You may not be aware of this, but a cat’s age is not the same as human age counts. A pet owner must know how to tell if a cat is old (แมวแก่ดูยังไง) or not yet.
Cat life stages
There are 4 stages of a cat’s life. The stages follow the age range, such as:
- Kitten. It starts from birth to 6 months.
- Adolescent cat. 7 months to 2 years.
- Mature cat. 3 years to 10 years.
- Senior cat. 10 years and above.
How to tell how old a kitten is?
- Teeth. Check that the teeth are present. Here is a guide to cat dental stages:
- no teeth. 0–2 weeks
- baby teeth. 3–6 weeks
- adult teeth. 3–6 months
- Eye color. All newborn kittens have blue eyes. The color changed around 6 to 7 weeks.
- Size. Lightweight and tiny until 4 months old.
- Mobility. The kittens start walking at 3 weeks old. They become playful when they reach 6 to 8 weeks.
Factors to tell how old a cat is
There are ways to tell a cat’s age. It starts with obvious size differences and moves to a more subtle criterion. So, how old is a cat? Some characteristics help estimate a cat’s age.
Body changes
It is easy to tell if it is still a kitten or a cat. The sure ways to recognize a kitten are through its:
- cute little paws
- tiny noses
You will notice a change in the body when a cat gets older. An adult cat is a little less firm.
Teeth
The common way to know a cat’s age is by checking their teeth. It is the best method for a more accurate estimate. The kittens have baby teeth that fall out when adult teeth grow in. The process is usually around 6 months.
Younger cats have white teeth, which pinpoint the age. You will see more wear and tear as cats get older.
Skin and fur
Skin and fur are indicators of a cat’s age.
Kittens have smooth and soft coats. An old cat has a thicker and coarser coat. The young cats spend more time grooming their coats.
Using a hair coat to factor in estimating the age of a cat without a history is difficult.
Tail
The cat’s tail grows with them. A cat stops growing around 2 years old. Some cats are born:
- without tails
- extremely short tails
- lose their tails due to a previous incident
Eyes
You can see a bit about their age by looking into the gorgeous eyes of a cat. A young cat has bright, beautiful eyes. Their eyes get cloudy when they get older. However, some old cats stay have a bright eyes.
It is a normal aging change that does not need treatment. Some stay bright as kitten years.
Eye color guide
Kittens. You kittens have blue eyes, yet their color changes as they age.
- Adult cats. A variety of eye colors, depending on their breed.
- Senior cats. Older cats develop a cloudiness in their eyes.
Hormonal changes
An unspayed female kitten starts going into heat as early as 4 to 5 months of age. Some telltale signs when in heat are:
- mating calls
- territorial marking
- spraying
- wanting to escape outdoors
Mobility and activity levels
A sweet kitten loves to play and hop all around. An old cat spends more time sleeping.
FAQs
Can cat whiskers tell the age of a cat?
A cat whisker does not change as they get older.
What helps a cat live longer years?
A cat achieves a maximum life expectancy if they are provided with:
- great nutrition
- exercise
- regular vet appointments
- lots of love
