Cats Age Chart

In general, cats live longer than most dogs. An average life span might be 12 to 18 years, with some cats reaching 20 and more.

A cat's longevity depends on whether or not it lives indoors or is allowed outdoors (outdoor cats live an average of 4 to 6 years).

Find out the age of your cat in "human years" with the chart we provided below.

Feline life expectancy depends on many things, but the most important factor is whether the cat is an indoor-only cat or an outdoor cat.

Life expectancy varies significantly between the two.

The life expectancy of an indoor cat is generally 12 to 18 years.

Many indoor cats may live to be in their early 20s. The oldest cat in reported history was 28 years old at the time of death.
Outdoor cats generally live to be around 4 to 6 years of age.

Their deaths are typically due to traumas such as being hit by a car or being attacked by another animal.

Outdoor cats are also more susceptible to deadly viruses that are spread by fighting or prolonged intimate contact with an infected cat. 

The general consensus is that at about age seven a cat can be considered "middle-aged", and at age 10 and beyond - old.

It was once generally thought that one year in the life of the cat was equivalent to seven years of a human life.

A new scale of equivalents is now recognized: after the first two years, the cat's life proceeds more slowly in relation to human life and each feline year is approximately four human years.

Use the chart below to determine your cat's age in relation to a human's.