Don't know how to determine the age of a kitten and think that only experienced specialists can do it? It's not difficult at all!

It is enough to find out some information, stock up on time, and even the owners of the very first animal in their life can easily do this.

Fluffy and smooth-haired, big-eyed and not very big, small and large - kittens are different.

But they are all adorable, no matter what breed they belong to, no matter what appearance and character they have.

However, it also happens that these cute creatures find themselves on the street.

Kind people pick up babies, after which one of the first questions is the thought: "How old is my new pet?"

Of course, you can find out from familiar specialists, consult a veterinarian.

But the easiest way is to try to determine the kitten's age at home.

It will be easy to determine the age category of any kitten at home

Signs by which you can establish the age of a kitten

So, you have set aside time, a pet next to you.

By what signs can you determine the number of months of a pet?

As a rule, there are five of them in total:

• Size and build
• Eyes and ears color
• Behavior

Size and build

Undoubtedly, different breeds of cats are different, which have their own characteristics.

Nine months is the stage when the development and growth of this animal ends, the pet becomes an adult.

Important! Than larger breed, the longer the kitten grows. The growth period also depends on the gender of the baby: it takes a few weeks longer for a cat.

Much depends on the breed characteristics of the animal.

Eyes and ears color

All kittens are born blind.

The normal time to start opening them is 2 weeks from the moment of birth, although some babies manage to do this from 10 days.

Many cat owners do not know that all kittens are born with dim blue eyes.

Between the second and third months of life, the iris of the eye changes color, but in some breeds it remains blue or acquires a darker, blue tint.

Thus, if the eyes of the animal are open, have a gray-blue or just a dim blue color, then the age of the baby is less than 2 months.

As for the ears, they can also serve as an important factor in determining the age of a kitten.

As a rule, all newborn cats have ears pressed to the head.

This is due to the fact that at birth and until 5-8 days, the ear canals are closed.

Hearing locators of kittens straighten out more slowly than their eyes open, so only in the second or third week the ears will completely straighten.

And not in vain, because many pets also change milk teeth for molars, like people, at a certain period of life.

It is by such an important factor that one can easily determine the age category of a four-legged friend.

A newborn kitten has no teeth. The baby gets its first milk teeth in two to three weeks.

The anterior incisors appear first.

At three to eight weeks, the animal's milk canines erupt (they are located on the sides of the incisors).

The sides of the jaws filled with teeth, the appearance of small molars indicate the age of five to six weeks.

In total, kittens have 26 milk teeth, including 4 canines, 12 incisors and 10 small molars.

Important! If you can't see the teeth of a small kitten, try gently touching the gums.

Molars are darker in color than milk teeth

Beginning at the age of four months, baby teeth fall out.

The incisors are replaced by the first ones.

Up to six months, the pet acquires molars, and then molars (distal molars) and premolars (they are located between molars and canines).

As soon as you notice that all the pet's teeth have changed to molars, this can mean one thing: the pet's age is over 7 months.

There are 30 molars in a cat: 4 molars, 10 premolars, 4 canines and 12 incisors.

Baby behavior is an important factor in determining the age category

Behavior

Finally, you can try to determine the age of the kitten by its behavior.

However, it is very important to know that each cat has its own individual character.

That is why a factor such as behavior can produce erroneous results.

Nevertheless, we will consider the main points inherent in certain age periods of a kitten.

If the baby does not respond or reacts weakly to external stimuli, does not rise on its paws and crawls, feel free to note for yourself that the little pet is not even three weeks old.

Upon reaching this age, the pet begins to stand firmly on its feet, learns to land on them, and observes the environment with interest.

At one month, the baby walks confidently, he has a desire and desire to explore the world, the animal shows interest in games.

Five weeks of age brings with it the ability to run.

Confidence in actions appears, coordination improves, activity increases.

The seventh and eighth week of life is manifested in courage and great interest in what is happening.

The kid runs, plays a lot, jumps, often tries to actively communicate with residents: people, other animals.

Puberty in cats brings big behavioral changes

At the age of five months, the pet's behavior may change slightly.

The kitten may meow loudly, try to get out into the street.

This is the first sign of puberty.

In the period from five to six to seven months, changes in the appearance, behavior and body of the pet occur.

Right now, the animal can bite, so you should treat it carefully.

By the age of seven months, the pet is sexually mature.

Even if you managed to determine the age of the pet yourself, you need to consult a doctor

Who can confirm our assumptions?

