Cats go through three main stages of aging.
Their nutrition needs, activity levels, and veterinary care will vary during these three stages.
Kittenhood
Kittenhood lasts from birth to one year. This year, especially the first six weeks, marks the fastest growth of a cat's life. A diet of kitten food (at least for the first nine months), regular veterinary care, and training, all set the standards for future health and well-being. All newly-adopted cats of unknown parentage, including kittens, should be immediately examined by your veterinarian.
Kitten's First Vet Visit
If you have other cats in the home, your kitten should be isolated until his first vet visit. Your veterinarian will perform a thorough "hands-on" physical exam on the kitten. In addition, your kitten may possibly get their first Core Vaccines.
During the maintenance years of one to approximately 10 years, growth has ceased, and the activity level may start declining toward the end of this life stage. A nutritious diet of adult food, exercise with interactive toys, and routine veterinary care will help guarantee your adult cat's continuing good health. By this stage your cat will have ceased the rapid growth of kittenhood, and have stabilized their overall size and weight, however your responsibility for them has not ceased. These years are crucial, because it is during this period that the first tendencies toward age-related disease can show up, such as feline diabetes, arthritis, or heart disease. It is important to routinely examine your cat at home, to spot any potential problems, such as lumps, ear mites, and excessive weight gain.
Senior Years Cats are generally considered seniors at the age of 10 years. Senior cats suffer many of the same conditions and diseases as older humans, but careful management can vastly improve both their potential life span and their quality of life. Depending on several factors, cats may enter their senior years sometime between eight and ten years of age. Veterinary care becomes increasingly important, in order to detect early symptoms of diseases which target older cats.
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