Cat Life Stages:
Kitten to Senior.

Cats do not age at one steady pace. A cat packs most of its growing up into the first two years, then ages more slowly through its adult years before older-age changes begin to show. Knowing which life stage your cat is in helps you feed, plan vet visits and spot changes at the right time.

Vets group cats into stages by age. Two sets of definitions are widely used, and they are close but not identical. This guide uses both, so you can see where your cat fits whichever one your vet follows.

Cat life stages at a glance

The boundaries differ by a year or so between sources. They all describe the same gradual slope, so use the stage your vet uses for your cat.

The American Animal Hospital Association and the American Association of Feline Practitioners describe these ranges as "arbitrary demarcations along a spectrum," not hard rules. A healthy 11-year-old may still be treated as a mature adult, and a cat with health problems may need senior-style care sooner.

Kitten (birth to about 1 year)

This is the fastest-changing stage of a cat's life. Kittens open their eyes within the first couple of weeks, are weaned onto solid food over the first couple of months, and swap their baby teeth for adult teeth by around six months. They need kitten food, a series of vaccinations and early vet visits.

• Vet visits: a first check around six weeks, then visits every few weeks until the core vaccine series is finished at about 16 weeks.
• Feeding: a food made for kittens, in small, frequent meals.
• Also plan for: spay or neuter timing, parasite prevention and microchipping. Ask your vet what suits your kitten.

Want week-by-week detail? See our kitten age chart.

Junior and young adult (1 to 6 years)

Cats are fully grown and at their most active. Many guides split this period into a junior phase, up to about two years, and a prime phase from about three to six. The main health goal here is keeping a healthy weight, because energy needs often drop after spay or neuter while appetite does not.

• Vet visits: at least once a year, even when your cat seems perfectly well.
• Feeding: most cats move from kitten food to adult food at about one year.
• Watch for: weight creeping up, tartar on the teeth and a change in litter box habits.

Mature adult (7 to 10 years)

A mature cat looks and acts much like a younger adult, but the first age-related changes can start to appear quietly. Weight gain is common at this stage, and so is the first sign of dental disease. This is a good time to begin a closer routine with your vet.

• Vet visits: yearly at minimum. Many vets add bloodwork and a urine test so they have a baseline to compare against later.
• Feeding: adjust portions to activity. Some cats do well on a formula for less active adults.
• Watch for: drinking or urinating more, weight loss or gain, vomiting, or a rougher coat.

Senior (over 10 years)

From about ten or eleven, age-related health problems become more common, including kidney disease, diabetes, dental disease, an overactive thyroid and some cancers. Cats are good at hiding illness, so regular checks matter more than ever.

• Vet visits: at least twice a year.
• Home comfort: low-sided litter boxes, ramps or steps to favourite spots, and warm places to rest.
• Watch for: changes in sleep, vocalising, litter box use, appetite and how easily your cat jumps.

Read more in When Is a Cat Considered Senior?

Geriatric (15 years and older)

Some guides give cats of 15 and over their own stage. Care continues the senior approach, with an even stronger focus on comfort, easy access to food, water and litter, and close monitoring. Plenty of cats reach their late teens and beyond, and a few go much further. See how long cats live and the oldest cats on record.

How life stages relate to "cat years"

People often ask how old their cat is in human years. The honest answer is that the conversion is an estimate, not an exact science, because cats age fastest in the first two years. Our guide to how cats age and our human-years article explain the numbers, and the PurrAge calculator does the maths for you.

Does breed change the stages?

The stages above are a general guide, and breed can change when problems show up and how long cats live. See our breed lifespan guides, for example Maine Coon, Siamese and Ragdoll.

Frequently asked questions

What are the six cat life stages?

Many pet care guides list six: kitten, junior, prime, mature, senior and geriatric. The AAHA/AAFP guidelines use five: kitten, young adult, mature adult, senior and end of life.

At what age is a cat considered a senior?

The AAHA/AAFP guidelines treat cats over 10 as senior. Some guides start the senior stage at 11 and add a geriatric stage from 15.

How often should an adult cat see the vet?

At least once a year. Senior cats should be seen at least every six months, and sooner if they have a health condition.

Is a 7-year-old cat old?

Not yet. At seven a cat is entering the mature adult stage. Most cats are still active and healthy, but it is a good age to start more careful monitoring.

Do indoor and outdoor cats age differently?

Their stages are the same, but cats that roam outside face more risks, such as traffic, infections and injuries. Cornell's Feline Health Center recommends keeping cats indoors, using an enclosure, or supervised outdoor time with a harness.

— This article is general information, not veterinary advice. Talk to your vet about your own cat.

Sources

• AAHA/AAFP Feline Life Stage Definitions (2021)
• Hill's Pet: Cat life stages
• Cornell Feline Health Center: What to expect when adopting a feline friend