How Big Will My Cat Get?
When you first got your kitten, you were probably very excited. But now that the excitement has gone down, one question keeps popping into your mind, How Big Will My Cat Get?
Well, this is a very common question and it depends on a range of factors. Some of these factors are related to the environment you raise your kitten in and some are with regards to the cat breed. In this piece, we go over some topics that will help you determine how big your kitten will get devoid of these factors.
At What Age Is A Cat How Big Will My Kitten Get?Fully Grown?
Along with knowing ‘how big will my cat get?’ it is imperative to know at what age it will be fully mature.
Make no mistake of downplaying the growth rate of your kitten. In no time, the playful and cute kitten will transform into an adult cat. Additionally, when you are monitoring the growth rate, you should not let the appearances fool you.
There are some aspects of cat maturity that take place sooner than others. Also, spaying your cat will make a huge difference in how fast the cat grows.
Generally, kittens are considered as adult cats when they hit the 1 year age mark. However, not all cats are fully grown and developed by this time kittens will achieve a weight and length close to that of their full grown size between the ages of 9 months and 12 months.
But there are cats that continue to grow past this time and until the 18th month. Some large breeds like the Maine coon require more time to attain their full length and weight. Such cats continue to grow into their 2nd and even 4 year birthdays.
With regards to sexual maturity (puberty for kittens), it is usually a few months long. For most cats it is about 3 months long and happens between ages 6 and 9 months. While at this stage of growth it is possible for the kitten to get pregnant, the pregnancy will take a toll on its growing body.
And since males can father kittens, it is a great idea to keep them away from the females until the females attain full reproductive maturity.
How Big Will My Kitten Get?
If you are a new cat owner or is planning to have one, you need to know the average size of the cat that you are going to get. This is important, so you’ll know the right amount of space you need to prepare for them and determine if they are a great fit for your preferences. After all, there are some owners that prefer having smaller cats than large cats.
Cats may come in different sizes. Each breed may have their own characteristics and before you get your first kitten, make sure that you will let yourself be familiar on how big they can get. Most kittens will have the same size of about 7 to 12 inches but will start to reach their full size when they reach their first year.
How big will your kitten get may depend on different factors that can be included on their upbringing. The kittens will normally grow fast on their first few months and will start to slow down as they reach 6 months. If you have big breeds such as the Ragdoll cat and Main Coon cat, you can expect them to continue growing from their first year to almost 18 months.How Large Is A Domestic Cat?
The size of cats as earlier mentioned varies depending on the breed. For the average domestic cats, you can expect them to weigh anything between 3.6kgs and 4.5 Kgs when full grown. In length, they should measure between 23 and 25cm.
That said, there are cats that grow taller and heavier than these. Such breeds include the Maine Coon, Norwegian Forest Cat and the Savannah. When fully grown, these cats can grow upwards of 9 Kgs.
In all breeds, the females are significantly smaller than the males. But this expected in all animals.
What Size Cat Claw Caps Do I Need?
Yes, cat claw caps are a great idea for all cat parents. They are designed to help protect furniture from claw damage. As you get your cat claws, there are several things you should note.
First, claw caps will not keep you cats from scratching. Scratching is an instinct and getting rid of this can prove to be an impossible feat. Claw caps are only designed to reduce the effects of scratching. To completely protect your furniture, you should consider investing in a scratching post. For this, you can consider the Pioneer Pet SmartCat Scratching post or the Sofa scratch squared.
With claw caps, you will need to pay close attention to the length of your cat’s claws. Trim these claws after every few months.
But now that you have established that you need claw caps, the question that follows is what size of claw caps do you need for your cat?
Cat claw caps come in different sizes – four to be exact. These sizes are kitten, small, medium and large.
The kitten size is perfect for kittens aged 6 months and below, kittens can begin to wear claw caps from the age of 4 months though there are some fast growers that can fit right into them by the 3rd month. To test if the kitten is grown enough for a claw cap, try the cap on first without using adhesive. If it is too big, you best wait a few more weeks.
The small size is perfect for kittens that are about 6 months old. In other terms, any kitten weighing between 2.7 Kgs and 3.62 Kgs should fit in a small sized claw cap. Bear in mind that cats that are smaller than the average full grown cats will use a small size as well.
The medium and large sizes are for 4-6 Kgs and 6.35kgs and above respectively.
What Is The Average Size Of A House Cat?
Assuming that your cat is not fat or obese, it should weight anything between 2.7kgs and 5.5 Kgs. For female domestic cats, the weight range is between 2.7 and 4.5 Kgs while the male home cats weigh between 4.5 and 5.5 Kgs.
With regards to height, the average weight is between 20 and 25 cm.
How Long Do Cats Continue To Grow?
As pointed out earlier, cats have several growth periods. The first growth period takes for about 4 months and takes them into the kitten stage. The second growth stage takes the kittens from the 4th month to somewhere between the 8th and 12th month (which is the adult size).
Most cats stop growing at this point though there are some larger breeds that continue growing to the 18th month. Generally, the large cat breeds require a longer time to get to their full height, length and weight compared to smaller breeds.
However, despite having attained their full adult size, they still are considered junior cats until they hit the 3rd year.
How Do You Tell The Age Of A Cat?
There are several indicators that can lead you to determining the age of a cat. The first are the teeth. Kittens first get their baby teeth between the 2nd and 4th week. By the 3rd and 4th month, permanent teeth start displacing the baby teeth.
In older cats, the amount of tartar acts as a pointer to the age of the cat. However, with the emergence of teeth cleaning products, this is no longer a dependable method.
Sexual maturity is yet another indicator of age in cats. Males hit puberty at about 5 months. It is during this time that they can be noticed spraying urine to mark territory. During this time, their testicles also become more visible. For felines, they will be on heat for the first time anywhere between 5th and 12th month.
Fur is also a great indicator of a cat’s age. Kittens have fine and soft fur. As they grow and age, the fur tends to thicken and become somewhat coarse. Additionally, it just might become a shade lighter or darker.
Last but not least, the eyes are a great tell. Healthy kittens and cats have bright and clear eyes. They do not show any signs of discharge or tearing. But cats that are well advanced in age have cloudy eyes with some discharge and tearing.
How Big Will My Cat Get in Slightly More Specific Figures?
Well, for the small cat breeds, you should expect the weight to be anywhere between 2.2 and 4 Kgs. The average sized domestic cats weigh between 3.6 and 4.5kgs. Last but not least, for the larger breeds, the weight could be more than 9kgs. Hopefully this piece answers the question, how big will my cat get? To your satisfaction.
It Is a Predator Thing After all
Cats make a lot of noises aside from chattering. All of which have their own meaning. Chattering in cats, however, when all is said and done, is a predator thing coupled with frustration. It is perfectly normal for cats to do so.
