How old is your pet in human years?
Forget times seven. Dogs and cats race through their first two years, then slow down, and big dogs age faster than small ones. This uses the charts vets use.
In human years, about
37
Mature adult
The chart
| Age | Cat | Small dog | Medium dog | Large dog | Giant dog |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| 2 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
| 3 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 32 |
| 5 | 36 | 36 | 37 | 40 | 42 |
| 7 | 44 | 44 | 47 | 50 | 56 |
| 10 | 56 | 56 | 60 | 66 | 78 |
| 12 | 64 | 64 | 69 | 77 | 93 |
| 14 | 72 | 72 | 78 | 88 | 108 |
| 16 | 80 | 80 | 87 | 99 | 123 |
Questions
Is one dog year really seven human years?
No. Dogs grow up much faster than that at the start: a one-year-old dog is roughly a 15-year-old person, and a two-year-old about 24. After that each year counts for 4 to 9 human years, depending on the dog's size.
Why do big dogs age faster?
Large and giant breeds have shorter lives, so each year after the second counts for more. A 10-year-old Chihuahua is about 56 in human years; a 10-year-old Great Dane is about 78.
How old is a cat in human years?
About 15 at one, 24 at two, and 4 more for every year after that. A 10-year-old cat is about 56, and a cat of 16 is about 80.
When is my pet a senior?
Cats from about 10 or 11. Dogs from around 6 for giant breeds to around 10 for small ones. Vets suggest a check-up every six months from then, as problems come on faster.
Older pets wander, and get confused
Senior dogs and cats are more likely to get lost, and less likely to find their way back. A PetTag on the collar lets whoever finds them reach you in seconds, from any phone, with no app.
See the tagsSources (2)
Every pet is different: these are averages, and your vet can tell you more.