A Cats' Normal Life Span and Age in Human Years

The fact that cats develop and age so rapidly in a short time is both fascinating and sad to the people who love them. Kittens develop to the age of a 15 year old human child in just the first year of their lives. An adult cat in the prime of his life at 32 human years is only four years old. Shocking, isn't it?

The reality is that even relatively long-lived cats don't live as long as we'd like. On the plus side the relative age of cats can differ when factors such as heredity, diet, lifestyle, and veterinary care come into play. Although we can't do a lot about heredity, we can somewhat control the other factors.

Question:How, exactly, is a cat's approximate age determined? We took in a stray cat that we'd been feeding for several weeks, and we are curious how old he is. I know that something about cats' teeth is a clue, but I don't know what to look for, exactly. What are the guidelines for telling your cat's age?

Answer: Because I am not a veterinarian, I can only respond in broad, general terms. While teeth are sometimes a good indicator, they are not foolproof. For that reason, veterinarians prefer to examine the whole cat. Here are a few of the feline organs veterinarians check to determine the age of a cat. . . .read the rest of my response More ?

You will be able to understand your cat's development more easily if you have a general idea of his age in human years. This method and the accompanying age chart will point the way for you.

Keep in mind that variable factors, such as heredity, diet, environment, and physical and medical care may affect your cat's comparative age to that of a human. Although you probably don't have any control over heredity, you do have options for controlling the other factors which control your cat's aging process.

Billy, my "middle cat," pictured here, was about 24 in human years when this photo was taken. More ?

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10:50 AM by Thanapon · 0

Determining Your Cat's Breed

One of the most common questions asked among cat lovers is "What breed is my cat?" The quick answer is "If you don't know already, your cat is likely not of a specific breed, but a domestic cat." An encyclopedia could be written about this topic. However, the most pertinent information related to the question can be summed up for lay people with fewer than a dozen articles.

Read these articles carefully.

Bookmark them for future reference, and one day you will be an acknowledged "expert" if someone asks you "what breed is my cat?" Pictured here is my cat, Billy, a DMH (Domestic Medium-length Hair) dilute gray tabby cat. He somewhat resembles a Maine Coon, however, since his mother was an abandoned shorthair calico cat, therefore definitely not a pedigreed Maine Coon, at the very most, he could be called a "Maine Coon mix."

Read on, and learn the meanings of those terms.

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8:14 AM by Thanapon · 0

Why a Kitten's First Year Is the Most Important

Three to Six Months

Somewhere around four months, your kitten may start losing his baby teeth, as the adult teeth develop. His gums may be painful, and this would be an excellent time to start a program of dental care, by gently massaging his gums with gauze. Plastic drinking straws are also a proven aid to teething, and make for great interactive play with your kitten.

Kittens will start establishing their place in the "social ranking order" of your house during this time.

It is not unusual to see a kitten "challenge" the alpha cat, which usually will earn the hapless youngster a cuff on the ears. Other cats, depending on their own social position and personalities, may defer to the kitten. Your kitten is still growing during this time, and it is not unusual to see a previously plump fluffball of a kitten suddenly grow long and lanky - then taller - and finally flesh out again. Kittens should continue to eat kitten food during this phase of growth - they need the additional nutrients for strong bones, health teeth and supple muscles.

Health Reminder:Your kitten can, and should, be spayed or neutered between three and six months. Cats' sexual maturity can vary, and both female and male kittens as young as four or five months have been known to become sexually active. Although some veterinarians still suggest waiting until six months, advocates of early spay and neuter are proving the benefits of that practice.

Six to Twelve Months

My, how time flies! Your kitten is starting to show the physical and social traits of a fully grown cat.

No wonder - by the age of 12 months, he will have attained the physical growth of a 15 year old human teenager, and he will undoubtedly start showing some of the same personality attributes of that age. Don't allow yourself to brood over hurt feelings if your kitten doesn't seem as responsive to you. Like a human teenager, he is testing the waters of adulthood to see what it feels like. He is also playing a "dominance" game with you, just as he might with another cat or kitten. Be patient with him and give him all the affection and love he will take, but do it on his terms. I guarantee that he will come around when he is ready to stop playing "big guy."

Your feline youngster will continue to grow and develop for another year, and some breeds (Maine Coons are a notable one) are not fully developed for four years.

Whatever the ultimate size of your cat, don't lose site of the fact that his overall health and well-being are of prime importance.

Documenting His Growth with Photos

This is one of the most enjoyable aspects of kitten "parenthood," that of recording his growth with photos. If there is any way you can afford one, I'd suggest using a digital recorder, to capture the inimitable action of a kitten at play. You can not only produce movies with it, but your can clip out frames for still photos. Proud of your growing furball? Share your photos with my readers by sending them to me using the photo submittal guidelines.

Enjoy your kitten's first year, and he will continue to provide unconditional love for many, many years to come!

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5:39 AM by Thanapon · 0

How long should a kitten stay with its mother...

Question: How long should a kitten stay with its mother cat?

My friend's cat just had kittens, and my friend told me that she would let me have one. I'm not sure how long the kittens should stay with their mother, so would you please let me know what is the appropriate length of time a kitten should stay with its mother?

Answer: Thank you for asking! A kitten should stay with its mother for an absolute minimum of eight weeks and preferably 12 weeks.

Although they may be "weaned" prior to eight weeks, they will still have the occasional need to nurse. Kittens taken from their momcats before this time often develop nursing behavior on themselves, other cats, humans, or fabric, and these habits will often continue throughout adulthood.

They also need this time to learn proper cat behavior from their mother cat, including use of the litter box, socializing with humans and other cats.

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2:29 AM by Thanapon · 0