When Should I Feed My Kitten Adult Cat Food
The right time to transition your cat from kitten to adult food is dependent on many factors. For most cats, around 10-12 months of age is appropriate.
However, a young Maine Coon who is struggling to keep weight on could probably benefit from remaining on kitten food until they are 2 years old or even longer. On the other hand, a kitten who is maturing quickly and becoming overweight on kitten food might benefit from switching at around 8 months of age.
Ask your veterinarian when your cat is ready to make sure you are meeting her nutritional needs.
Month : Your Kitten Is Confident
Your kitten may start to play more with other pets in your house since its confidence is at an all-time high. Supervision is still a necessity though, as larger pets like dogs can still do damage to an eight-month-old kitten.
Be aware that your kitten is now large enough to attempt counter surfing, it may push items around or off of tables out of curiosity, and it will test the limits of both human and inanimate objects. Setting boundaries and being consistent in any training with your kitten is important. Kittens do not respond to force, so if you are trying to train it to do or not do something, you’ll need to use positive reinforcement and patience to get the outcome you want. Verbal praise and tasty cat treats can go a long way in cat training.
Check Ahead Of Time On Hotel Policies
Its very important to get verbal confirmation over the phone that a;hotel is pet-friendly;before you show up there with your cat. Youll also want to ask if the hotel charges an extra fee for hosting pets and whether they will allow you to leave your cat in the hotel room unsupervised.
If you do go out for a while to do some shopping, a;SlumberPod Pet;sleep solution can help make your cat feel comfy and secure while youre away.
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Some Kittens May Reach Their Full Size In 12 Months
How quickly your kitten reaches his full size depends on how big he is going to get. The bigger his breed, the longer it will take him to be fully grown. Kittens typically stop growing by the age of 12 months.1;However, larger breeds like Maine Coons can take up to two years to reach their full size. Growth typically slows significantly after 12 months, with a fast growth spurt occurring in the first eight weeks.2
It’s worth noting that most cats will reach sexual maturity before they are fully grown. This is similar to a teenager going through puberty, which happens when a kitten is six to nine months of age.3;Around this time, you might consider spaying or neutering your cat. A male cat can father kittens before he’s fully grown, and a female cat can get pregnant before she’s fully grown as well.
How Many Years Do Cats Live On Average
It’s common to see a cat reach 20 years old these days, Becker says, so it’s safe to assume a healthy cat will make it within a few years of that. Recently, the world’s oldest a cat made it all the way to 31 years old.;
We can’t guarantee your feline pal will make it into a third decade, but there are a few things you can do to elongate your cat’s life. Becker lists three main factors that determine your cat’s longevity: heredity, environment, and nutrition.
There’s not much you can do about heredity once you bring home your cat, Becker says. But you can do your best to make her environment safe. That means limiting time outsidewhere dangers like predators, vehicles, and parasites could injure your cat. That’s why outdoor cats generally don’t live as long as their indoor counterparts.;
The third factor is nutrition, so you’ll want to work with your veterinarian to make sure your kitty stays as close to her healthy weight as possible. Cats at or near their ideal body weight will live longer than those who aren’t, Becker says.
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When Does My Kitten Become A Cat
During their early months, your kitten will grow and change very quicklybut how do you know when they’ve become a cat, and what can you do to help support their growth?;
From the very first few days of their life, your kitten will be developing at a rapid pace. But when do they become a cat, rather than a kitten, and what are the steps they go through to get there?
Month 1: Your Kitten Is Almost An Adult Cat
Almost a year of growth has occurred already and now your kitten is just about full grown. It is sexually mature, eating adult cat food, has received all of its vaccinations, and you are consistently working on its social skills and training. It is equivalent to a teenage human at this point, so while it still has some mental maturing to do, it looks like an adult cat.
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What Age What Stage
Cats can live for an amazingly long time considering their small size. In general, smaller mammals have shorter lifespans, but cats are a little different. For example, although cats are smaller than most dogs, they generally live longer. Also, they are only slightly larger than rabbits, yet again live a great deal longer. The average lifespan for a pet cat is probably around 13 to 14 years. However, although their lifespan varies, a well cared for cat may commonly live to 15 or beyond, some make it to 18 or 20 and a few extraordinary felines even pass 25 or 30 years of age.
