Domestic Cats Age the Same Way As Humans, Study Finds

By Danial Martinus • 26 Jun 2026 in News

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Your pet cat might actually be ageing the same way as you in the way its brain deteriorates over time, according to a joint study between the University of Bath, Auburn College of Veterinary Medicine, and École Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse.

This striking similarity between cats and humans could give scientists a better understanding about ageing and age-related diseases, despite the shorter lifespan of cats compared to their human counterparts.

In fact, this benefits research, since it basically shows ageing at a much quicker rate.

Cats and humans share very similar brain changes associated with ageing

Examining 3,754 data points collected across cats, humans, and other mammalian species, researchers found similar changes in brain structure specifically between domesticated cats and humans.

Among the similarities commonly associated with ageing, scientists found that both cats and humans experience overall brain shrinkage, expansion of the ventricles (the hollow parts of the brain filled with fluid), as well as other structural changes.

“It was interesting to see that cats show patterns of age-related brain atrophy similar to those observed in humans,” said PhD candidate Brier Rigby Dames. “These findings add to growing evidence that companion animals can provide valuable insights into ageing.”

While we normally use simple ratios to compare human and cat ages, where one year in cats is equal to 15 human years for example, researchers used a more sophisticated biological method that more accurately depicts the reality of ageing.

Using this method, researchers found that ageing patterns later in life align very closely between the two species. But a cat in its mid-teens is the equivalent to a human in their 80s.

What’s more interesting is the fact that domestic cats are one of only a handful of species that typically reach the equivalent of human old age.

Others include elephants, giant tortoises, and killer whales, to name a few. Unlike cats, though, the age ratio of the other species mentioned closely matches that of humans, sometimes exceeding them. In cats, ageing is basically accelerated, but they still go through the same changes humans do.

The researchers believe that veterinary and human medicine should work more closely together, especially when it comes to domestic cats. This could help scientists figure out how to improve health in old age, and even get a better understanding of conditions like dementia.

And yes, in case you didn’t know, animals can get dementia in old age too. Further research could benefit both humans and other species.

Click here to check out the full study.