Kitten Development From 6 Months To 1 Year
- Pin
The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong
Kittens quickly become cats during the last half of their first year of life, and there are some notable changes that occur. The major developmental milestones may have already passed by six months, but that doesn’t mean your kitten is done growing physically or mentally.
At What Age Is A Cat Fully Grown
Although there is no black and white answer to this question, there is a general range at which most cats reach their full growth potential. This age is from 9 months to 12 months of age for most cats. It may vary from breed to breed like for larger cat breeds. They enter their full-grown stage only after 2 to 4 years.
Many cats continue to grow even after reaching a full year. However, this rate of growth slows down dramatically after one year of age. A kitten can grow up to eight times its original size in just a span of eight short months.
Factors Contributing To The Growth Of Persian Cats
Though there is a certain age by which a Persian cat stops growing, factors like their DNA make-up, their breed, their environment, their daily nutrition also plays a crucial role in determining whether the cat will reach its full growth by that time or not.
For example, if your cat comes from a shelter, then it may be the case that it fails to reach its average size by the time its maximum growth should occur, as sheltered cats often experience stunted growth due to the lack of nutrition they suffer from during their early months.
In case your Persian cat does not reach the weight, height or length it should before it stops growing anymore, take it to a vet to know for sure whether it is because of its genetic structure, health issues or lack of proper nutrition.
Also Check: What Was Hp Lovecrafts Cats Name
When Do Kittens Stop Growing
Kittens usually stop growing at approximately 12 months of age, says Dr. Nicole Fulcher, assistant director of the Animal Medical Center of Mid-America, although they still may have some filling out to do. A 12-month-old kitten is equivalent to a 15-year-old person. They are considered full-grown at 18 months of agewhich is equivalent to a 21-year-old person.
Even though many cats stop growing at 12 months, not all cats are done growing at this age. But if they are still growing, it will be at a much slower rate, generally from 12-18 months, so you can expect your cat to be very close to their full adult size at this point. But there may be some cats that can take up to 2 years to be fully grown.
Large breeds, in particular, can take longer. Maine Coons, for instance, might not reach their full size until they are 2 years old or so.
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.
Also Check: Cats Off Car
How Big Will My Cat Get What Factors Determine This
Approved By: Dr. Sara Ochoa, DVM
Certified Content. This article has been fact checked and verified by our veterinary adviser.
Have you ever wondered: How big will my cat get? They don’t stay cute little fur balls forever! True, the Munchkin, as the name suggests, was specifically bred for smallness and the delicate boned Singapura is also known as the love cat. But don’t forget the big fun that is a Maine coon cat or the gentle giants that are Ragdolls.
A cat is a lovable creature regardless of size, but for practical reasons, you may want to keep adult size in mind when getting a kitten. Breed, nutrition and health are all the most important factors on just how big Kitty will get.
Quick Navigation
How To Tell If Your Cat Has Fully Grown
Do you want to know if your cat has fully grown, or does she still has some growing up to do?
From the above discussion, it has become obvious that some cats may continue to grow even after their first birthday, so how de we know if our cats have stopped growing?
You can check by measuring your cats weight and height . If you notice an increase in weight and height, this means that your cat is still growing. After one year, cats grow very slowlyif you are not observant, you might not even notice it.
Recommended Reading: My Cat Likes To Sleep Under The Covers
Transitioning From Kitten Food To Adult Food
Adult cats need less food due to decreased activity , the fact that they are growing much less quickly, and a less active metabolism in case of neutering. Consequently, generally speaking at age one, it is best to switch your kitten to adult food, which is lower in protein and fat. However, in case of neutering, it may be better for your kitten to transition to adult food earlier, from six months to a year, depending on your vets advice, and when all the signs that her body growth is complete have been identified. It all depends on the nutritional contents of the food formula chosen .
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.
You May Like: Evolve Cat Food Reviews
Indicators That Your Cat Has Reached Full Size
The best way to tell if your cat has reached full size is by through its weight, height and length. The easiest way to do this is to measure the weight, height and length of your cat each month.
