Your life is full of happiness with a cat at home, and your heart is blessed with love with a furball in your home.
After the age of 18, most people consider a person to be an “adult.” But when do our little angel kittens become adults and stop growing? When do cats reach their adult maturity?
A kitten is nothing more than a squishy bundle of adorableness. We swoon at the sight of their lovely eyes and the sound of their purring. However, the adorableness of a kitten’s small size is one of the most striking features. We know they won’t be this small forever, but we can’t get enough of the adorableness of newborn cats. However, despite our best efforts, a kitten must eventually mature and become a full-fledged adult.
Adopting a cat or kitten changes everything in your life. Having a pet like this will offer you delight for years to come. Soon, your kitten will transform into a lovable teen and then into an adolescent feline.
Are you wondering when your little baby kitten will turn into a more laid-back yet adventurous grownup?
Are you are filled with questions like, How old can you anticipate your cat to be before he or she stops growing? If so, then you will find answers to all such questions in the article and will get a rough idea of how large your kitten will develop and when he’ll be completely grown by following some general principles.
When Do Kittens Stop Growing?
Are you a curious cat parent that wants to know when your little munchkin will be fully grown into an adult cat, and how will we know when our cat has reached its full adult height and weight? Here’s a step-by-step method to help you better understand your cat’s development.
Kittens enter this world with one aim in mind: to develop! And do it swiftly!
Newborn kittens need to be fed around the clock, and their weight increase surges reflect all of that healthy food. Let’s have a look at the average cat weight for most of the cat breed around the globe.
Kittens Generally Grow To Be Eight Times Their Original Size in Around Eight Weeks:
- Kittens under one-week-old weigh less than four ounces.
- The kitten weighs 4 to 6 ounces at 7 to 10 days old.
- The kitten weighs 6 to 8 ounces when it is 10 to 14 days old.
- Kittens weigh 8 to 12 ounces when they are 14 to 21 days old.
- Kittens weigh 12 ounces to 1 pound when they are 4 to 5 weeks old.
- The kitten weighs 1 pound to 1 pound and 8 ounces at 6 to 7 weeks of age.
- 8 weeks old: kitten weighs 1.5 to 2 pounds.
- 12 weeks old: the kitten weighs between 3 and 5 and a half pounds.
- The kitten weighs between 5 and a half pounds to 7 and a half pounds at 16 weeks of age.
- 6 months to 1 year: 8 to 15 pounds.
Have a look at the cat weight chart below:
Milestones in a Kitten’s Development
The following typical growth milestones can be expected for your kitten, while the precise age may vary slightly from cat to cat. When fully grown, most exceed 18 inches in height (paw to shoulder) and weigh around 10 pounds (4.54 kg). Most domestic cats, such as Tabbies and Siamese, reach adulthood in a year. But there’s a lot of maturation and a few life phases ahead of you!
- 7 days: Their eyes have opened, and their weight has increased to eight ounces.
- 21 days: They walk very steadily, and their teeth are starting to appear.
- 6 weeks: They clean themselves, stalk, and pounce. They may weigh slightly more than a pound at this time.
- 8 weeks: Some may have gained enough weight to be neutered, and many can be adopted.
- 3–4 months: Their adult teeth begin to emerge (a process usually finished by six months).
- 4-9 months: They achieve sexual maturity between the ages of 4 and 9 months.
- 1 year and up: They are completely mature.
Cat Life Cycle: From Kittens to Elderly
Before we get into how and when cats develop, it’s important to grasp the basic stages of a cat’s existence. Although the precise dates vary from cat to cat, the feline life cycle may be divided into these six phases.
- Kitten (0-6 months):
Cats grow and alter the most throughout this period of development. It’s also the time when they’re most impressionable.
- Junior (6 months to 1-year-old):
Cats continue to mature and develop. During this time, it’s critical to maintain playing with your cat so that it feels at ease and confident.
- 1–3 Years:
At this point, your cat is an adult. It may continue to expand slowly. Around the age of 18 months, most people cease developing altogether. During this stage, your cat may appear to be a lean adult.
- Adult (3-6 years old):
This is your cat’s peak year. The larger breeds will continue to develop for another year or two, but the smaller kittens have blossomed into magnificent adult cats by now. Both will spend their days searching for the catnip mouse, eating yummy morsels from the food dish, grooming, and napping.
Do cats have periods? Find out by heading to our Cat care website!
- (7-10 years old):
This cat is completely developed. They still play, but they are more relaxed about it. Except for around the belly, there is no further growth. Cats, like people, become less active as they age, and they are more prone to gaining weight and developing health conditions such as renal disease and diabetes. Proper eating and lots of exercises will help you avoid the health problems that come with aging.