When Is The Right Age To Wean A Kitten
At around four weeks old, kittens are ready to begin weaning. Under four weeks of age, kittens are considered neonatal and might not be ready for weaning from their mothers milk or formula.;
When kittens are ready to wean, you may notice that they’ve become more mobile and can stand on their feet while holding up their tail. They’ll also have their canines and incisors at this point and should be exploring their surroundings through play.;
If your kitten is unable to stand, play, or focus their eyes, it’s too early to start weaning. At the very earliest, you may begin weaning at three weeks if the kitten shows signs of readiness. Keep a close eye on your kitten to make sure theyre getting enough food.
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How Do I Keep My Cat Healthy And Happy
Cats are stoic; theyll go to great lengths to hide signs of injury or illness. Even though your cat will visit the veterinarian at least once a year, its best to watch her body and behavior closely to catch any issues before they escalate. Look for these signs:
Sleep-a-holic kitty: Healthy cats sleep a lot ; get to know your cats sleeping patterns. If shes snoozing when she usually plays or ignores affection or a favorite toy, her lethargy might be due to illness.
Eating, drinking changes: If your cat has diabetes, shell drink lots of water. If she has dental issues, she might suddenly stop chewing her favorite kibble. Track how much your cat normally eats and drinks so you can gauge any changes.
Urination problems: Urinating more, less or not at all, or elimination outside of the litter box can all be signs your cat may be ill. See your vet immediately, especially if your male cat is urinating abnormally.
Behavioral issues: Acting aggressively can be a sign of pain and injury, but cats will also hide when theyre sick, so watch your cat’s behavior closely. ;
Weight loss/gain: Look for protruding ribs and or the development of a pouch. Changes in weight can be difficult to detect because theyre usually gradual. Groom your cat to get a feeling for her body weight and condition, so you can sense when theres a change.
How Big Will Your Cat Get
After looking at all the different factors contributing to cat size, and when their growth will stop, you can see that each cat is different and their growth depends on many things. The best way for you to make sure your cat reaches the full glory of cat hood is to make sure you feed them a nutritious, well-balanced diet, complete with the essential vitamins and minerals, provide plenty of exercise, and tons of love.;
If you do that, you may have a big cat or a small cat, and it may take one year or four years; but in the end, you have a loving feline companion through all the growth stages.
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The Art Of The Smooth Transition
Switching your cat from kitten food to adult cat food should be done gradually and requires a little organization. Transitioning too rapidly may lead to digestive issues for your cat. A gradual shift over the course of 5-8 days is best to allow her to get used to her new diet. Start by mixing a small amount, say 10%, of adult food with the kitten food. Every two days increase the percentage of adult food. Normally, by day seven or eight your kitten will have successfully made the switch. If you have not already done so, it is often recommended to begin to steadily introduce different flavours and textures of food, including both dry and wet food. This will help ensure that your cat does not become a picky eater. In addition,;certain cats naturally love variety.
Months: Ready For Adoption And Neutering
Kittens shouldn’t be separated from their mother and littermates until they have been fully weaned and socialized. Kittens continue learning normal cat behavior from their mother until well into their tenth week, says Petful, so in order to give each kitten the best chance of becoming a well-adjusted cat, it’s best to wait until at least ten weeks before allowing her to go to a new home. You can also wait twelve weeks to allow time for the next important round of vaccinations in the kitten timeline.
Kittens are ready to be spayed or neutered by six months of age. Many vets, however, will perform the procedure as early as eight weeks if the kitten weighs enough to safely undergo general anesthesia.
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How Long Do Indoor Cats Live
Cats that go outdoors are more likely to encounter risks such as road traffic accidents, fights with other cats and other dangers that could affect their life expectancy. However, they are also likely to get more exercise as they have more space to roam, which helps to keep them fit and healthy. If you do keep your cat indoors, theyll need plenty of opportunities to exercise with fun toys they can chase and catch. There are still other risks to house cats, so youll need to monitor them closely to keep them healthy for longer.
Stages Of Kitten Development
- 2 Weeks By this age, most kittens have opened their eyes for the first time.
- 3 Weeks The ear canals have fully opened.
- 4 Weeks The kittens baby teeth have begun poking through the gums. They can also begin exploring their surroundings and are becoming more mobile and curious.
- 8 12 Weeks By this age, kittens are old enough for their first vaccinations, which means they are now old enough to be separated from their mother, which is why most cats go to their new home at about 12 weeks of age.
