Question:
I noticed on a package of Nutro cat food the other day that an "old" cat is considered 6 years of age. I have heard 8 & 10 also mentioned as the beginning of feline old age.
I am wondering, which is correct?
And as w/ humans, I'm sure good diet, exercise & love extend the youthful life of a cat.
Hank is 4 now & I would like to keep her young for as long as possible. I find it hard to believe she has only 2 or so good years left before the signs of aging set in.


Answer:
My vet always told me that when a cat reaches 8-9 years that they need a geriatric workup. I think she was right, since my cats never really showed any signs of aging until approx. 8 years (sometimes older).


Answer:
I think the cats lifestyle & diet really makes a huge difference in the onset of aging. I've seen cats that look much older than they really are b/c of a 'rough' life. If your cat has always been fed a healthy diet and has an active lifestyle, that'll slow the aging process dramatically. After 10 yrs they might need a diet that's easier to chew & digest. Also if you have your cat checked by your Vet yearly, you'll catch problems early. Brush her teeth and that'll save alot on Dentistry as well.
I personally don't think there is a 'set' age that a cat becomes a senior. If it was 6 yrs like the bag of food says.. then my 2 cats only have a year before they start to decline.. and I see no signs of that!


Answer:
I have a 14 year old, 11 year old and a 10 year old here. All fit as a fiddle! The only one that shows her age a bit is the 14 year old. She has a little cloudiness in her eyes and a very saggy belly LOL


Answer:
In my experience cats are "mature" in the 6 - 10 year range, and old age only starts setting in seriously around age 12 or so. As you know, I recently lost two cats at age 15, both to tumors. My surviving cat is 18 this month (if I'm calculating correctly). He is definitely showing signs of age, being unsteady in his walk and losing almost all his muscle. He is aging very fast in the past year. We have some friends with a cat who is 20, and looks it. Cats have been known to live to 25 I believe, but anywhere from 15 - 20 is more normal, and they will be very much like old humans at that age, frail, finicky in their eating, with more illness, tumors, etc, very sensitive to cold, and sleeping most of the time.


Answer:
I guess it depends on the company. Some label "old" as 7 Years, and there are also those who say a cat isn't a kitten anymore starting from 8 months when most companies say it's a year.


Answer:
Orangey is 11 and he started showing his age this year. I think 8-10 is average for most cats to start slowing down, but again it all depends on how they lived their life.