Cat Growth Chart – How Big Your Kitten Is Going To Be?

Have you got a new cat and want to know how big it can get? You’re in the right place, as we have prepared a cat growth chart for new cat owners.

Various factors can influence the size of a kitten as an adult. Breed, diet, exercise, and even genetics are a few examples of these variables. To give you an idea of how big your kitten might be when it matures, there are some general guidelines.

Refer to our cat growth chart to see your kittens’ development in stages. It’s also important to keep in mind that some breeds, like Siamese and Maine Coons, can grow bigger than these projections, whereas Munchkins and Birmans typically do.

Let’s see the cat growth chart and the final size of your cat!

Cat Growth Chart

Kitten Growth Chart

Newborn Kitten

Because they are so tiny, newborn kittens are totally reliant on their mothers for care. They are born completely blind and deaf, with their eyes and ears closed. Although kittens are born with teeth, those teeth are not yet fully functional.

Although newborn kittens have a fine coat of fur covering them, they are still unable to control their body temperature. A kitten will be the size of a mouse and weigh between 3 and 5 ounces at birth. 

In the first few weeks of life, they will grow quickly, and between 10 and 14 days after delivery, they will start to open their eyes and ears. At this age, kittens also begin to crawl and explore their surroundings.

It’s crucial to give newborn kittens the proper care, which includes keeping them warm, feeding them frequently, and giving them a clean environment. Make sure to speak with a veterinarian if you are looking after newborn kittens so they can advise you on how to look after them.

Premature Kitten

When a kitten is born prematurely, it has not yet reached its full developmental stage in the womb. Kittens born prematurely are more likely to experience health issues and may need additional care to survive.

Premature kittens can have trouble nursing or controlling their body temperatures because they are typically smaller and weaker than newborn kittens. As a result of their premature birth, they might also have underdeveloped organs or experience other health issues.

It is true that runt or premature kittens may need more care and attention to thrive. They might require more assistance feeding and keep warm because they might be smaller and weaker than the other kittens in the litter.

 If you are taking care of a premature or runt kitten, it is crucial to work closely with a veterinarian as they can advise you on the special care that your kitten requires.

Ensuring a premature or runt kitten is eating enough is crucial to caring for them. To grow and gain weight, kittens need to eat frequently. If they are falling behind their littermates, it may be necessary to feed them more regularly or to add a high-calorie kitten formula to their diet.

Additionally, it’s crucial to keep a close eye on the kitten’s weight gain and seek advice from a veterinarian if you have any worries about their development. The vet will be able to give you advice on how to raise the kitten best so that it grows and thrives.

In general, taking care of a premature or runt kitten can be difficult. It is still possible to assist these vulnerable kittens in maturing into healthy adult cats with time and a veterinarian’s assistance.

See Also: Runt Of The Litter Pros And Cons

One Week-Old Kitten

Kittens that are just one week old are still very young and entirely reliant on their mother. Kittens need to be kept warm in a draft-free environment at this age because they are unable to control their own body temperature. 

They will initially have blue eyes, but that will change because cats usually change eye color while growing. At this age, kittens cannot yet eat solid cat food, so they must be fed frequently. 

To aid in their growth and development, they must be provided with a high-quality, nutrient-rich kitten milk substitute. 

It’s crucial to adhere to the directions on the milk substitute packaging or seek advice from a veterinarian regarding how much and how frequently to feed the kittens.

The kitten’s weight at one week old must have doubled its birth weight. In order to avoid the accumulation of dirt and feces, your kitten will also need to be kept clean. 

Their bedding should be changed on a regular basis. In order to keep the kittens from getting hurt, it’s also critical to keep them in a secure environment.

2-Week-Old Kitten

Kittens that are two weeks old are still very young and rely on their mother for care. Kittens open their eyes and ears at this age and may begin to crawl and explore their surroundings.

To support their proper growth and development, two-week-old kittens still need to be fed a high-quality, nutrient-rich kitten milk substitute.

 It’s crucial to adhere to the directions on the milk substitute packaging or seek advice from a veterinarian regarding how much and how frequently to feed the kittens.

