243
HEALTH
It is often said that one year of a cat’s life equates to seven
years of a human’s. But this does not hold, because life
expectancy for pet cats has risen in recent years. It also
ignores the different rates at which cats and humans
develop: a 1-year-old cat can breed and raise kittens, which
is a far more advanced stage than that of a 7-year-old
child. By about 3, a cat is roughly equivalent to a person in
their early 40s. Each cat year from then on corresponds to
about three human years. Use the chart above to find an
approximate human age for your cat.
1
24
2
0
Cat years
Human years
0
36
42
66
69
72
84
87
90
93
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
20
COMPARING LIFESPANS
How to keep your cat stimulated
mentally and physically as he ages:
Groom your cat daily if he lacks the
motivation to groom himself in old age.
Provide plenty of toys.
Include antiaging antioxidants, such as
zinc and selenium, in your cat’s meals.
Grow cat grass for him to nibble.
If he is trained to walk on a lead, keep
up this exercise for as long as possible.
OVERWEIGHT CAT
If you cannot easily feel your cat’s ribs
or see a waist toward the back of his
abdomen, he is overweight.
Weight problems
Various health problems are associated with obesity, including
diabetes, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, and arthritis
and mobility problems resulting from strain on joints. Weight
gain may also make it difficult for your cat to groom himself.
If your cat is noticeably gaining weight, switch him to a
low-calorie diet, provide fewer treats and meals, and increase
his levels of exercise. Neutered cats are particularly at risk
of weight gain, as are indoor cats, which may not exercise
enough. Outdoor cats can put on weight if other people feed
them, too. Cats usually live longer if they are a healthy weight.
Weight loss is also a cause for concern and should always
be checked by a vet. It may be a sign of a serious disorder,
such as an overactive thyroid gland.
TOP TIPS
Caring for an older cat
Most well-cared-for pet cats can live to the age of 14 or 15,
with some occasionally reaching 20. The trend for cat life
expectancy is climbing, with advances in disease prevention,
a better understanding of diet, improved drugs and
treatments, and more cats being kept indoors.
By about age 10, you may notice signs of aging in your cat:
weight loss (or gain), deteriorating eyesight, dental disease, a
decrease in mobility, less fastidious grooming, and a thinner,
less shiny coat. His personality may change, too, with your cat
becoming easily irritated and noisier, especially at night. As
a senior, he may occasionally feel disoriented and relieve
himself outside the litter box. You may want to start
increasing his regular checkups by a vet to twice a year.
10 11 12
13
14 15 16
17
18
19
81
78
75
63
45
48
51
54
57
60
US_242-243_Health_spread_3.indd 243US_242-243_Health_spread_3.indd 243 11/02/21 7:15 PM11/02/21 7:15 PM
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