Nowadays cats tend to live longer - the average life-span of a 21^st century cat is estimated at between 10-15 years. There are many contributing factors, including better diet, care and medical advances. Cats mature very early. After one year they are fully developed and have reached sexual maturity. So you could say that the childhood of a cat is very short when compared to humans. Indeed the first two years of a cat's life is when the relative age difference between humans and cats is geatest.

Using the form below you can compare your cat's age to relative human years. Remember that this conversion is only an approximation; but it is a useful tool to help you understand the physiological changes which your cat undergoes as she ages.