How to Determine Your Cat's Real Age

There are more ways to determine your cat's age than chronologically. Other factors such as health, risk of disease and behavior can help determine your kitty's "real age" in human years. Here are some things to consider.

Instructions

1. First of all, what is your cat's age in human years? If you don't know the exact age, give your best guess based on what you know of your cat's history or what vets have estimated.

2. What is the gender of your cat? If female, is she spayed? If male, is he neutered? If your cat is spayed or neutered, he or she is at less risk for developing certain cancers.

3. Is your cat an indoor cat or outdoor cat? Indoor cats tend to live longer in general.

4. What is your cat's breed? Certain breeds are more prone to certain illnesses. If your cat is a mixed breed, what breed(s) does he most resemble? This may be a way of determining what illnesses he may be prone to.

5. What is your cat's body shape? If your cat is plump and you can't feel the ribs or can barely feel the ribs, she is at more of a risk for developing certain illnesses.

6. Does anyone in your cat's household smoke indoors? If so, that will increase your cat's "real age."

7. As far as oral hygiene, do you provide your cat with dental treats and/or brush his teeth? Does your cat have bad breath, tooth loss, bloody gums, discolored or yellow teeth or is unwilling to chew hard food? Dental health is a vital component of your cat's overall health.

8. How often do you take your cat for a regular checkup? (Don't count visits for illness, unless it includes a full exam with blood work.)

9. What vaccinations has your cat had, and are they current? Do you provide your cat with flea/tick and heartworm preventative?

10. What health conditions (if any) does your cat have? For example: anemia, anxiety, bladder problems, joint pain, hearing problems. What diseases (if any) does your cat have? For example: cancer, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, skin or food allergies. What infections (if any) does your cat have, such as respiratory, skin or urinary tract?

11. Does your cat have parasites such as heartworm, ear mites, fleas/ticks or ringworm?

12. What types of food do you feed your cat? For example: dry food, wet food, food recommended by your vet, homemade cat food, people food, kitten food, senior food, weight control food, treats, prey such as mice and birds, trash, plants and flowers.

    If feeding a commercial cat food, what type? Premium brand and natural cat foods are normally better than a store brand or whatever happens to be on sale.

13. How do you determine how much to feed your cat? By instructions on the package, advice from your vet, measure out the correct portion and feed the same amount every day, keep bowl filled to the top or the cat lets you know? How often do you feed your cat? For example, a set number of times a day such as once, twice or three times, you leave the food out or whenever the cat lets you know he's hungry.

14. What is your cat's activity level? Example: Highly energetic, frisky and playful, leisurely, alert, yet apathetic or lethargic. How often is your cat active for short bursts of time?

15. How often does your cat play with toys, play with other cats, play with you, run around the room, chase birds, pounce on "prey?"

16. When you go for a drive do you have your cat sit on your lap, stay in a cat carrier, sit wherever she wants or you never take her in a vehicle? If you said on your lap...buzz-z-z-z...wrong answer. Wherever she wants can lead to trouble as well. A cat carrier is safest.

17. How does your cat get along with other pets? Does he play often, ignore them, interact when necessary, show aggression or avoid them?

18. How does your cat react to meeting new people? Does she hiss, hide, jump on their laps, play, circle in a friendly way, attack their legs or react differently to different people?

19. What behavior problems (if any) does your cat have? For example: house soiling, roaming, fighting with other pets, marking, scratching, hissing, aggression, biting, destructive behavior when left alone, excessive meowing, trash rummaging, counter surfing.

20. Do you agree, disagree, strongly agree or strongly disagree with each of these statements? Time spent with my cat is important. My cat is part of the family. My cat provides companionship. My cat is a soothing presence. My cat is aloof, but I love him/her anyway. Strongly agreeing is a good answer for all of the above and can help increase the real age of both your cat and yourself.

Tips & Warnings

• Purina offers the CatAge Test, which the above questions are based on. You can calculate your cat's "real age" according to the information you supply (see Resources below).

• The CatAge Test is sponsored by a pet food company, so keep that in mind if they suggest you change your cat's diet.

Resources

• CatAge Test