We are used to humanising our companion animals - attributing our desires and emotions to them and even making up lines for them in imaginary conversations. We feel the same way about the age of pets. Indeed, they go through a life cycle that is very similar to that of humans - from childhood with their mothers to senile illnesses. Although its stages in cats are still significantly different from ours in terms of duration and ratio. Nevertheless, people have figured out how to determine the age of a cat in human years.

As OBOZREVATEL has found out, most often the cat's age is simply multiplied by seven. Although in the first year, supposedly equal to seven years for humans, a young kitty can already become a mother for the first time. That is, there are serious discrepancies here. Nevertheless, this is one of the most common ways to calculate a cat's "human" age. And with the passage of time, these scales really do approach each other, and a 10-year-old cat is really already considered an animal of respectable age, almost like a person of 70 years.

There is also a slightly more complicated formula for calculating. For example, cats under 5 years of age are credited with one calendar year for seven "human" years, from 6 to 12 years of age - a year for four, and then a year for three. According to this approach, a 10-year-old cat is already equivalent to a 53-year-old person. Here is a table that allows you to compare the numbers if you prefer this approach.

But these are all conventions that arise from a great love for the animal and a desire to get closer to it. In fact, veterinarians say that under conditions of home keeping and good care, a cat can live and remain active and healthy for 12-15 years or even more. Thus, the longest-lived cat among felines is considered to be Krim Puff. She lived with her owner in Austin, Texas (USA) for 38 years and 3 days - from 3 August 1967 to 6 August 2005. This achievement is recorded in the Guinness Book of Records.

If you don't know your cat's age for sure and want to understand its activity and care needs, it's best to consult a professional veterinarian. The doctor will estimate the cat's age based on the condition of its teeth, coat, behaviour, and certain diseases. And he will give all the necessary recommendations.

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL told how to understand your cat's body language.

Subscribe to OBOZREVATEL's Telegram and Viber channels to keep up with the latest news.