Tabby Cat Growth Chart – What To Expect?

If you own a domestic shorthair, orange tabby cat, or classic tabby as a pet (or any domestic cat, for that matter), you are already aware of how much joy they can bring. They play with you, run around, are very affectionate, and genuinely enjoy life!

Whether they have a tabby pattern or not, cats are all different and have various growth rates and life spans according to the breed of cat. We gathered as much information as possible to create this helpful guide because every cat is unique, i.e., it's not a cat breed but a coat pattern. Although this guide is intended for tabby cats, it will show pet owners what to anticipate at different ages and sizes.

We'll go over everything, from the stage of the newborn kitten to adulthood and the end of a cat's life. I'll also discuss some domestic cat health problems that are typical and that you might encounter at particular growth stages. Check out the tabby cat growth chart.

Tabby Cat Growth Chart

Male tabby cats and female tabby cats will slightly differ, but this is the cat’s weight on average.

How Big Do Tabby Cats Get?

Let’s learn about tabby cat stages of life.

Newborn Kittens

The newborn kitten stage is the first stage in any cat's life. They are just now beginning to understand who they are and what they are capable of. Kittens start to learn how to hear, speak and see.

They also start to form their own distinctive eye pigment. Additionally, they find purring, and they begin to develop a rapport with the owners. A kitten will be very frail when born into a litter, typically a litter of other kittens.

As they gain strength and attempt to gain weight, they will frequently nurse from the mother cat. Besides nursing, kitten formula will be their main food source.

All the necessary vitamins and minerals are included in kitten formulas like KMR Liquid Milk Replacement to help kittens develop into strong, healthy cats. It typically takes a newborn kitten 7–8 weeks to gain its first few pounds of weight, and a newborn kitten will only start out weighing 2 to 6 ounces.

Newborn kittens typically weigh between 3.5 and 3.75 ounces at birth, with the larger breeds being on, the heavier end of the spectrum. That weighs somewhere between 80 and 150 grams. The newborn kitten will consider less if there are many kittens in the litter due to resources. The newborn kitten will weigh more if fewer kittens are in the litter.

Feeding Chart For A Newborn Kitten

Newborn kittens need to be fed frequently throughout the day, sometimes up to five or six times, as you can see from the chart. You'll be able to cut back on the number of feeding sessions as the kitten gets older.

Once they weigh between 10 ounces and one pound, they should eat at least three times daily. At this stage, kittens will mostly consume formula, and as the number of feeding sessions decreases, the overall intake of formula actually rises.

It's best to try to feed the kitten throughout the day at regular intervals. Additionally, feeding times should be regular so that they can establish a routine and you can predict when they will become hungry again. During the first three to five weeks, a newborn kitten must eat every two to three hours.

Two To Six Months Old

Your kitten will be able to begin learning how to use the litter box somewhere in the first week of the second month. The real way to do this is to observe the mother cat and gradually cultivate those instincts.

Even though they may still be hesitant when approaching, they will walk with more assurance than before. But kittens are quick learners, and they will eventually acquire the balance required for relaxed walking. There is a lot of exploration happening at this point.

Your kitten needs its first set of shots now, especially in the second and third months. Until they are about five or six months old, kittens should receive vaccinations every three to four weeks.

After that time, vaccinations can be given more frequently. The importance of kitten vaccinations stems from their role in preventing common diseases. A specific breed that is predisposed to contracting a particular illness might require additional immunizations in addition to the standard set.

Here are a few common health issues that vaccination shots will help prevent: FIV, FIP, Feline Calicivirus, Feline panleukopenia, and Feline rhinotracheitis.

Vaccination Schedule

Generally speaking, vaccinations are not always inexpensive. A veterinarian will typically want to examine your kitten for the first time, which will increase the cost of the vaccinations.

Six Months To Ten Months Old

Your cat will have gained quite a bit of weight by the sixth month. Your cat should weigh between 5 and 8 pounds at this point, which will be around the 24 to 25-week mark. Your cat's weight at this stage is crucial because it is between 50 and 75 percent of what it will eventually weigh as an adult. Once more, this is just an average and depends entirely on the breed and genetics of your cat.

You should be aware of your cat's appearance. Even though they might appear to be adults, they are still very much considered kittens. The torso will still be lean and tall, so that you can tell. Compared to an adult cat, the legs will still be relatively thin. Their teeth will also be significantly bigger at this stage, which is another sign of healthy development.

It's essential that the cat gets regular checkups at the vet at this point. They will require significant vaccinations at various stages of their development at this point. This is also the right time to have the cat neutered or spayed because they are still growing. Naturally, you should confirm all of this with the veterinarian to make sure the cat has adequately matured and is prepared for the procedure.

If there are male cats in the house, female cats who have not been spayed run the risk of becoming pregnant. Pregnancy in cats has its own distinct pattern of growth, weight gain, and behavioral changes. Here is more information on how to care for a pregnant cat.

Seventh To Eighth Month

In this period, cats can exhibit some of these behaviors, including the following:

• Spraying ( if they are not spayed or neutered)

• Development of their intelligence

• Increased appetite

• Increased sleep patterns

• Increased social behavior

• Deeper vocal tone

• Increased physical abilities

The cat's physical growth is the main thing you'll notice, and they'll start to realize they can run faster, jump higher, and take more calculated risks. If you have other pets in the house, your cat will also start interacting with them more. At this point, you must establish ground rules and leave a lasting impression.

