An estimate based on average aging. Breed, health and lifestyle all play a part — your vet knows best.
Your pet's age in human years
This converts your dog or cat's age into human years, using modern science instead of the old myth.
What the terms mean
- The ×7 myth — multiplying by 7 is inaccurate: pets age fast early, then slow down.
- The modern method — the first year ≈ 15 human years, the second adds about 9 more (≈24), then each later year adds roughly 4–5. Large dogs age faster than small ones.
How to use it
Use it for a fun but realistic sense of your pet's life stage — handy for knowing when senior care (more frequent checkups) makes sense.
Common questions
Why isn't it just ×7?
Pets mature very fast in year one, then slow down, so a flat ×7 gets the life stages wrong.
Do big and small dogs age the same?
No — large and giant breeds age faster and have shorter lifespans.
When is a pet a senior?
Roughly 7+ for many dogs (earlier for giant breeds) and about 10+ for cats; your vet can advise.
How pet years really work
The old “multiply by 7” rule is a myth. Pets age fast early in life, then slow down — and larger dogs age quicker than small ones. CanMyPet uses a more accurate model:
- Year 1 ≈ 15 human years
- Year 2 adds about 9 more (≈ 24 human years)
- Each year after adds 4 (cats & small dogs) up to 7 (giant breeds)
That's why a 10-year-old Great Dane is "older" in human terms than a 10-year-old Chihuahua.