoy many healthy years.