- 4 Months The kittens baby teeth are beginning to fall out and are replaced by adult teeth. In general, a kitten will have a full set of adult teeth by the time it reaches 7 months of age.
- 5 6 Months Most kittens have now grown enough to be safely spayed or neutered.
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How Can We Help
To help you understand when your kitten will become a cat, we have highlighted some important information about kitten development. We will go over some general age ranges where most cats reach physical milestones that signify the beginning of adulthood.
We will go over the various life stages of a cat and explain when most cats reach their full adult size. We will also explain some of the many factors that determine how quickly your cat will grow.
To help you make sure that your kitten has a healthy transition into adulthood, we will also provide some useful information for how you can prepare your furry friend for a happy and healthy life! If you have questions, talk to a Hello Ralphie vet online today.
Milestones For Growing Cats
Here are some important milestones for kittens as they become adult cats:
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Months 3-4: Baby teeth start to fall out and are replaced by adult teeth; this process is usually complete by 6 months of age.
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Months 4-9: Kittens go through sexual maturation.
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Months 9-12: A kitten is almost fully grown.
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1 year+: Kittens are just reaching adulthood.
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2 years+: Kittens are socially and behaviorally mature.
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How Often Should You Feed Kittens
Most kittens should be fed free-choice until they are around 6 months old because of their high energy requirements.
From 6 months to a year, an owner can feed three times a day, says Dr. Jim Carlson, owner of the Riverside Animal Clinic, located outside of Chicago.
After a year, offering meals two times a day will work for most cats, but more frequent, smaller meals may continue to be beneficial for others.
How Kittens Naturally Separate From Their Mother Cat
Weaning is the process of transitioning from mothers milk to solid food.; Weaning begins naturally around 4 weeks of age and continues until the kitten is 8-10 weeks old.
At 4 weeks, kittens have a nearly full set of baby teeth that they can use to eat small amounts of solid food. The furry scoundrels can also use their tiny teeth to bite their mother while nursing. The mother cat might choose to begin the weaning process when those teeth come inyou know thats gotta hurt!
Over time, the mother cat gradually discourages her kittens from nursing, until they are eating solid or canned food exclusively around 8-10 weeks of age.
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Growl Snarl Hiss And Spit
The growl, snarl, and hiss are all vocalisations associated with either offensive or defensive aggression. They are usually accompanied by a postural display intended to have a visual effect on the perceived threat. The communication may be directed at cats as well as other species â the puffed-up hissing and spitting display of a cat toward an approaching dog is a well-known behavior. Cats hiss when they are startled, scared, angry, or in pain, and also to scare off intruders into their territory. If the hiss and growl warning does not remove the threat, an attack by the cat may follow. Kittens as young as two to three weeks will hiss and spit when first picked up by a human. “Spitting” is a shorter but louder and more emphatic version of hissing.
What Age Does A Cat Stop Growing
There are a couple of growth periods for cats. The first takes about 4 months and takes them into the kitten stage. The second growth period of a kitten takes them from about 4 months to somewhere between 8 and 12 months to adult size depending on the size of the breed.
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Understanding Your Kittens Nutritional Needs
Perhaps the first step to lifelong wellbeing for your cat is to grasp how and why your kittens needs differ from an adult cats requirements. With her small stomach capacity, your hungry kitten not only requires multiple daily food portions, sometimes up to 18 meals per day and night to get her fill if she was free in nature, she also needs food that is high in protein, fat and balanced in minerals in order to meet her energy requirements. After all, reaching your adult size takes some eating!
In addition, as you well know, kittens have a lot of energy! With all that intense playing, roughhousing and growing going on, it is especially important for your feline friend to get high quality, nutritionally complete and;balanced food. This will provide a healthy foundation for the rest of her life. Consequently, it is generally recommended to give your companion specially formulated kitten food until her first year.
How Should I Begin The Weaning Process
To begin the weaning process, start by separating mother and kitten for a few hours at a time. This will gradually lessen the kittens dependence on their mother and her milk. Both mom and kitten should have their own special area, complete with a litter box, food, and water.;
Continued
As the kitten becomes more socialized and independent, they’ll be able to spend longer periods of time away until they are completely weaned.;
Remember that removing a kitten from their mother too quickly can have negative consequences for both mother and baby, such as aggression and other anxious behaviors. Kittens learn how to play, eat, interact, and use a litter box by observing their mother or another adult cat. Ideally, a weaning kitten should be left with their mother.;
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