Attribute a precise age to a cat is not the easiest and most intuitive thing to do. Knowing how old is more or less is not a single personal whim, quite the opposite it can be very useful when you adopt a foundling, to be able to take better care of it and to know what is the correct diet. By observing some characteristics of the feline, such as teeth, hair, eyes and behavior it’s possible to go back to his age.
Understanding the Age of the Cat: The Physical Appearance
1. OBSERVE THE THICKNESS OF THE HAIR
The consistency of the cat’s fur can reveal a lot about his age. Then touch it to feel its consistency: the kittens have a smooth, soft and thick fur, in the elderly it is more rough and thin, sometimes with some grey hair. We must also remember to evaluate in which period of the year we observe the cat, depending on the season and on the molt his fur changes!
The cat’s silhouette varies with age, as it is often related to physical activity. Young cats being more energetic are usually thinner and more muscular; adult cats begin to have some rolls of fat under their necks or on their backs, while older cats have sagging skin and very prominent shoulder bones.
When a cat get old, its eyes also change: they lose their brilliance and become opaque. Quite the opposite a young cat has lively eyes, an intense and vivid color, and the iris is smooth and regular. In older cats, secretions form in the lacrimal duct more often. If this happens even in the smallest kitten, however, it could be caused by an illness.
The number of teeth, their color and the state of wear are all factors to observe to go back to the age of the cat. For example, a cat under 2 months has only the incisors and the premolars, under 4 months of age it has not yet developed the molars, between 6 and 12 months of life it develops all the teeth. Obviously they are healthy, strong, very sharp and very white teeth. The color begins to change slightly from 3 to 5 years, from here on the teeth become yellowish, for the considerable presence of tartar and it presents with high probability some signs of wear. Older cats also lose their teeth more easily – like the rest of us humans!
Gradually the cat get old, its physical activity will tend to decrease, even if it must always be stated that we should not generalize too much.
Elderly cats are normally quieter than young ones; they prefer a sedentary life, at home, spend more time sleeping and eat little. Quite the opposite, adult cats are full of energy, especially at night, and puppies, on the other hand, alternate repeatedly moments of play with moments of deep sleep, not giving up pauses for refreshment.
By comparing this information with the characteristics of your cat, you will have a good chance of guessing its age, but in order to have more certainties, remember to seek the advice of a veterinaria