When Do Cats Stop Growing? Feline Growth Timeline

As a cat parent or breeder, you must know that a cat goes through different stages from birth to adulthood. At each stage, various factors like gender, genetics, diet, and more play a role in their development. However, there comes a point when growth stops, but other changes occur. After noticing all these, many cat breeders raise a question, when do cats stop growing?

The American Animal Hospital Association says most kittens stop growing at 12 months old. From this age, your kitten becomes an adult cat and stays an adult cat until around 7 years old, when it becomes an older adult cat. But sometimes kittens grow at different ages depending on what kind of cat you have.

Understanding your cat’s growth timeline can help you provide the best care possible and ensure they develop into healthy adult cats. So, what are the different growth ages of a cat, the role of breed, the impact of spaying or neutering on a cat’s growth, and more, If you don’t know let’s discuss it in detail.

Different Stages Of Growth

Kittens grow rapidly in their first few months of life. Here’s a general timeline of a cat’s growth:

• Birth to 8 weeks: When baby kittens are first born, they cannot see or hear anything. They fully depend on their mother cat to feed them and take care of them. Baby kittens grow very quickly. In just the first week after being born, they gain so much weight that they become twice as heavy as when they were first born.
• 2 to 6 months: Kittens are weaned and start exploring their surroundings. These little ones grow fast during this time.
• 6 months to 1 year: Growth begins to slow down, but kittens still develop and mature.
• 1 to 2 years: Cats reach their full adult size, although some larger breeds may continue to fill out until they are 2 to 4 years old.

Factors Influencing Cat Growth

Important factors related to Cat Growth include:

Gender And Breed

Gender and breed can influence a cat’s growth rate and ultimate size:

• Males vs. Females: Male cats are generally bigger than females of identical breeds.
• Breed size: Different cat breeds have varying growth rates and adult sizes. Generally, it is 8 to 12 lbs in weight and 8 to 10 inches in height. However, some small breeds, like the Singapura, can weigh as little as 4 pounds, while larger breeds, such as the Maine Coon, can weigh up to 25 pounds by 3 to 5 years old.

Sexual Maturity

Cats can have kittens before they finish growing up, often between the ages of 4 and 9 months.

Genetics

Genetics also play a role in how big your cat will be. Your vet is the best person to help you understand how your kitten’s genes might affect their growth and size.

Litter Size

The number of kittens in a litter and how well they were cared for can also affect their growth. If babies had to struggle or fight to get milk or food from their mom or caregiver, they might grow more slowly and become smaller in size.

Where and how a kitten lives when they are young can also affect their health when they grow up. A bad place to live and poor care can make it harder for a kitten to grow and be healthy compared to a good place to live.

Bone Growth And Development

A cat’s skeletal system is produced quickly within the start of a few months after birth. By 4 months old, a kitten’s bones are typically 75% of their adult length. Even though a cat’s bones stop getting longer, they keep getting stronger and harder until the cat is fully grown up.

Diet And Feeding Habits

Good food is vital for a small cat’s growth and progress as:

• Small cats need such foods that are enriched in fat, protein, and energy for fast growth.
• Feed kittens a specially formulated kitten food until they reach 90% of their adult weight, usually around 10 to 12 months old.
• Slowly switch your cat from kitten food to adult cat food to help them stay at a good weight and get all the nutrition they need.

The Impact Of Spaying Or Neutering

Spaying (for females) or neutering (for males) can affect a cat’s growth:

• Spaying or neutering before sexual maturity can slightly increase a cat’s adult size, as the growth plates in their bones remain open longer.
• However, this size difference is minimal and should not prevent you from having your cat spayed or neutered at an appropriate age, as it offers numerous health and behavioral benefits.

Growth Milestones

Kittens reach several milestones as they grow:

• 2 to 3 weeks: Eyes and ears open, and teeth begin to emerge.
• 3 to 4 weeks: Start to move and look around their nearby space.
• 4 to 6 weeks: kittens begin to play with littermates and the people around them.
• 8 weeks: Ready to be weaned and adopted into new homes.
• 4 to 6 months: Reach sexual maturity (if not spayed or neutered).

Emotional And Social Development

Besides body growth, cats also develop feelings and social skills:

• Socialization: Little kittens need to spend time with others and learn how to act properly between 2 and 7 weeks old.
• Bonding: Little kitten babies make close friendships with people and other animal friends living in the same home.
• Play: Play is essential for a kitten’s mental and physical development, helping them learn important skills and burn off excess energy.