Thinking about getting your favourite feline a new collar? Check out my posts on 6 Stylish Leather Cat Collars, 6 Spooky Halloween Cat Collars, 8 Fun Christmas Cat Collar options, 7 Best Cat Tracking Collars, 4 Best Cameras for Cat Collars,6 Best Flea Collars for Cats choices and 5 Best Designer Cat Collars.
Top Tip: If youd like an indicator of how big your cat will end up being take its weight at 16 weeks and double it. This wont be a perfect measure but will give you a feel for their potential size.
Month 1: Your Kitten Is Now A Cat
At one year of age, most people will now consider your kitten an adult cat. Most cats are full-grown by one year of age, so from here on out, your cat will simply grow mentally. Learning and training never end. Your cat will always explore, make decisions, play, and develop both good and bad habits, and it is up to you to steer it in the direction you would like it to grow. Remember to always use gentle and positive training methods and a good scratch behind the ears can go a long way!
Don’t Miss: Blue Buffalo Healthy Gourmet Cat Food Reviews
The Siamese Cat Growth Timeline: What To Expect At All Ages
So, you have a new Siamese cat a beautiful blue-eyed ball of white fur but you may be wondering what you can expect as your little Siamese kitten grows into its full, mature cathood.
The Siamese cat is one of the most sophisticated looking cat breeds, with its athletically slender body shape and beautiful white body with dark markings not to mention its mesmerizing bright blue eyes.
Originating from Thailand , the Siamese cat was not a popular breed in the United States until the early 1900s. Not many people appreciated the Siamese cats unusual appearance:
- With its Triangular face
- Ears
- Face
But just because the Siamese cat looks sophisticated and aloof, dont expect it to act that way. When you bring home your new Siamese kitten, you might be surprised at how affectionate, attentive, and full of personality it is. Below is a timeline of what you might expect at each stage of your Siamese cats life.
Weeks: Weaning And Learning Cat Skills
Kittens can be introduced to solid food during their fifth week, although they’ll continue nursing for a few weeks after this. According to Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, some vets even recommend offering Mama Kitty the same kitten food while she’s nursing, since its high protein and fat content will help her recover and stay healthy. By the ninth week, your kittens will finish the transition to solid food and should be fed quality kitten food.
How much and how often they eat will depend on whether you feed them canned or dry food. Canned food should be given in small amounts four times daily until they are three months old, after which it should be cut back to three times a day, says the Cornell Feline Health Center. When kittens are six months old, you can transition them to eating twice a day. If you are giving them dry food, you can simply leave a dish of food out and allow kittens to free feed when they’re hungry, but in this case you’ll need to monitor their weight to make sure they’re not overeating.
In between eating and snuggling, kittens that are just a few weeks old are learning one important thing: how to act like a cat. The Spruce Pets notes that kittens need to be raised by their mother or a foster cat in order to learn the basics of hunting, kitty communication, playing with fellow cats and using a litter box.
Also Check: Blue Buffalo Wet Cat Food 5.5 Oz
So About How Big Will My Cat Get
Again, dependant on the breed and whether or not your cat has been neutered or spayed.
That being said, a healthy, typical, average-build cat will commonly weigh in at around 10 pounds, while larger breeds may weigh in at 20-25 pounds . Again, this will depend especially on the breed of the cat as some cats become much more muscular than others.
At the end of the day, its a good idea to have a conversation with your vet about how fast your cat will grow and what size they are expected to grow until. If you know your cats exact age, your vet will be able to make clearer estimations as it can be difficult to estimate your cats potential grow-size otherwise. I say this predominantly to those of you who have adopted strays. I know both my sister and me had vets say that our cats were much older than they actually were, we knew that they were younger as we met them both as young kittens, but it was hard for the vet to tell since they were both fairly full-grown by the time we took them in.
How Big Can Your Persian Cat Grow
The Persian cats always sport a deceptive look. Yes, it is their long flowing fur coats that make them look a lot bigger than they really are. Their fluffiness gives them the appearance of a large cat.
But, Persian cats are actually medium-sized cats that are certainly bigger than the average domestic cats but not the big or large cat breeds.