If you are not an expert, or at least have not had cats in your home before, it is very important to make sure in your assumptions about the age of the pet.

There are two ways out:

• Contact the breeder

The former owner or breeder has been keeping an eye on your new friend since he was born.

Therefore, for sure the first owner will accurately advise you on the age of the kitten.

However, what to do if a pet is found on the street?

• We go to the veterinarian

Of course, it is an experienced specialist, and especially a specialist in small animals, who will easily, but accurately tell you the age period of a young four-legged pet.

Plus, even if you've dealt with cats in the past, veterinarian assistance is never overwhelming.

Sexual characteristics in cats appear from birth.

At what age can the sex of a kitten be determined?

In fact, the question of the age period in which the sex of a kitten can be determined is quite common.

So when is it possible to determine if you have a cat or a kitty?

The answer is simple: kittens have sexual characteristics from birth, which means that already from two weeks of life (it is not recommended to pick up babies who are less than a crescent) it is really possible to establish the sex of the pet.

Remember that a pet of any age will be the happiest with the right care.

The kid will certainly give all his love in exchange for your care.

How to determine the age of a kitten: Useful Tips for the owners

Don't know how to determine the age of a kitten and think that only experienced specialists can do it? It's not difficult at all! It is enough to find out some information, stock up on time, and even the owners of the very first animal in their life can easily do this.

In most cases, the owners of the cat know about the number of years of their pet. But there are situations when the question of how to determine the age of a cat becomes very acute. This often happens if a cat needs to have a veterinary passport, and she got into the house from the street or was taken from an animal shelter.

Determination of age by the condition of the teeth

Age determination pet due to the condition of the teeth, this is perhaps the most common way to resolve this issue. The teeth of cats of absolutely any breed are identical, for this reason the way of assessing the age of a cat by general condition teeth, as well as their presence, is the most versatile.

The age of kittens is determined by the number of teeth. One has only to know the correspondence of the age of the cat to the period of growth of milk teeth or the period of their change to permanent teeth.

Kitten age and tooth growth:

• The period from the second to the fifth week - the incisors appear.
• The period from the third to the eighth week of weeks - canines appear.
• The period from the fifth to the twelfth week - molars appear.
• From the third to the fifth month - change of milk teeth for permanent ones.

The condition of the oral cavity in adult pets depends in part on their lifestyle and living conditions, as well as on the diet. An important role is played by care, as well as the characteristics of cat breeds. Some breeders regularly brush their pets' teeth and limit their diet in favor of healthy eating, which has a positive effect on the condition of the teeth and the whole body of the cat.

If it is necessary to determine the age of a cat with already formed teeth, a set of age-related changes in the enamel of the teeth (yellowness, plaque), the condition or presence of incisors, the presence of dental deposits, and a number of other signs from the list below are added.

To determine the age of a cat by the teeth, you can rely on the following signs:

• In one year, all teeth are in good condition, with the exception of damage to the integrity of the tooth during an injury.
• Starting from one and a half years - signs of yellowness appear on the enamel.
• At the age of two, the middle and central incisors in the lower jaw are worn out.
• Two and a half years - signs of dental plaque.
• At four years old, the middle and central incisors, which are on upper jaw, begin to wear off.
• By the age of five, signs of wear appear on the canines.
• At the age of seven, the central and extreme incisors located on the lower jaw are erased.
• From eight to nine years - the central and middle incisors, located on the upper jaw, with clear signs of abrasion.
• Ten years - the beginning of the period of loss of the incisors of the lower jaw
• Twelve years - the beginning of the period of loss of the incisors of the upper jaw
• Thirteen to fourteen years of age - missing all incisors
• From the age of fifteen, the cat loses its fangs, teeth may be completely missing.

Judging by the above lists regarding age-related changes in a cat's teeth, it is not difficult to find out how old a pet is. Today, this method is considered the most accurate, but it still needs to be considered in conjunction with other signs of age-related changes in the animal.

Age of the cat by eyes

The age of a cat can be determined by its look. While for young cats, the expression of interest and curiosity in their eyes is considered a sign of good health, then for mature cats a calm and attentive gaze becomes the norm.

As in humans, in cats, along with other age-related changes, the lens of the eye acquires characteristic signs... With a return, it fades, which can be explained by the possible development of cataracts. It leaves its mark on the cat's eyes and the iris, which also fades with age, sometimes spots or patterns appear on it.

