Cat Life Stages: Providing the Best Care for Your Cat at Any Age

Junior Cat Stage (Six Months to Two Years)

The junior life stage is equivalent to human adolescence. During this stage, a cat loses their babyish appearance as they reach physical and sexual maturity. They also outgrow their kitten personality and settle into their true temperament.

• Appearance. As they transition out of the kitten lifestage, a junior cat sometimes goes through a bit of an awkward stage as they experience growth spurts that leave them looking long and lanky.
• Behavior. This is a transitional cat lifestage, during which they should start settling down and growing out of rambunctious kitten behaviour and learning to behave more like an adult cat. By the time they reach about 18 months of age, they'll likely be much calmer.
• Care and training. The vaccination schedule established with your vet should be continued. As your kitty outgrows their kitten behaviour and settles into adulthood, they'll need less supervision. Training at this stage is generally about reinforcing rules and boundaries and continued socialisation.
• Nutritional needs. At one year of age, it will be time to transition from kitten food to adult cat food. Whether to start feeding adult kibble or canned (wet) food is really a matter of personal preference. Either way, a standard adult cat formula should meet all their nutritional needs. It's not uncommon for cats at this stage to put on extra weight after being spayed or neutered, so they'll need to be monitored to make sure they're not being overfed. Your veterinarian should walk you through what to expect after the procedure if you choose to have them neutered.

Prime Cat Stage (Three to Six Years)

At this stage, your cat is in the prime of their life — about the equivalent of a human in their twenties and thirties.

• Appearance. A cat at this stage should be at the peak of health and physical fitness. They're as long and tall as they're going to get, and should be filled out but not overweight, with a sleek body and a healthy, shiny coat.
• Behavior. By now your kitty should be fully settled into their natural adult temperament, which varies from cat to cat. Barring the development of any behaviour-altering illnesses or disorders, the personality your cat displays now is the personality they'll have for the rest of their life. They should be active and playful, with their routines and territory well-established.
• Care and training. Although they’re in peak health, caring for adult cats in their prime should still involve regular health checkups. By this point, your cat should be fully trained, although they may test boundaries from time to time and need to be gently reminded of the rules. If a cat hasn't outgrown problematic behaviour at this stage, you may need to consult a professional trainer for help to correct the behaviour, and check with your vet to make sure the undesirable behaviour doesn't have an underlying medical cause. If you choose to adopt an adult cat, you can still train them. Cats, unlike dogs, are more independent in nature, so it may seem difficult to train your cat, but it's definitely possible so just be patient with them.

Mature Cat Stage (Seven to Ten Years)

A mature cat is about the equivalent of a middle-aged human in their forties or fifties.

• Appearance. Outwardly, your mature cat might appear no different than a cat in their prime, especially if they remain active. Cats in this life stage are more prone to weight gain and obesity, however, so it's not unusual for them to put on weight, and their coat might begin to lose some of its sheen.
• Behavior. Although some cats remain active and playful well into their senior years, it's not unusual for a mature cat to slow down and become more sedentary.
• Care and training. As with a younger adult cat, you may need to reinforce training from time to time, but not often. Caring for cats at this mature stage is more involved, as they are not only at higher risk of obesity and obesity-related health problems, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, but their risk of cancer and other illnesses like kidney or thyroid disease. They should get regular checkups with the vet and also be closely monitored at home for signs of illness, such as weight loss, unusual vomiting or diarrhoea.

• Nutritional needs. Mature cats require a range of nutrients to keep their body in tip-top shape. This includes vitamins C and E to boost their immune system. If they’re prone to packing on a few extra pounds, you may need to adjust their food to accommodate their activity level or choose a food designed for inactive cats.

Senior and Geriatric Cat Stage (Eleven Years and Older)

Cats in their advanced years are separated into two cat life stages. Those from eleven to fourteen years of age are considered senior cats, which is about the equivalent of a human in his sixties and seventies. Ages of fifteen years of age and older are considered geriatric cats.

• Appearance. Senior cats are likely to show signs of ageing, such as developing more white in their fur and losing lustre in their coats. These features may grow more pronounced as they continue to age.
• Behavior. Cats in these advanced cat lifestages are at increased risk to the conditions and illnesses mentioned in the mature stage, and are also prone to mobility issues caused by arthritis or other joint problems. This may cause your cat to slow down considerably, and it may also cause them to stop using the litter box, especially if it has high walls that are hard to climb over or is in a hard-to-reach location.
• Care and training. Caring for senior and geriatric cats can be a challenge. Your elderly cat should continue to receive regular health checkups and be closely monitored for health problems. At this stage, the main focus is to keep them comfortable and as healthy as possible for as long as possible. Be sure the litter box is easy for them to get in and out of and that their food and water are easy to get to. Many ageing cats go on to live long lives in their senior life stage and can be quite active, but their playtime may not last as long. The good news is that they may be more willing to cuddle, strengthening your bond even further.
• Nutritional needs. If your cat develops health problems, your vet may recommend a dietetic cat food as part of their management plan. Otherwise, a quality senior cat food formula should sufficiently meet all their nutritional needs. If your cat isn't drinking enough water, your vet may recommend switching to moist cat food in order to help them stay hydrated.

As you can see, cats go through a number of changes throughout their lives. By knowing the current lifestage of your cat, you'll be able to tailor their care for optimal health, nutrition and quality of life so you two can continue to experience the joys of life together.