Usually, a fully grown Persian male cat in perfect health weighs around 9 to 13 lbs, while a fully grown female Persian cat weighs around 7 to 10 lbs. For a Persian cat to become fully grown, it takes around 18 months to 2 years.
Also Check: Why Do Cats Attack Their Tails
Why You Might Wonder
At six months old, kittens are half and three quarters to the adult size. Once a kitten celebrated his one-year-old birthday, he is already considered an adult cat. But probably he is not yet grown to his full potential.Typically, the average length and weight bear the most resemblance to that of the mature period when he is around 9 to 12 months of age.Throughout the 18-month period ahead, he will happily enjoy living the life of a real adult, with his temperament getting calmer and less hyperactive than as a naughty little baby. Growth rate at this time begins to get slower and slower.This stage is equivalent to the teenage years of human beings. Thus, body changes and behavior formation can be obvious. The fully-grown cat may get overweight when he fails to stick to a proper diet and appears lazy in exercising to burn the extra calories.
Does Cat Breed Make A Difference
Some cat breeds are significantly smaller or larger than the average housecat. For example, Siamese, Sphynx, and Khao Manee cats generally have a lower body weight and may reach their full size earlier.
Larger cat breeds like Maine coons can weigh up to 25 pounds or more. Their growth takes a minimum of two or three years, says Demos, because theyre so much bigger than most other cat breeds.
Ask your veterinarian what the average adult weight is for your cats breed. That way, youll know when your cat is reaching maturity and when to switch from kitten to adult food.
Recommended Reading: What Is A Cat’s Normal Heart Rate
Reproduction And Social Maturity
If your cat isn’t fixed early, adolescence can be an even bigger headache than it need be with constant yowling and spraying, not to mention unwanted kittens. Most vets recommend spaying and neutering your kitties at 4 to 6 months. Expose your kitten early to many different people and animals. Play with her often to hone her social skills.
I Think My Kitten Is Too Small Why Isnt She Growing
In general, your kitten should be round but not fat. If shes a few grams on either side of the healthy weight range for her weight, its probably not a problem. If her weight isnt increasing as expected, she could be dealing with a health issue. A drop in your kittens weight is a bad sign and you should seek medical advice. A lack of weight gain can happen if the kitten develops an infection it can also be a symptom of something more serious, such as anaemia or even a heart problem. Sometimes, though, its simply down to a lack of sufficient calories.
Older British Shorthairs sometimes need to have their food intake monitored as they can become prone to obesity, a fact which sometimes leads people to restrict their British Shorthair kittens food. This is dangerously misguided, however. Its important to provide plenty of good-quality food when your kitten is small. Shes growing fast and needs plenty of nourishment.
Personally, I prefer not to supply dry food, especially for kittens it can promote problems with your pets kidneys or urinary tract, especially in small kittens who dont always drink enough water to make up for the dry food. Wet food, however, should be supplied in small portions: your kitten probably cant eat much at once and wet food left out can go rancid quickly This means feeding your kitten several times a day some hungry little babies need five small meals.
Don’t Miss: How To Keep Cats Off My Car
When Should You Switch From Kitten Food To Adult Food
Since there is no magic age when cats become adults, knowing when to switch your kitten to adult food can be somewhat tricky. For most cats, somewhere in the range of 9 to 12 months of age should be appropriate however, the decision should be based on more than just age.
One of the easiest ways to make sure your kitten is ready for the switch is to speak with an online vet. An online veterinarian will be able to assess your cat and let you know when you can make the transition to adult food. Best of all, the appointment can take place from the comfort of your own home, which means your young cat will not have to experience the stress and anxiety that goes with taking it to an in-person clinic.
At What Age Does A Kitten Become A Cat
The kitten will have a full set of adult teeth by about 7 months old. At 5-6 months the kitten is old enough to be spayed or neutered. Kittens can start to look like adult cats by 6 months of age thus they need nutritional support for optimum health and development during their growth phase which lasts 12 months.
Recommended Reading: Are Ferns Safe For Cats