Purulent discharge from the eyes - frequent problem cats at a respectable age. The animal's immunity to infections weakens slightly with age, so if you have discharge or increased lacrimation, you should contact your veterinarian. Of course, young cats can have an eye infection, but in old age, furry pets suffer from this ailment much more often.

Estimating a cat's age by the condition of its fur

The fur of the animal has a different degree of density, not only depending on the season, but also on the number of years lived. Of course, cats are not prone to baldness, but standing up can tell a lot about a pet's lifestyle and age. Guided by the following points, you can draw easy conclusions.:

• Young cats have thick and smooth fur.
• In older animals, the wool covering becomes less frequent, and the fur is stiffer
• Like humans, cats may show signs of gray hair as they age.

Cat's body condition

Age-related changes affect the entire body. If at the initial stage of life, the body of the animal is well developed, which is due to young age and constant physical activity, then in old age the body of the cat is noticeably decrepit.

Evaluating a cat's body condition can tell a lot about the years it has lived.:

• Young cats are muscular and thin
• Middle-aged cats are no longer as active and usually well-fed, but the muscular corset is still well formed
• Cats, behind which a dozen years lived, can remain plump. But their age is given by the bones of the shoulder girdle, which begin to protrude strongly. In very old cats, the skin becomes flabby and begins to sag, forming wrinkles and folds.

Cat behavior

You can also find out the age of a cat by its activity. The influence of age affects not only appearance petbut also on his habits. Young cats, just beginning their life, are curious and playful, they are interested in everything new. Middle-aged cats already have life experience, they still show interest in everything new, but they are very circumspect and have well-established habits. Elderly cats are also not devoid of interest in the world around them, but they can no longer actively move and sleep more often than awake.

With age, cats often begin to show aggression towards strangers, this is associated with increased anxiety and fearfulness. Also, older cats often suffer from a number of chronic diseases, which worsens their well-being, and communication with a curious stranger does not seem to them a good idea against the background of general malaise.

The litter box and the age of the cat

If a young cat refuses to use the litter box, then this problem may have several constructive solutions, but what if an adult cat began to refuse to defecate in the place designated for these needs? There may be several reasons for this.:

• Stress... Elderly cats are very sensitive to changing surroundings. Even changing the usual filler to another can create discomfort.
• The cat may start walking past the designated area due to problems with vision or smell.
• Kidney and liver disease, inflammation urinary tract often lead to untimely bowel movements, in which case the cat, in addition to health problems, may begin to feel guilt and fear of punishment. It is better not to aggravate the situation and create the most comfortable conditions for the animal.

Age ratio of cats and humans

Although this item is not a determining factor for age, many owners are asking themselves this question. Everyone knows that with age, a person loses a number of abilities that are inherent in a young body. Aging of a cat's body, unfortunately, is inevitable and it occurs much faster than in humans.

The most common way to compare the age of a cat and a person is to multiply the full years of the cat by seven. However, many felinologists disagree with this method and believe that it is the age of the cat can be compared by comparing the age of the pet and its owner according to the following principle:

• A cat one year old - a fifteen year old man
• A two year old cat is a twenty four year old person
• From age three to twelve - one to four
• After twelve years - each subsequent year is equal to three years

Thus, it turns out that the cat reaches average age by about eight years of age. But this indicator is by no means accurate, because proper care and a balanced diet largely determine the state of the feline organism and directly affect the life span of a furry pet. Therefore, many cats live much longer than twelve to fifteen years, while remaining active and cheerful.

VETERINARIAN CONSULTATION REQUIRED. INFORMATION FOR REFERENCE ONLY.

When choosing a method of treating a disease of a kitten or an adult cat, when looking for a dosage of drugs, vitamins and supplements, it is required to determine the age of the animal. If there is no opportunity to contact the specialists of the veterinary office, you will have to do it on your own.

Determining your age is not as difficult as it seems. It is necessary to act step by step, analyzing and comparing the data of some physiological parameters of the animal. Determining the age of a kitten is much easier than finding out how old an adult is.

Show all

What indicators can be used to determine the age of a kitten

Since the age of six months, the cat's body lives adult lifewhose age is much more difficult to determine.

Up to six months, the age is determined by a layman quite accurately - with an error of several weeks to a month.

You can judge the age of a kitten or an adult cat by the following indicators:

• some elements of appearance;
• examining the kitten's teeth;
• in the eyes;
• according to the ratio of weight and size of the cat.



