I was looking at cats up for adoption today and really liked one in particular.
Her sheet said she was two years old but to me she looked more mature than that.
I was wondering if anyone knew anything about how they pin the ages on these cats and how accurate it is. Most were listed at around two years old. I'm afraid it's like the default age they just pin onto the healthy looking animals.
Also, I went to the shelter very early in the morning so many of the cats were just waking up. Big yawns all around. Many were missing teeth, a fair amount of them. And their ages were also pinned at around one year to three years old. Should I be concerned about health issues? I've never had a cat that young have problems with their teeth.
2006-12-15 16:35:51 · 8 answers · asked by ljn331 4 in Pets ➔ Cats
they look at the size, markings, and color of the teeth. i think you could actually tell a pretty exact age from looking at teeth. but i think alot of the shelters, make "a best guess" i dont think they take the time out to really get "involved", and crappy as that sounds. take what they give as far as paperwork and bring it to your vet. let them know what you were told and show them the records that they gave you. your vet MAY be able to give a better estimate. i would take what the shelter tells you, with a grain of salt.
2006-12-15 17:14:28 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes it has nothing to do with there ages, when cats are sometimes homeless or abused they will have issues like that. Lack of nutrition an illness etc. are major factors. I have two cats, a brother and a sister I adopted at the same time, they were partially blind from an illness they had before they arrived at the shelter. They were about 6 months old and it was very accurate, they have grown so much and they are healthy. They have the best behavior, they are affectionate, independent, and loving, and many people probably past them up because of the eye thing, but they are some of the best cats I ever had!
2006-12-16 00:44:49 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shelters r usally pretty good on guessing cats ages but they may not be accurate. Teeth missing could be of gum infections or new teeth growing in. You should probaly ask a vet to look at the cat or ask in the shelter!! Good Luck!!
2006-12-16 00:55:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
These are estimations from those that work there and are not accurate. A vet could give a better estimate, but it isn't necessarily right on the money. Buy the cat that chooses you and all of these pets may have simple or complex health problems coming from a shelter. Have a purrfect day.
2006-12-16 00:40:24 · answer #4 · answered by firestarter 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well that's like my Coco cat they check by the teeth but Coco just had her teeth cleaned yesterday because she had bad teeth but I say go for the cat.
2006-12-16 01:36:18 · answer #5 · answered by Mutt-lover 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
o god i never go by what they say their ages are lol... i adopted a dog from a shelter and they said 'o shes just a puppy' about 2 yrs... ha ha ha about 5 mo later she started getting a gray muzzle and she looks a lot older!
2006-12-16 04:28:24 · answer #6 · answered by Brittany 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
they ae pretty accurate...many cats have teeth taken out at any age my frinds cat was only one and nearly all he teeth had to come out due to some gum infection...so yes...go by what they tell you...they have no reason to lie to you
2006-12-16 00:40:01 · answer #7 · answered by free-spirit 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are just ballpark
2006-12-16 00:44:52 · answer #8 · answered by stella4459 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