Cats usually live longer than most dogs and it is no longer unusual for them to live until 20 or beyond. How long an individual cat will live depends on many factors such as genetics, whether kept indoors or not, type of diet and of course the appropriate veterinary care he/she receives.

CAT'S AGE              HUMAN AGE EQUIVALENT   

6 months.............................. 10 years

8 months ............................. 13 years

10 months ............................ 14 years

1 year  ................................. 15 years

18 months ........................... 20 years

2 years  ............................... 24 years

4 years ............................... 32 years

6 years ............................... 40 years

7 years ................................44 years

8 years ................................48 years

10 years ...............................56 years

14 years................................72 years

16 years ...............................80 years

18 years ...............................88 years

20 years ...............................96 years

21 years ..............................100 years

As you can see, a seven year old cat is well into his 'forties'. And since one year for a cat is equivalent to four human years, many changes can take place in what for us, is a fairly short period of time.

This is why our Doctors recommend a physical exam every 6 months for cats over the age of 8.

This work-up is called a Geriatric Exam and may include one or more of the following:    
*blood pressure
*urine analysis
*thyroid function test
*fecal exam for parasites
*complete blood count
*blood profile

With this program, many health problems which are not readily detected in other ways can be caught early on and appropriate steps taken to ensure continued well-being and a longer life for your cat.