Honoring the cat in Ancient egypt - interesting Facts

Appearance

Small kittens can be easily identified by their age and many parameters, first of all, by the condition of the umbilical cord. If there are traces of it, we can conclude that the kitten is not more than a week old.

Little kittens have specific physique. Until the age of one month, the physique is disproportionate: with a sufficiently large head, miniature ears, short and weak legs. When the kitten reaches the age of one month, the body and legs are extended. The ears are also small, the head fits into the general proportions.

By one and a half months, the eye color begins to match the general coat color.

In a two-month period, the body is stretched, in a three-month period, the ears increase in size.



Mustache

Whiskers have an important function in a cat's life, helping to navigate in space.

Starting from the age of nine, the mustache turns gray, vibrissae begin to be seen among the dark ones.



Tooth changes

Just as new teeth gradually grow in a human child, teeth in a kitten do not appear at the same time.

Kittens are born without teeth, from the second week their first milk teeth begin to erupt. At 2-4 weeks incisors erupt, canines appear at 3-4 weeks, and premolars appear at 6-8 weeks. The kittens don't have molars, that is, molars. In total, animals have 26 milk teeth, which differ in structure and color from the permanent ones.

Starting from 3.5 months, milk teeth are replaced with permanent ones. The process starts from the first and second cutters. From the fourth month - premolars; from the fifth - molars. From 5.5 months, the canines on the upper and lower jaws are replaced. From the fifth month, the rudimentary canines begin to change on both jaws. The process takes up to 7 months. Like a human change of teeth, the process is individual and can last up to 9 months. In males, it begins earlier than in females.

So, an adult has 30 permanent teeth:

• 12 incisors are divided into sixes of the upper and lower jaws;
• 4 canines - two on each jaw;
• 10 premolars;
• 4 molars.

Knowing and clearly distinguishing the sequence of appearance and names of teeth will help to recognize the age of a kitten by the teeth that have appeared or erupted. An illustration will help you not to get confused in the names and positions of the teeth.



When determining the age of a kitten, you should pay attention to his behavior... If your pet ruins the upholstery by chewing it, hunts for laces and gnaws at them at night, this may be a sign of teething. When teething, there is a need to chew toys, bedding, and other objects that interest the animal.

It is really possible to determine the age of the baby by the appearance of teeth, but if the animal is an adult, this approach can fail. For a matured individual, the condition of the teeth will indicate age only approximately. An old cat can have both sick and dilapidated teeth.

Changes in the dental formula after changing milk teeth can be taken into account in a comprehensive analysis with other indicators in determining the age of a cat.

By the age of one and a half, the main lobes of the first incisors of the lower jaw are fully formed. According to average indications, there are data characterizing the abrasion of teeth, however, due to the specific features and subjective indicators of the life of an adult cat, they may not coincide with the real situation. If the lobes of the first and second incisors on the lower jaw are erased, then the cat is already at least 2–2 years and 5 months old. The lobes of the first incisors on the upper and lower jaws wear off by the age of 3 years and 5 months. If a cat has the lobes of the first and second incisors of both jaws erased, then he is at least 4 years and 5 months old. If the lobes are present only on the canines of the upper jaw, then the age of the animal is close to 5 years and 5 months. If the surface of the incisors is oval, the age of the cat is about 10 years. The loss of the first and second incisors on the upper and lower jaws is typical for 12 years. The loss of all incisors is typical for the age of at least 16 years.

Eye color

Eye color changes throughout a cat's life. If this factor is not taken into account for individuals of certain breeds, in which the color of the eyes, given from birth, no longer changes throughout their life, then this will help to approximately determine the age of the animal.

The eyes fully open in kittens approximately at the age of 10-14 days. The eyes should be the same size and fully open. If one eye is noticeably different from the other, then with some certainty it can be argued that the kitten is not more than 1.5 weeks old.



Eye color also indicates the maturity of the cat. Kittens of all breeds only after opening have a blue iris. Subsequently, the color changes to another, called "true feline" - it is green or yellow, sometimes amber. The color change process starts at the age of three months. The final color is acquired by animals in six months.

The change in the iris of the eyes is not so noticeable: only the shade of the baby blue changes. In such cases, determining the age of the animal by eye color is difficult.

There are a number of cat breeds that have blue eyes for the rest of their lives. These are Polynesian, Siamese, Neva, Sphinx, Balinese, Ojos Azules, White Angora, Neva Masquerade cat. For individuals of the listed breeds, it is impossible to determine age by eye color.

