Aging and your cat


Cats usually live longer than most dogs and it is no longer unusual for them to live until 20 or beyond. How long an individual cat will live depends on many factors such as genetics, whether kept indoors or not, type of diet and the veterinary care he or she receives.

The general rule is that at about age 7, a cat is considered to be middle-aged. At age 10 and above, a cat is considered to be a mature cat.

    CAT'S AGE            HUMAN AGE EQUIVALENT   

        6 months                        10 years

        8 months                        13 years

        10 months                      14 years

        1 year                            15 years

        18 months                       20 years

         2 years                          24 years

         4 years                          32 years

         6 years                          40 years

         7 years                          44 years

         8 years                          48 years

        10 years                         56 years

        14 years                         72 years    

        16 years                         80 years

        18 years                         88 years

        20 years                         96 years

        21 years                        100 years

As you can see, a seven year old cat is well into his 'forties'.  Since one year for a cat is equivalent to four human years, many changes can take place in what for us is a fairly short period of time. That is why the American Veterinary Medical Association as well as the American Animal Hospital Association now recommend twice yearly physical exams plus appropriate blood work on all cats who are 5 years old or above.

The Chestnut Hill Cat Clinic recommends a physical exam every 6 months with one of those exams incorporated into our Mature Cat Work-Up. This work-up is a comprehensive set of tests that includes:
    
   *blood pressure
   *urine analysis
   *thyroid function test
   *fecal exam for parasites
   *complete blood count
   *blood profile

Bundled together as the Mature Cat Work-Up means we can offer these tests for much less than they would cost if charged individually.

With this program, many health problems can be caught early and you can take the appropriate steps to ensure continued well-being and a longer life for your cat.