Did you know that there are a lot of different ways to tell the age of your cat? In this blog post, we will discuss three methods that you can use to determine how old your cat is. The first method uses teeth, the second relies on body type and weight, and the third involves looking at their eyesight. Which one do you think would be best for determining an approximate age? Let’s take a look.

By Sammy Lamb

for Assorted Ideas, Large & Small

Honestly, determining the exact age of your cat is usually impossible. Few land in our homes with birth certificates or any other kind of ID. As a result, we rely on a variety of methods for teasing out the information, and best you can hope for is a good general idea. And that’s enough for making decisions about food and overall health.

Here are three ways. Use one or another or all three, and you should have the answers you need.

Teeth Method

The first method for determining the age of your cat involves looking at their teeth. The American Veterinary Medical Foundation states that “the color and appearance of a cat’s gums roughly correspond with its age.” After you have adopted your new feline, take note of how dark or light their gums are in comparison to the rest of their mouth. If the gums are pale, your cat is likely less than a year old; if they are pink, your cat is around one to three years old; and if they are dark red or black, your cat is more than four years old. This may not be the most accurate way to determine your cat’s age,

Your Cat’s Age Method #2  

The second way to find out how old your cat is by looking at their body weight and type. The Humane Society of the United States states that cats who are thin, bony, or weak probably aren’t older than five years old; those with a bit more weight on them might be between six to ten years old; and if your pet has “plump” muscles and joints, they are likely more than ten years old. This is not an exact science, but it can give you a general idea of how old your cat might be.