When is a cat considered a senior?

Most cats are considered seniors from about 10 years old, which is roughly 57 in human years. Depending on breed it can be 9 or 11. True old age, the stage vets often call geriatric, starts at around 15 for most cats and as early as 12 for a few breeds.

A senior cat is not a frail cat. Many 10-year-olds look and act exactly as they did at 6. The label matters because this is the age when the common diseases of older cats start to appear, usually quietly.

Cat life stages

These are the stages this site and its cat age calculator use. The ages in the second column apply to domestic shorthair, domestic longhair and mixed-breed cats, which is most cats.

This lines up with widely used veterinary life-stage guidelines, which treat cats over 10 as seniors and the few years before that as mature adulthood. For every age from 1 to 25, see the cat years to human years chart.

Senior cat age by breed

Cats vary far less than dogs, because they do not differ much in size. Of the 28 cat breeds profiled on this site, 20 become seniors at 10. Four shorter-lived breeds reach it at 9 and four longer-lived breeds at 11. The geriatric age varies more. Some examples:

These are typical figures, not deadlines. They track each breed's usual lifespan, which is covered in how long cats live.

What is considered old age for a cat?

It depends on what you mean by old. Senior, from about 10, is the start of later life: the cat is usually well, but the risk of kidney disease, an overactive thyroid, diabetes, arthritis and dental disease is rising.

Geriatric, from about 15, is old age in the everyday sense. A 15-year-old cat is about 77 in human years. Many cats this age have at least one ongoing condition, sleep more, move less and need more help staying comfortable. Plenty of them still have good years ahead.

Before either comes the mature adult stage, from 7 to 9 for most cats. Nothing has to change yet. It is a sensible time to ask your vet about baseline bloodwork and to start keeping a record of your cat's weight, so that later changes have something to be compared with.

Early signs of aging in cats

Cats are good at hiding discomfort, and their aging tends to show as small changes in habit, not obvious illness. These are easy to miss when you see the cat every day:

• Jumping less, or taking the chair to reach the counter instead of going straight up
• Sleeping more, and choosing lower or warmer spots
• A coat that looks greasy, flaky or matted over the back and hips, because grooming is harder
• Slow weight loss, or a spine and hips that feel bonier when you stroke them
• Bigger or more frequent clumps in the litter box, and more trips to the water bowl
• Missing the litter box now and then
• Thicker claws that catch on carpet
• Calling out more, especially at night
• Eating more slowly, dropping food or having bad breath

Some of this is ordinary aging. Much of it can point to something treatable. Reluctance to jump is often arthritis, which is common and under-recognized in cats. A cat that is drinking much more water or losing weight needs a vet visit, because several conditions that cause those signs are far easier to manage when found early. Only your vet can tell you which it is.

When to call the vet sooner

Do not wait for the next checkup if your cat has not eaten for 24 hours, is straining in the litter box or cannot pass urine, is breathing with effort or with an open mouth, vomits repeatedly, suddenly cannot use its back legs, or hides and will not come out. Call your vet or an emergency clinic the same day.

What should change when a cat becomes a senior

Vet checks

Checkups every six months are commonly recommended from senior age, in place of once a year. Vets often suggest blood and urine tests and a blood pressure check at these visits, since kidney and thyroid problems can show up in results before the cat seems unwell. Your vet will advise what is worthwhile for your cat.

Weight

Weigh your cat regularly and write it down. Gradual weight loss is one of the earliest and most useful warning signs in an older cat, and it is hard to see under fur. Report any steady drop to your vet, even if the cat is eating well.

Food and water

Older cats have different needs from young adults, and those needs change again if kidney disease or another condition is diagnosed. See what to look for in a senior cat food, and ask your vet before changing the diet of a cat with a health condition. Put water in more than one place, away from the litter box.

Home setup

• A litter box with a low entry on every floor the cat uses. See litter boxes for senior and arthritic cats.
• Steps or a sturdy stool up to the bed, couch or favorite window
• Warm, padded beds in quiet spots at floor level
• Food and water where the cat does not have to jump or climb stairs to reach them
• Gentle brushing to help with the grooming the cat can no longer manage

Pain relief

If your cat seems stiff or sore, talk to your vet. Never give a cat human painkillers such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen or aspirin unless a vet has specifically told you to. They can seriously harm or kill cats.

Where to go next

The senior cat guide has a health checklist to take to the vet, the conditions to watch for and the senior age for all 28 breeds.

This article is general educational information, not veterinary advice. The senior and geriatric ages given here are typical figures, and individual cats age differently. Decisions about your cat's checkups, diet and pain relief should be made with your veterinarian, and sudden changes in an older cat should be checked promptly.