Two-week-old kittens must be fed and kept warm and out of the draft. At this age, kittens need to be held in a friendly environment because they cannot control their body temperature independently.

To avoid the accumulation of dirt and feces, keeping the kittens clean and changing their bedding frequently is critical. In order to keep the kittens from getting hurt, it’s also critical to keep them in a secure environment.

3-Week-Old Kitten

Kittens are getting more active at this age, and they may start to crawl and explore more of their surroundings. The blue eyes are still present, but the pointed ears have replaced the more rounded ones.

At this age, they might begin urinating and defecating on their own, but momma cat will be in charge of cleaning up their mess. 

There are tiny teeth that are growing at the front, and the weight ranges between 12.3 and 15.9 ounces. They are provoking play between themselves and their littermates, as is evident.

A three-week-old kitten’s tiny pawprints would start to be recognizable. Your kittens may begin purring and exploring their surroundings if they are healthy. Additionally, they will begin to recognize and interact with their littermates.

4 To 8 Weeks Old Kitten

To help the kittens grow into well-adjusted adult cats, it’s crucial to start socializing them at this milestone and exposing them to various sights, sounds, and experiences.

This might entail playing with them, being gentle with them, and gradually introducing them to other people and pets. In weeks four and five, your cat will begin to grow premolars and canines, respectively.

By week six, your kitten’s teeth will be approaching the end of their early development. You might consider getting her a toy that promotes healthy chewing if you want her to learn to do it. Additionally, make it a practice to brush your cat’s teeth regularly.

The kitten’s vision would be fully developed at this point. Cats don’t have color blindness, and your cat will therefore be able to see blue, gray, and a tiny bit of yellow and green with fully developed vision. Its eye would still be blue, though.

A 5-week-old kitten would be doing all the nursing independently, but she would still need her mother’s help. By this point, kittens will no longer need their mothers’ stimulation to urinate or defecate in public places.

 You should therefore begin teaching kittens how to use a litter box. A variety of clumping cat litter should be tried until you find the one that your kittens seem to prefer.

You will also need a litter box, so check out 12 Best Cat Litter Boxes For A Small Apartment.

Baby kittens would begin grooming themselves at this point, but the mother cat would still provide some grooming.

 A 6-week-old kitten would begin playing with its littermates and interacting with her mother once its eyesight and hearing senses were fully developed. Additionally, she will begin short solo explorations without assistance from her mother.

A 6-week-old kitten should weigh between 1.4 and 1.7 pounds on average. During the sixth week, the weaning process for kittens will begin; by that time, mothers must provide their kits with some fresh solid food. 

A kitten that is seven weeks old will have finished weaning and be eating more solid food. Your kitten’s eyes would start to change from blue to yellow if she wasn’t descended from a cat breed with blue eyes.

9 To 12 Weeks Old Kitten

A general guideline for a kitten growth chart is that during the first six months, a kitten will gain an average of 1 pound per month, which is a rule of thumb. Consequently, a 3-month-old kitten should weigh about 3 pounds.

Kittens would start eating only solid food at this point. Also, it would begin developing a bond with its caregivers Your kitten would have grown all of its baby teeth by the time it was three months old; these teeth would soon begin to fall out. Additionally, kittens would have grown into their adult eye color.

12 To 16 Week Old Kitten

Your kitten is going through a period of rapid growth. They will require more food, so you must supply it. As their appetite grows, you’ll notice that your kitten is constantly peckish.

A kitten that is four months old should weigh about four pounds. It is safe to assume that your male kitten has cryptorchidism, a condition in which male kittens fail to develop one or both testicles if you cannot feel any testicles in the scrotum at this time.

16 To 20-Week-Old Kitten

Your kitten will begin acting more like an adult cat at this point. They will start to become more independent of their mother as they play with their other feline friends and explore close to medium distances.

A kitten that is five months old should weigh 5 to 6 pounds. It’s time to set up a cat window perch and bring her some cat trees and cat toys.

RELATED: 10 Best Cat Trees Without Carpet

6 Months To Adulthood

Your kitten will start to resemble an adult by the time she is 6 months old as she tries to take after her mother and the other adult cats in the area. You do not need to be concerned even though it may seem like your cat is putting on weight quickly.

