Here's how to understand what stage of life our cat is in and how to best take care of our pet
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves himHere's how to understand what stage of life your cat is in and how to best take care of it
The comparison between the years lived by a human being and those lived by a cat, we know, shows that cats age much faster than their human friends: even if they live all the seasons of life that also characterize our existence, these last much less than what we live.
An old rumor suggests that, to find out the age of a dog, it is enough to multiply the number of "human" years lived by the animal by seven. This, however, is also incorrect for cats: according to scientists, in fact, the average life span of a cat is 14 human years, corresponding to about 70 feline years.
Cats aging is very rapid in the early stages, but slows down as they age. The period ranging from 3 to 6 years (corresponding to our 24-40 years) represents the age of greatest strength and vigor for the feline, in which its physical prowess is at the highest levels. After this period, the cat reaches mature age (from 7 to 10 years, corresponding to our 40-50 years), in which it puts on some body weight and slows down the pace of its activities. Finally, the phase of old age begins, which would correspond to the age at which humans begin to retire: in this phase, cats need more rest and tend to live a more peaceful life.
(Read also: Forget 7 years, there is a new way to calculate your dog's age)
According to International Cat Care, there are six stages in a cat's life - even if, unlike humans, the feline does not show the typical visual symptoms of aging, such as arthritis or graying of hair: it is difficult to determine the age of a cat, because its aging process is not visible from the external and the animal rarely shows signs of pain or intolerance. Let's see in detail the phases of the life of felines and the correspondence with the human phases:
- 6 feline months = 10 human years
- 2 feline years = 24 human years
- 5 feline years = 36 human years
- 10 feline years = 56 human years
- 12 feline years = 64 human years
- 14 feline years = 70 human years
- 21 feline years = 100 human years
It is, it should be remembered, of indicative intervals, which are also affected by the belonging of our furry friend to one breed rather than another. Furthermore, a cat's longevity and good health also depend on external factors such as nutrition, external environment and lifestyle - as is true for us too. This is why the average life span of a cat is 12-14 years, but there are felines that can be as long as 20 years.
But how to take care of older cats? Just like humans, cats also need more care and attention when they reach an advanced age; moreover, in old age, health problems and pathologies linked to aging may emerge, which require more frequent medical checks. It is important to keep an eye on the weight of our feline, as excessive weight can represent an obstacle to the animal's mobility. Finally, it is good to repeat the vaccinations regularly, as the immune system of cats weakens with age.
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Source: International Cat Care
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