Animal size and weight

If the animal does not serious diseases to determine age, it is permissible to use indications of size and weight.

Recommendations for the ratio of the age and size of the cat should be taken taking into account the fact that a particular individual could be born slightly larger or smaller than the average. If this fact takes place, then a deviation of 2–3 centimeters from the average readings is permissible:

• If the length of the kitten, excluding the tail, is no more than 12 cm, then it can be argued that he has just been born.
• The body length without tail is 15 cm, then the kitten is about 4 weeks old.
• About 20 cm body length is an indicator of 3 months.
• From the age of two months, boys may be larger than girls in physique. With a teenage cat size of 23-24 cm, it can be assumed that the age is about 4 months. A five month old baby girl will measure about 25 cm.
• At the age of six months, the main growth of the animal stops, the length of the body, excluding the tail, is about 26–27 cm. Boys are 2 to 6 cm longer.

In the system of calculating the weight of a cat, the data of the weight of a newborn is taken as the starting indicator - it is 90–100 g. The deviation to subjective factors is accepted in 20–30 g. The weight is gained by a cat before reaching the age of two.

At the end of the first week, the approximate weight of a kitten is about 113-115 g. By the end of the second week, it increases to 200 g, by the end of the third - to 280 g. In subsequent weight changes, it grows much faster. By the end of the fourth week, its weight is 370 g, at the end of the fifth week - 450 g.



The indications given in the recommendations are conditional and approximate. A healthy kitten with proper nutrition and care increases every week by approximately 100 g. Having reached six months, the cat develops more slowly. Noticeable changes in weight will occur once a month. Even with abundant feeding per week, the animal gains insignificant weight. The parameters of weight, height, eye color and other characteristics are set very conditionally, therefore, to obtain more accurate information, it is necessary to compare the data different methods determination of age.

Determining the weight of an active, curious pet is quite realistic at home. The maximum activity of a kitten occurs at six months. This period lasts up to one and a half years. As time passes, the animal becomes calmer.

Even the smallest kitten will never be happy without proper attention from its owner. For psychological balance, it is vitally important for a baby and an adult animal to be caressed and stroked, talked to them or simply addressed them by name, showing that they are not forgotten and are in the zone of your warm attention. Every day for at least a short period of time! Necessarily!

Most cats reward their owners a hundredfold for any signs of attention and pay them the deepest loyalty throughout their lives. But just fondling your pet pet every day is not enough, you must provide him with both hair care and good living conditions, and provide him proper nutrition, according to his health condition and age.

How do you know the age of your purr? Let's see the options.

Find out the age. First option.

There is nothing easier than finding out the age of your domestic kitten by opening the metrics obtained with him. We open it, find the date of birth, look at the calendar, calculate the days, weeks and months from the specified date to the present day and get the extremely accurate age of the mustachioed striped, born and raised at home.

This method is the most accurate for determining the age of a cat or cat, unless, of course, there is no reason not to trust the seller-breeder and if your pet is not a "foundling-found". This is the first option, how to calculate the age of a cat or calculate the age of a cat.

And what to do in case of "foundlings"? Are there any other options!

Find out the age. Option two.

Found a kitten or stray cat should be taken to the veterinarian. Not only will he give advice on the general condition and health of the newly acquired animal, he may know if someone has filed an announcement about the loss of a kitten or cat (cat). This is important! No matter how sorry it is to part, the animal will have to be returned to the owner.

Will the vet be able to determine that this is the owner who lost the kitten, and the kitten is the one that was lost? Of course, cats can look like crazy, they can even be indistinguishable in external signs, but their teeth will be different. According to their biological age and conditions of detention.

The veterinarian can calculate the age of animals by:

• age-related changes in coat
• the size and condition of the lens of the eye
• width and strength of the claw plate
• the ratio of age and condition of skeletal muscles and bones
• the number and degree of teeth grinding by years.

Find out the age of the kitten by the teeth

The doctor knows that cats have milk and molars (permanent) teeth, and the formula of milk teeth differs from the formula of permanent ones.

Dental formula of milk teeth:

3 incisor 1 fang 3 premolar - upper jaw (1/2)

3 incisor 1 fang 2 premolar - mandible (1/2)

Total: 6 incisors + 2 canines + 6 premolars \u003d 14 milk teeth in the upper jaw;

6 incisors + 2 canines + 4 premolars \u003d 12 teeth in the lower jaw.

