When Is a Cat Considered Old?

Although veterinary medicine doesn’t offer an official definition of “geriatric,” and individual cats can age quite differently, most cats are considered geriatric when they reach the age of 15.

However, thanks to advances in nutrition and veterinary care, the average lifespan of domestic cats is increasing, and there are now more senior cats than ever before.

How Old Was the Oldest Cat?

The oldest cat ever recorded was Creme Puff, who was born on August 3, 1967, and lived until August 6, 2005 — an incredible 38 years and three days. Creme Puff lived with her owner, Jake Perry, in Texas, USA.

Another long-lived cat was Puss, who was born in 1903 and owned by Mrs. T. Holway from Devon, UK. Puss passed away on November 29, 1939, just one day after her 36th birthday.

And finally, there’s Grandpa, who lived to the remarkable age of 34. Grandpa Rexs Allen (nicknamed Grandpa) was a Sphynx adopted from the Humane Society in Texas, USA.

According to Guinness World Records, the new record holder for the oldest living cat is Poppy, who was born in February 1990 and lives with her owner in Bournemouth, England.

How Old Is My Cat in Human Years?

The best way to understand your cat’s age is to compare it to the human equivalent. A cat’s first two years equal a tremendous amount of emotional and physical development — the first year equals about 15 human years, and the second year brings the total to around 24 human years.

For cats over two years old, the best formula to use is:

Human Equivalent Age = 24 + [(your cat’s age – 2) × 4]

But if that formula ties your brain in knots, here’s a handy chart to make it easier. 🙂

Our team may have used AI to assist in the creation of this content, which has been reviewed by our editors.