Up to what age do cats grow?

Cats have been considered domestic animals or pets for more than eight thousand years. Along with dogs, these lovable animals make up the most popular group of pets worldwide. The love for cats is deeply rooted among pet owners thanks to the general characteristics they share with each other, such as independence and cleanliness of their living area, as these can be key factors in the decision making process when it comes to having an animal at home.

Being highly independent animals, they do not need excessive care nor do they demand many hours of cleaning by their owners. In addition, the size of cats is generally much smaller compared to other types of pets, which is a benefit for those people who want a pet but do not have large spaces or much free time for their attention. However, although all are advantages, at the moment of getting a kitten there are many people who wonder: How big is my cat going to grow?

Up to what age do cats grow in size?

When we are looking for a cat for adoption, questions are frequently asked, such as, for example, up to what age cats grow or what is the final size they acquire. However, the growth of cats is mainly influenced by their breed, their genetic content and the age at which they reach maturity.

In turn, the type of food that felines receive in their first months of life is crucial for their development and growth. If there are imbalances with respect to nutrition, the process can stagnate or present important delays, a condition that can also be influenced by the external environment in which the animal develops.

Answering the question “how old do cats grow?”, these animals go through growth phases or milestones: from their first days of birth, when they are blind and deaf, to the age at which their body structures finally stop growing and show no changes -beyond an increase or decrease in weight depending on the diet they follow and the activity they perform-.

A few weeks after birth, cats open their eyes, start to move much more, try to walk and take small disoriented steps. This happens while they are in the mother’s care and feeding on mother’s milk, at least until week 8, when their independence begins. Growth, after these first two months and until they reach sexual maturity and are considered adults, is very constant and rapid. In fact, the first heat, in the case of females, usually comes at approximately six months.

Drastic changes are evident during the first eight months or so, because at that age their skeletal structures tend to slow down markedly. However, this does not indicate that they have reached their full growth, so it does not answer up to what age cats grow.

Felines may experience other types of changes during the later months, but they will not be as rapid and significant as in their first few months, and additional changes will take place during the first three years or so, and that is when their growth phase ends. This should not be confused with coat or weight gain. A cat’s weight is linked to the amount of physical activity it engages in and the food provided by its owner.

In addition to the above factors, the breed of cat has a considerable influence on the growth of the animal, as there are some breeds that take a little longer to grow fully and others that grow much faster. In some cases, the first year is considered the period in which they reach their maximum growth.

Are there differences between males and females?

The sex of the cat is also a factor that influences how old cats grow. At birth it is very difficult to distinguish between a female cat and a male cat, since their genitalia are not well differentiated externally and are usually distinguished over the months. Beyond the estrus period and all that it involves for females, there are certain variations in relation to growth that are generally linked to the sex of the animal and determine the age at which cats grow.

Up to what age do male and female cats grow?