Total: 26 teeth in a kitten up to 5-5.6 months old.

If your foundling has 27 or 28 teeth, then the cat is about six months old.

By 9-12 months, the pussy is almost mature and can show you all of its 30 gorgeous teeth!

Dental formula of an adult cat:

3 incisor 1 fang 3 premolar 1 molar

3 incisor 1 fang 2 premolar 1 molar

How teeth change

In a small kitten, by the end of the first, the beginning of the second month (4-5 weeks), the first, sugar-white, small and very sharp milk teeth erupt.

By 12 weeks, all the others appear, indicated by the formula.

At 20-24 weeks (5-6 months), milk teeth change to permanent ones, which ends by 9-10 months.

The first to change are the canines (from 4-4.5 months to 5-5.5 months) and incisors (from 4-4.5 to 5.5-6 months)

Molars undergo a renewal stage up to 6-6.5 months.

The change of teeth in the lower jaw, as a rule, is ahead of the renewal of the upper teeth in time, hence the "tolerances" by 1-2 weeks.

At about 5 months old, the first molar of the upper jaw erupts between the incisors in young cats and cats.

The last molars to change are the 3rd maxillary premolar and the 4th mandible.

All! All 30 new teeth are in place! And now you know a little less about feline "tooth construction" than an experienced specialist in felinology.

How else are there secrets?

Experienced doctors and felinologists, when determining the age of a cat by the teeth, must also take into account the degree of "wear" of the edge cutting edge. Grinding of this edge, the level of destruction of the cutting surface of the tooth directly depends on the age of not only people, but also cats.

Age-related changes and conditions:

Central incisors are erased in the upper jaw - the cat (cat) is a little over 3 years old.

Middle incisors are erased - from 4 to 5 years.

Are the extreme incisors worn out? - 6 years old.

Half-grinding of upper middle teeth - 9 years.

In the lower jaw the central incisors were erased - the animal was from 1.5 to 2 years old.

Average? - 2.5-3 years.

Heavy grinding of middle incisors by more than half between 7 and 8 years.

Fangs feline ones are rounded at the ends, dull - the first signs of enamel wear - from 5 years and older.

Loss of teeth begins at the age of 10.

By the age of 12-15, all incisors from both the upper and lower jaw fall out completely.

The method for determining the age of a cat by teeth, the degree of the ground surface or their absence is quite accurate, but it is better to trust the specialists in this case too. The specialist will determine in what conditions the animal was kept and draw conclusions taking into account this "discount". If the pet's life flowed in bliss and care, then the teeth will correspond to the lifestyle. With good care, cats can live up to 30 years old, and begin to lose teeth only after 15 or even 20 years.

Option three, available to every owner.

If a foundling came to you at an indefinitely early age, and you find it difficult to determine its age by the teeth, then you should wait until the young lady is drawn to "buns" and, starting from this time, calculate the age of the kitten.

In cats, depending on the breed and constitution, puberty occurs at 6-10 months. Then the first cry-invocations begin. Of course, you won't knit your clear-eyed beauty in the first heat, but you can guess your age.

Around the same time, a young cat (8-10) begins to mark, so if you are not a fierce opponent of castration, then it is advisable to deprive the cat of the opportunity to sprinkle the cat's scent as early as possible.

Fully domestic kittens will grow and form no earlier than a year, and especially large specimens (breeds) of kittens grow up to the age of 16-18 months, then the time will come for fatherhood and motherhood.

Street cats begin their sexual life much earlier, earlier and grow old, lose their teeth earlier, die earlier ...

The age of the cat and the age of the person. How to calculate?

It is always nice to see how a girl or a boy carefully wraps their (perhaps the first in life!) Kitten in their own scarf and gently presses this treasure to their chest.

The look stops when an old woman, someone's grandmother, sits on a village bench, and the same old cat is curled up next to her or on her lap.

Both squint their eyes from the last warm rays of the autumn sun and both bask in memories, leading an inaudible dialogue with each other. Only an old hand from time to time strokes the fur of his old companion with a habitual movement, and she also habitually lifts her head to say: “Murrr! I totally agree with you!" Neither give nor take - a scene from the nursery rhyme: "Aunt Trot and the cat." Meanwhile, the cat may even be much older than Aunt Trot!

