How Old is My Cat or Dog?

If you own a pet, you've probably wondered at one point or another how old your dog or cat is in dog or cat years. Perhaps your dog is seven years old in "people years," but does that mean he is 63 in dog years? It can be confusing, but this guide will you help you determine you cat or dog's true age.

How Old Is My Dog in Dog Years?

Most people make the assumption that for every one year in "human years," the dog will age seven years in "dog years." However, research has shown that this is not the best way to determine a canine's true age.

Unfortunately, there is not a single catch-all for determining a dog's age. During the first few years of the dog's life, he ages much quicker than he would during the last few years of his life. Furthermore, different sizes also play into the equation after a dog reaches a certain age in calendar years.

By the time a dog of any size is six months of age, in dog years he is the equivalent of a 10 year old. Once the dog is one calendar year old, he becomes the equivalent of a 16 year old and by the time they are two, in dog years they are approximately 24 years old. However, that's where the similarities stop and the age begins to depend upon the dog's size and breed.

For example, a 6 year old small breed dog, such as a Yorkie, may only be 40 in dog years. However, a Great Dane who was born on the same day as the Yorkie is already 49 years old. The following year, the Yorkie will turn 44 in dog years while the Great Dane is in his mid-fifties at 56.

Unfortunately, there are no specific numbers for each year and it changes from year to year depending on the dog's size and breed. To determine your dog's exact age, click here.

How Old Is My Cat In Cat Years?

Though like dogs, cats ages are often misunderstood. For example, many assume that a cat's age is the number of calendar years times either 7 or 9 (for the cat's "nine lives.") However, this is not accurate and like dogs, cats age quicker during the first year of their life but then taper off through the rest of their life. Unlike dogs, however, cats are a bit easier to determine age for.

By the time a cat has reached one calendar year, he is already the equivalent of a 24 year old. Then, for every year they age after one, you multiple it by 4. For example, a 2 year old cat is 28 years old, while a 10 year old cat is 60 years old in cat years. Cats that reach 20 years of age are an astonishing 100 years old in cat years. For a more detailed chart on cat years to people years, click here.

So when determining a cat or dog's age, realize that it is not a single calendar year multiplied by 7 or 9 or some other crazy number. Dogs age differently just as cats age differently and the charts above should help you determine your pet's exact age.