(ORDO NEWS) — When we buy a kitten, we know exactly its age. But what about a cat picked up on the street or taken from a shelter? Luckily, there are some easy methods to find out how old she is.
If you do not know the date of birth of a pet, then you can still find out its approximate age. To do this, you need to examine the cat, checking its teeth, coat and weight.
The body of a cat also changes with age, just like in humans. We can guess the age of a person by some external signs, but with cats, things are more complicated – here you have to conduct a more detailed examination.
How to find out the age of a cat by teeth
Teeth play a key role in determining a cat’s age. A kitten’s milk teeth begin to appear when they are about 2 weeks old. By 8 weeks, kittens have all their milk teeth.
When the kitten is 4 months old, these teeth begin to fall out, and adult teeth grow in their place. Typically, the process of changing teeth in cats is completed by the time they are 7 months old. After that, it becomes more difficult to determine the age of the animal.
If your cat’s teeth have already changed, try assessing their condition. The degree of wear and tear, as well as the buildup of tartar, can help you determine the age of the animal. A small amount of tartar may indicate that the cat is 1 to 2 years old. The more tartar, the older the cat.
- By the age of 2, a cat’s teeth may turn slightly yellow.
- In an animal between the ages of 3 and 5 years, the teeth may become increasingly yellow.
- In a cat aged 5-10 years, teeth usually turn noticeably yellow.
Worn teeth lose their sharpness and look duller. Some of their ends may even have been broken off.
- At the age of 5, a cat’s teeth may show signs of wear.
- Between the ages of 5 and 10, these signs become clearer.
- Cats over 10 years old tend to have heavily worn teeth, and some are even missing.
Puberty
The degree of a cat’s puberty can help determine its age. Males usually reach maturity by 6 months. Females reach sexual maturity with their first estrus (oestrus cycle), somewhere around the age of 5 to 9 months.
At this time, cats usually make loud noises designed to attract males. Cats are considered to be most fertile between the ages of 18 months and 8 years.
Weight and physique
The age of kittens can be determined by their weight. It is believed that they gain about half a kilo every month. This means that by 3 months, kittens weigh about 1.5 kilograms, and by 4 months – about 2 kg.
However, this method is not very reliable. If the animal is not perfectly healthy, its weight will not accurately correlate with age.
Most cats grow to their adult size by one year old. But some breeds, such as the Maine Coon, can gain weight up to 4 years.
Young cats have better muscle tone because they are more active. Older cats may be more bony on the rump or shoulder blades and more saggy skin.
How to tell the age of a cat’s fur
The fur of kittens is usually short and thick – in young cats it is thin and soft, but becomes thicker and coarser with age.
Its color may also change, as it may darken or become lighter. Older cats often turn gray. Younger cats also take a closer look at their fur, and older cats often fail to take care of their coats as carefully.
Sometimes dental problems that can cause discomfort to a cat prevent her from taking care of her coat. Weight gain may be another reason pets stop grooming their fur.
A chubby cat is no longer so flexible and mobile. Arthritis can also make grooming your pet impossible because any tangle can be very painful.
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