- Seniors (aged 11 to 14):
Cats’ lifespans vary, but as they become older, their health frequently starts to decline.
These cats have reached the geriatric stage of life at the age of 15 years or more. They may lose some weight as a result of age-related concerns, and their fur may lose some of its sheens. That royal, loving cat, on the other hand, is still there, yearning for the chance to hug and nap in your lap.
How Big Will Your Cat Get?
You may have noticed your kitten’s paws and wondered whether your cute little kitten will turn into a monster cat, but kittens are not the same as puppies. When mature, cats’ paws do not indicate size. Their toe beans, on the other hand, are very lovely!
Looking over all of the numerous aspects that contribute to cat size and when their development will halt, you can see that each cat is unique and their growth is dependent on a variety of circumstances. Some breeds can grow to be rather enormous, while others remain small and delicate.
The best approach to ensure your cat achieves the pinnacle of cathood is to provide them with a good, well-balanced diet rich in important vitamins and minerals, as well as lots of activity and affection.
If you do this, you may end up with a large or little cat, and it may take a year or four years, but you will have a loving feline companion during all phases of development.
Wondering, “when do males stop growing”, “when do females stop growing”, let’s check out what factors determine the growth and size of the cat.
What Factors Determine The Size of My Cat?
- Gender: Male cats grow slower and bigger than female cats. A male can grow to be up to 2 pounds heavier than his female sibling.
Neutering or spaying your cat does not influence how big they grow, as experts assumed years ago, but it does vary their metabolic rate, which means they can acquire weight if they prefer napping to playing.
- Birth Order: We have all fallen in love with a runt at some time in our lives, knowing that it would grow up smaller than the other kittens in the litter, and this is true for all kittens in the litter. The further down the birth line a kitten goes, the smaller they may be as an adult, especially if it is a petite mama cat who gave birth to a large number of kittens.
- Diet: Good nutrition equals good development. For the first year of your kitten’s life, it should be fed a balanced, healthy diet of kitten chow. Some cats, such as bigger cats that are still growing, may require kitten food for a longer period of time, but most average 10 pound cats may move to adult food between 10 and 12 months of age. Your veterinarian can advise you on the best course of action for your cat.
- Genetics: There are various genetic characteristics that might indicate whether your cat will be tiny as an adult. Dwarfism and bone abnormalities are among them. During routine check-ups, your vet will detect any problems with your cat.
Routine cat health examinations are essential for all cats, but especially kittens. Pumpkin provides a top-of-the-line insurance plan for kittens and cats.
Does The Number of Siblings Matter in Context With the Growth and Size of The Cat?
You might think this is not an aspect to consider while finding the information on how big your cat will be, but the number of kittens in a litter is important. When there are too many kittens, the amount of milk supplied from the mama to the kitty is stretched too thin. Kittens who are malnourished develop more slowly and become smaller.
Parental health is significant, just like it is for any other species. If your kitten comes from a well-loved and pampered mother, chances are your cat will grow to the full size determined by genetics. If not, your pet may be smaller when fully grown.
At What Age Will My Cat Stop Growing?
The first six months of a cat’s life are crucial to its development. There is an exponential growth curve throughout this time period. Kittens are rapidly gaining weight, acquiring muscular mass, and their bones are lengthening. “At this point, kittens can eat as much as they like, since they require the nutrients to create correct bone and muscle building.”
Kittens are also learning a lot throughout this stage. It’s an excellent time to introduce your cat to activities you want them to be receptive to in the future, such as nail clipping and trying new foods (dry, wet, and shredded).
After a year, your cat should be about completely developed. “For the average cat, 95 percent of growth is complete by nine to twelve months,” although as previously stated, other variables can also contribute to growth.
Aside from that, cat breed is a significant aspect of your cat’s growth.
The following are some indications of aging in cats:
- Disorientation
- Changes in social and environmental interaction
- Changes in sleeping/waking habits, such as sleeping more during the day and being restless at night
- Senior cats might have constipation, dental issues, and hearing.
Does Cat Breed Influence Cat Development?
Some cat breeds are much smaller or bigger than the usual house cat. Siamese, Sphynx, and Khao Manee cats, for example, have lower body weight and may achieve full-size sooner.
Larger cat breeds, such as Maine coons, may weigh up to 25 pounds (11.34 kg). Because they are larger than most other cat breeds, their growth takes at least two or three years, according to Demos.
Inquire with your veterinarian about the average mature weight of your cat’s breed. This way, you’ll know when your cat has reached maturity and when it’s time to transition from kitten to adult food.
Let’s take a look at some of the cat breeds and their rates of growth.
