How it's calculated
A cat's first year is about 15 human years and the second adds about 9, so a 2-year-old cat is roughly 24. After that, each cat year adds about 4 human years. Unlike dogs, cats don't vary much in size, so one chart fits most cats.
Cat years to human years chart
| Cat age | Human years | Life stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 yr | 15 | Young adult |
| 2 yr | 24 | Young adult |
| 3 yr | 28 | Young adult |
| 4 yr | 32 | Young adult |
| 5 yr | 36 | Young adult |
| 6 yr | 40 | Young adult |
| 7 yr | 44 | Mature adult |
| 8 yr | 48 | Mature adult |
| 10 yr | 56 | Mature adult |
| 12 yr | 64 | Senior |
| 14 yr | 72 | Senior |
| 16 yr | 80 | Senior |
| 18 yr | 88 | Senior |
| 20 yr | 96 | Senior |
Life stages
The feline life stage guidelines group cats as kittens (up to 1 year), young adults (1-6), mature adults (7-10) and seniors (over 10). Senior cats often hide illness well, so checkups every 6 months are common.
Questions
How old is a 15-year-old cat in human years?
About 76.
When is a cat a senior?
From about 11 years old, under the feline life stage guidelines.
Sources
Last reviewed October 20, 2026. Estimates for healthy pets only, not veterinary advice.