For cats, there is a "time of calculation", which does not coincide at all with the time in which a person lives. Every year - for seven years! This, of course, is a conditional indicator, but it is close to recalculating the age of a cat for human years. Experts are confident that such a comparison is possible, if you do not take into account the "kitty" age. That is, after a year, the cat's year can be counted according to this scheme. There is a special calculation for the little ones, but even here the opinions of felinologists differ. Look at the table below for the age of cats, conventionally imagining a calculator "multiply by seven".

Which one you like more, that one you can use to calculate the age of the cat.

The main thing is not in determining the exact age of your pet until the day and hour, and certainly not in the question: "How many years will she live?" The age of cats by human standards is not long, alas! The main thing is your love and care for him. And this is especially important not even for cats, but for your own children! By fostering in a child feelings of compassion, responsibility and the ability to take care of who is smaller and weaker (and grows next to the child!), We ourselves in old age will never have to regret that we have raised such callous, indifferent and irresponsible children. But it all started once with a kitten wrapped in a scarf ...

The appearance of a pet in the house is not only positive emotions, but also an additional responsibility that falls on all family members. The desire to know the age of the animal in this case is not an idle curiosity, but a vital necessity. After all, if for a 6-year-old cat, drowsiness and clumsiness is the norm, then for the owners of a three-year-old pet it is an alarming signal, indicating a serious malaise. An experienced veterinarian knows how to determine the age of a cat and will be able to do it in no time, but you can open the veil without it.

How to determine the age of a cat by its behavior?

The determining factor in this case is the appearance of the first signs of puberty. This makes it easier to calculate the age of a young animal. If your kitten every day more and more loudly declares its desire to go out for a walk, and small puddles of urine began to appear throughout the house, then this means that he is about 7 months old. It is at this age that cats begin to hunt. With cats, the situation is different - the instinct of reproduction is manifested in them at 8-9 months of life.

How to determine the age of a kitten by sex is understandable, but what to do with an adult animal? You will have to take a closer look at your pet and thoroughly study its habits. The principle is simple: the more active and mobile an animal is, the younger it is. Conventionally, the life of a sexually mature cat, like that of a person, can be divided into several periods.

Youth

This period occurs when the cat is one year old. Outwardly, she no longer looks like a kitten and reaches her "adult" size. The movements cease to be clumsy, smoothness and gracefulness appear. Despite this, the young age of the cat is easy to calculate by its playful behavior - it still runs a lot, hides, tries to catch the tip of its own tail.

Youth

Onset at about 18 months and lasts up to 5 years. This is the heyday of the cat's vitality, especially when it comes to purebred representatives of the cat family. It's time to give offspring and win at various exhibitions. During this period, the animal is distinguished by strength, agility and tirelessness.

Maturity

When the cat turns 6 years old, her behavior will change again: she will become more sedate, restrained and a little lazy. Perhaps due to the fact that right now the consequences of insufficient care and malnutrition are making themselves felt. The first symptoms of diseases of the kidneys, liver, organs appear gastrointestinal tract... From time to time, the animal still jumps from the windowsill to play with the owner, but more often it only looks at him indifferently.

Old age

The wilting period comes to cats at the age of 10-12 years. They become clumsy again, so they prefer to sleep most of the time. In addition, old people do not adapt well to new living conditions, so even such a trifle as changing a tray or bowl can become real stress for them. I must say that this is a very optimistic forecast, which is more likely to concern animals living on the full support of a loving owner. Street cats are less fortunate - they rarely live to such a ripe old age.

Of course, it is not always possible to determine the age of cats only by their behavior. There are breeds that behave like mischievous kittens until very old age, and there are breeds that can “sleep through” all their youth. Therefore, if you are wondering how to find out the exact age of a cat, it is better to focus on physiological features, which will be discussed below.

How to find out the age of a cat by its external parameters?

The first thing that catches your eye is, of course, the condition of the animal's coat. Young hunters can boast of a thick fur coat, through which it is almost impossible to see the skin. Bright color, characteristic shine and clearly expressed pattern - all this testifies to the fact that in front of you is a healthy animal in its prime. With age, the coat will become more and more dull, the boundaries between colors will no longer be so noticeable. So the retired striped Matroskin is likely to change his vest for a more or less monophonic gray quilted jacket.

It is interesting! Complete baldness, which, for example, elderly men are so afraid of, does not threaten old cats, but gray hair is a completely natural phenomenon. Gray gray is especially noticeable on mature dark-colored animals.

