I just read a brochure on elderly cats that mentioned the "dog years" method of determining age and said it wasn't applicable to cats. They said that a one year old cat is similar to a 16 year old human and a 2 year old cat is similar to a 21 year old human, and after that it's approximately 4(?) "cat years" for every human year - but don't quote me on the last part. 
I know there are cat age calculators on the internet, but I don't have the address to any of them off the top of my head. Google could help immensely here I'm sure.
I belive what K & L said is accurate, although I had heard only 3 years for an outdoor only cat. Tubby was 18 1/2 when he died and right now Peanut is 17, but I also know 14 year old cats that have died of old age, so I think 16 is a pretty "life span" age with some living longer and some not living quite as long.
Tubby
Spring 1986 - Dec. 11, 2004
RIP Big Boy
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Peanut
Fall 1988 - Jan. 24, 2007
RIP Snotty Girl
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Robin
Fall 1997 - Oct. 6, 2012
RIP Sweet Monkeyhead Girl
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