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.

   According to the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) at age 7, a cat is considered to be a senior. At age 10 and above, a cat is considered to be geriatric.

    CAT'S AGE                                                                 HUMAN AGE EQUIVALENT   

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

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

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

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

        1.5 years ....................................................... 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 its '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. That is why the American Veterinary Medical Association as well as the American Animal Hospital Association now recommend twice yearly physical exams plus appropriate blood work on all cats who are 7 years of age and older.

The Boston Cat Hospital recommends a physical exam every 6 months with one of those exams incorporated into our Senior Wellness program. This work-up is a comprehensive set of tests that includes
    
*complete blood count
*blood chemistry profile
*thyroid function test
*urine analysis
*blood pressure

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