You need to teach them to stay away from things if there is something you don't like them doing. This can be assisted by offering scratching posts, cat toys, deterrent sprays, or noisemakers. Once a cat establishes a routine, it can be very challenging to get them to change it as they get older.

You can start introducing them to various foods now that their teeth are almost fully developed. Sometimes it takes them nine to ten months to completely lose their baby teeth. Your cat may try to bite just about anything it can during the difficult teething stage.

At this age, cats need to be trained on what to bite and what not to, especially if they develop aggressive behavior. Many cat chew toys and ropes can be beneficial in this situation. These chewing ropes are great because they last a long time. They can also relieve some of the chewings by using catnip on a plaything.

With a balance of wet and dry food, gradually introducing your cat to adult cat food is best. If your teeth are still forming, look for foods that are gentler on them. The best cat foods for adults are those with high moisture ratios and are high in protein. Too soon transitioning your cat to adult food can result in common health problems like diarrhea.

Eleven Months To Twelve Months Old

At this point, your kitten has developed into a stunning adult cat. They should have received all of their vaccinations and grown considerably since they were litter. The cat will soon be practically fully grown, so these final two months are crucial.

The ideal weight and size that they will maintain for the majority of their lives will have been attained. Some breeds of cats won't ever get too big, to begin with, and some will grow more slowly than others.

By now, the transition of cats to an adult cat food diet should be complete. Additionally, they will be social and quite active in exploring their surroundings. Check out our 7 Best Dry Cat Foods For Adult Felines.

It's crucial to remember that even though cats may appear physically mature, their brains are still developing. There will still be a lot of teen behavior, which will be challenging to correct later, so the owner should immediately start training and rewarding good behavior.

Prime Years Of Cat Life

A tabby cat's prime years are generally between the ages of 3 and 6. Adult tabby cats will be most active and start to show their true personalities at this time. It's critical to consistently pique your cat's interest because they are busy at this age.

The boredom that cats this age experience may lead them to damage your valuable furniture, carpets, windowsills, and other items. Give these cat toys a try for the time being. Some store-bought toys are on that list, but you can also try some homemade ones.

They should be adult cats by this time and have received their primary vaccinations. After this point, shots will be required annually or every few years to boost those vaccines. The vaccinations will probably be given annually if your cat is at high risk for a particular disease.

It's crucial to maintain regular veterinary checkups. The majority of cat owners tend to believe their cat is in perfect health, but they are just as susceptible to problems.

The dental disease will be the most prevalent health issue that tabby cats and others will experience at this time. They might begin to develop dental decay, gum disease, bad breath, and other issues. Dental problems can have many different causes, including what people eat, but genetics is also probably a factor. Dental issues can have severe consequences in the future, so you shouldn't ignore this area.

RELATED: How Often Do You Take A Cat To The Vet – How Much Is Enough?

Later Years Of Cat Life

A cat will start to develop more complications as they get older. Cats should visit the vet annually for checkups and be tested for several illnesses and medical issues. The later years range in age from 7 to 10.

The age of the human equivalent will be between 40 and 50. During this time, your cat's previously brisk physical activity will start to slow down. They need to be stimulated because they will begin to put on weight, sometimes quite a bit, if they aren't constantly moving around.

Senior Years Of Cat Life

A cat ages quickly, much like a dog does. Your cat should be 10 years old by this time, which is roughly 60–70 years in human years. That is very old!

A cat's senior years can be extremely pleasurable or extremely painful for them. How well they are cared for in their early years will determine much of this. However, as cats age, their bodies do deteriorate. They are susceptible to all kinds of physical problems, including arthritis, obesity, poor vision, and instability. Without severe medical attention, diseases will be more challenging to combat.

The lack of physical activity can be especially problematic when you're trying to assist your cat in maintaining a healthy weight balance. For your cat to get the nutrients and vitamins they need to function well at this age, it may also need to change its diet to help its weight loss.

A cat's senior years can vary, but once they reach about 15 years of age, that is regarded as a significant achievement. Additionally, this has more drawbacks. Cats over the age of 15 are likely to experience significant behavioral changes. This can include modifications to the sound of their meow, ignorance, or even a refusal to use the litter box correctly.

At this point, your cat will likely begin to move very slowly and develop some serious physical ailments. The visits to the veterinarian will probably increase in frequency, and the costs will start to mount. If the situation doesn't seem promising, it might be more humane to talk to the vet about assisting your cat with a peaceful transition.

Which Cat Breeds Can Be Tabby Cats?

As we learned, tabby is not a cat breed, but different breeds can have tabby coat patterns mixed with their coat colors, just like the pattern is mackerel, tortoiseshell, colorpoint, bicolor, tricolor, etc. They usually have an M shape on their heads, like wild cats.

• British Shorthair

• Bengal

• Ragdoll

• Persian cat

• Siamese cat

• American Shorthair

• Siberian cat

• American Bobtail

• Norwegian Forest cat

• Tortoiseshell cat

• Abyssinian

• Egyptian Mau

Final Thoughts

I hope our tabby cat growth chart has helped you understand how much and what you need to feed your cat to have proper development.

Tabby cats will indeed show affection and love towards the owner. If you are one of those who likes cuddles, the breeds that can be tabbies are a perfect fit.

The kitten’s weight should be monitored since its metabolism changes quickly, and playing with it for at least 15 minutes a day is recommended.

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