You can tell a lot about a cat's age by its physique. The six-month-old "teenager" is still somewhat awkward and thin. Closer to the year, its relief will become more expressive and plastic. Cats meet maturity with a round tummy, their muscles lose their tone and even feel flabby to the touch. Quite a little time will pass, and the owner will see a 10-year-old man next to him - the cat will become thin, his back will sag, and his shoulder blades can be seen even with the naked eye.

Now you can probably easily determine how old the cat you meet on the street. But all these are only approximate guidelines, and if you want to know the age of the animal with an accuracy of up to a year, you will have to take a closer look at it.

A clear and clean look is characteristic of young cats. With age, the cornea darkens, the iridescent rim changes color and becomes dull. Inflamed eyelids are a sign of an elderly animal that often has watery eyes.

Take the paw

Kittens' pads are soft and silky. Over time, the skin on the paws coarsens, becomes rough. But if you notice pronounced wrinkles or even cracks on the pads of the paws, then there is no doubt - in front of you is an old cat. Taking an elderly cat by the paw, you can see the growths.

Another point to focus on is the claws. To explore them, gently push thumb on the pads. Young individuals can boast of sharp long claws. With age, they will become fragile, so they will often break and are unlikely to grow back much. Having picked up a cat on the street, you may eventually find that he has no claws at all. This may mean that the previous owner performed an operation to remove them. If only a few claws are missing, you are holding a venerable old man by the paw - he lost his fragile claws in the struggle for life, and new ones at such an old age no longer grow.

If you notice a change in behavior, don't ignore these cues based on how old your cat is. Source: Flickr (Sylvia_Wrigley)

Look into the mouth

How to find out how old a cat is? Count how many pairs of teeth he has in his mouth and assess their condition. When the kitten is one month old, milk teeth begin to erupt. This process does not last long: at the age of 8 weeks, he will have a full mouth of milk incisors, canines and molars. In total - 13 pairs or 26 sharp white teeth. As soon as they all cut through, the process of replacing them with permanent ones will immediately begin. Six months from the date of birth, the cat's mouth will have 30 permanent teeth.

Up to a year, they will have an impeccable white color, but over time, tartar will begin to appear, which will lead to darkening of the enamel and the appearance of yellow plaque. When the pet turns 1.5 years old, the teeth will begin to wear off. How to find out how old a cat is? The incisors located on the lower jaw are the first to be hit. After another 2 years, the first signs of wear of the upper incisors will appear. If you opened the mouth of the animal and saw that not only the incisors, but also the fangs were significantly erased, then this cat celebrated its 5th anniversary not so long ago.

How old would your cat be if he were human?

A cat that lives among people for a long time becomes not just a pet, but a full-fledged member of the family, therefore, his age is of interest to all household members. How is age considered in cats? We used to think that one cat year equal to seven human. That is, the age of the cat was simply multiplied by 7. This approach can hardly be called objective. To compare an adult one-year-old cat with the development of a seven-year-old child is, at the very least, incorrect. Therefore, felinologists (specialists studying the physiology and anatomy of domestic cats) have derived a different formula. The approximate ratio of felines and human years presented in the table.

After a cat reaches the age of two, each year of its life is equal to five human years. A five-year-old cat can be roughly compared to an adult 40-year-old lady. After this milestone, the counting rules change again and one feline year is equated to four human years.

The average life span of a pet is 15 years. By human standards, this is about 75, but there are exceptions. Many well-groomed cats, from an early age living under the care of a person, easily survive the 16-year-old milestone and live side by side with the owner until the age of 20.

It is interesting! Among cats, as well as among people, there are centenarians. Two of the most famous cases of late: the cat Fluffy from Texas, who lived to be 38, and Lucy from the UK, who celebrated her 40th birthday.

If you don't want to part with your furry friend ahead of time, try to provide him with the most comfortable conditions:

• Make sure that the animal always has access to clean drinking water (this will help to avoid kidney disease).
• Feed him wholesome food rich in animal protein.
• Eliminate cheap dry foods from the diet (they contain too many grains that are difficult to digest and entail problems with the gastrointestinal tract).
• Make sure you have a warm sleeping house (cats are very afraid of cold floors and drafts).
• Sterilize the animal in time, otherwise unsatisfied instincts will inevitably cause hormonal disruptions.
• Don't forget about vaccinations and regular prevention of helminths.

Remember - we are responsible for those we have tamed. If you notice a change in behavior, don't ignore these cues based on how old your cat is. Protect your pet from stress, show it to the vet every six months and be sure that your pet will certainly celebrate its 100th anniversary!

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