M/LAB · TOOL 04

How old is your cat, really?

Forget the silly “multiply by seven” formula.

Life stage is more useful than pretending a cat maps neatly onto a human age.

M/04 — LIFE STAGES

A more useful way to think about age.

These broad stages are practical guides, not diagnoses. Individual cats age differently.

Birth to around 1 year

Growth, learning, social development and preventive care dominate this stage.

Around 1 to 6 years

Energy, play, territory and stable routines are often central.

Around 7 to 10 years

Small changes in weight, activity, teeth, sleep and mobility become more useful to notice.

Around 11 to 14 years

Comfort, mobility, easy access to resources and regular veterinary follow-up matter increasingly.

15+ years

The goal is quality of life: warmth, access, appetite, hydration, mobility and familiar routines.