- Tabby, Siamese, or domestic cat Domestic Short hairs: They are 13-16 inches long, 11 inches tall, and weigh 10-22 pounds. Growth halts between 12 and 19 months.
- Rag dolls: They are 11 inches (27.94 cm)5-26 inches long, 9-11 inches in height, and weigh 8-20 pounds. Growth comes to an end after four years.
- Savannah: They are 20-25 inches long, 10-19 inches tall, and weigh 12-20 pounds. Growth comes to an end after two years.
- Maine Coons: They are 48 inches (1.22 m) long, 8-16 inches tall, and weigh 25 pounds (11.34 kg). Growth comes to an end after four years.
- Bengals: They are 13-16 inches long, 11-13 inches tall, and weigh 10-22 pounds. Growth comes to an end after two years.
“Are There Any Exceptions When It Comes to Cat Growth?
Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, including the answers to the question “When do cats stop growing?” This kind of cat can take up to five years to achieve full size. And their full size is impressive: at 48.5 inches (1.23 m) stretched out, a Maine Coon cat named Stewie held the Guinness World Record for the longest cat. Stewie died in 2013, yet his impact on the globe lives on.
Cats with dwarfism, on the other hand, might be excessively tiny.
Dwarf cats are the feline equivalent of Lilliputians (there are two different causes: genetic mutation and pituitary gland malfunction). Lilliput, a Munchkin cat, has the Guinness Book of World Records title for the smallest cat. Dwarf kittens develop more slowly than healthy kittens.
How To Tell When My Cat Has Reached Full Size?
While cats can continue to grow after the first year, their growth rate will slow significantly after that. In fact, if you’re not paying close attention, you might not realize that they’re developing at all!
Each month, measure and weigh your cat to determine when it has stopped growing. Cats continue to grow in height (from the ground to the top of the shoulder) and length. You’ll notice when your kitty’s measurements stop changing if you measure him once a month.
The weight of a cat can also reveal its maturity level or approximate age. You can estimate your cat’s adult weight by weighing them at 16 weeks of age and doubling that figure. You can anticipate that figure to be close to your cat’s adult weight. It’s not precise, but it’s a close approximation. In the same way that measuring a cat’s height and weight can help determine when he or she reaches full size, weighing a cat monthly can help determine when he or she reaches full size.
No matter how large your cat grows, it will always require massive amounts of love, care, and snuggles!
Conclusion: When Do Cats Stop Growing
While kittens stop developing at the age of a year, it’s crucial to note that most kittens appear like adults at 6 months old. That cute tiny fluff ball will only be a child for a very short period. He’ll look like an adult cat by the time he’s a year old.
If you’re thinking of adopting a kitten, a kitten might not be the ideal choice for some, while an adult cat may be the choice for others.
Of course, feeding your cat proper food, giving a fresh water supply at all times, and enriching his habitat with lots of exercise, places to climb, and hidden holes to explore will guarantee that he not only grows large and strong but is also the happiest and healthiest he can be!
We hope that all your questions were answered in this guide. If you still have some queries related to the topic “when do cats stop growing”, head down for answers to some of the questions asked by various Cat parents.
FAQ: When do cats stop growing
Tips For Keeping Your Kitten Healthy As It Grows
You want your kitten to live a happy and healthy life. It’s fascinating to observe them as they grow, learn, and develop. Here we offer some advice on how to keep your new best buddy healthy.
- Feed high-quality kitten food to your kitten.
- Every cat’s development and demands are unique.
- The timing of your cat’s spaying or neutering might impact development and weight gain.
- Your veterinarian is the best person to advise you on when to transfer your kitten to adult food.
- The transition from kitten to cat food usually happens between the ages of 9 and 10 months, however, this might vary, so remember to feed them healthy food.
When Should I Feed Adult Cat Food to My Kitten?
Many variables influence when to shift your cat from kitten to adult diet. Most cats should be approximately 10-12 months in age before transitioning from kitten food to cat food.
A young Maine Coon that is failing to gain weight, on the other hand, may benefit from continuing to eat kitten chow until they are 2 years old, or even longer. A kitten who is developing fast and becoming overweight on kitten food, on the other hand, may benefit from switching at roughly 8 months of age.
When your cat is ready, consult with your veterinarian to ensure you are providing her with dietary needs.
How Often to Feed Your Kitten?
Because of their high-energy requirements, most kittens should be fed free-choice until they are about 6 months old.
“An owner can feed three times a day from six months to a year,” says Dr. Jim Carlson, proprietor of the Riverside Animal Clinic outside of Chicago.
After a year, most cats will benefit from two meals per day, but more frequent, smaller meals may continue to be useful for some.
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