 Your cat would eventually begin to develop its long, thin legs. A 6-month-old kitten should weigh between 6 and 8 pounds on average.

Even at the age of six months, your male kitten’s testicles won’t be visible in his scrotum, which indicates cryptorchidism. He retains his testicles in his tummy or inguinal canal.

The likelihood of retained testicles developing cancer is extremely high. Cat owners are therefore strongly advised to consult a veterinarian and neuter their male kittens who have cryptorchidism, provided that the veterinarian recommends the same.

Between the ages of 4 and 9 months, your kitten will reach sexual maturity, and at 12 months, it will stop growing. While most cats become adults by 12 months, some cats may take an additional 14 months or even two years.

It is suggested that you have your kittens, both male and female, spayed before they reach puberty if you do not intend to breed them. Also, this is the time they need to take their vaccine shots. Around six months of age is when female kittens go through their first heat cycle.

Therefore, male litter may end up impregnating the female kittens in the litter if they are not fixed. Cat owners frequently have to think about spaying pregnant cats due to these unplanned pregnancies.

In order to determine which of the kittens is pregnant and if they are all intact and in puberty, you should become knowledgeable about the symptoms of feline pregnancy. 

To give your pregnant cat the best care possible, you might also want to review the cat pregnancy timeline and cat care tips quickly.

RELATED: Is My Cat Pregnant Or Just Fat

It is advised that you consult your veterinarian to determine the ideal age to fix your cat because different cat breeds experience puberty at various ages. Your kitten will live longer if you fix her because she will be less likely to contract serious illnesses.

How Big Will My Cat Get?

A cat’s weight can vary at every stage of life depending on various factors. These consist of the following:

• Gender status of reproduction ( fixed or intact)

• Overall health of the parents

• Health

• Genetics/bloodline

• Number of kittens in the litter

• Birth order

• Nursing status

Male Vs Female Cats

Compared to females of the same breed, male cats typically take a little longer to reach their full adult size. However, other elements will impact their development.

Therefore, male cats of small breeds typically reach adult size much sooner than males of large breeds. This also holds true for females, who typically mature faster than males of the same breed because they are typically smaller.

When Do Cats Stop Growing?

New kitten parents adore seeing how their kittens mature and change. Many cat owners don’t want this charming stage to come to an end! However, kittens stop growing between the ages of 8 and 16 months for the majority of breeds.

The kittens are finally slowing down in growth as they start to resemble adult cats more and more. However, some creatures can take up to five years to reach their adult size. 

However, regardless of their adult size, your cat will grow most during those first few months, with the fastest period of growth ending by the time the kitten reaches 12 weeks of age.

When Do Domestic Cats Stop Growing?

Domestic cats don’t actually have their own recognized breed, just like tabby cats. Domestic shorthairs have mixed ancestry invariably. As a result, their growth rates and adult size can differ from one to the next. In actuality, the only thing these cats have in common is their short, tame fur.

You might find it simpler to refer to our general kitten chart and the above-mentioned milestones when dealing with cats whose heritage is unknown.

Neutering Or Spaying

Veterinarians frequently prefer to wait until the scale registers at least 4 pounds before scheduling this surgery, so if you intend to fix spay or neuter your kitten, do so. Smaller cats are trickier to anesthetize because there is less room for error.

While neutering shouldn’t prevent your cat from growing, it may change its metabolism and affect its weight. By the time a cat reaches the six-month mark, she will have grown between 50 and 75 percent of the way to her full length and height.

Typically, your cat will continue to grow in length, height, and weight well after its first birthday. Once more, it can depend on the breed and the specific cat.

In Conclusion

Check your kitten’s growth using the cat growth chart shown above. Remember that the weights mentioned above are always on average; depending on the breed, your kitten may weigh less or more than average.

With this cat growth chart, it will be easy for you to follow your kitten’s growth during its life stages.

However, if your kitten seems to weigh too little or too much compared to the norm, you should see a veterinarian right away to see if there is a problem.

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