Cats are small felines that they grow incredibly fast. In just one year they weigh around 100 grams when they are born to 2 or 3kg ten months later. But in addition, they are considered adults from 6 or 7 months, because at that age they begin to have heat and, therefore, if mating occurs, the cat will give birth to her own offspring. With only six months, yes.
But the growth of cats does not end during the first year, but in the second and third years their bodies will expand a little, and they will also gain weight as their development nears its end. Know each stage that your friend will go through and enjoy each one of them with the camera in hand as time passes very quickly, and immediately you will see that your ball of hair has become a Mr. Cat.
Stages of the cat's life
Below we detail the different stages of growth that your cat will experience throughout its life. In each one we will explain the changes that occur in their body and behavior so that you know at all times how your cat is growing.
First month
Kittens are born blind and deaf. They depend on the mother to maintain their body temperature, feed and stay clean, as she helps them relieve themselves. At this early age they already recognize the smell of their mother's saliva and are guided by smell to follow her, although it will not be until the third week of age that this sense will be fully developed.
More or less after two weeks they will open their eyes, and they will begin to explore their environment, but staggering, and it is that until 17 days they will not be able to walk well. For now, they remain close to the mother who will not hesitate to defend them against whoever is necessary. That is why at this stage it is better that, if we live with dogs, we never leave them alone with the cats.
At three weeks weaning can begin, giving them canned food (better if it is natural). Also It is a good age for them to learn to relieve themselves on a tray, as they can relieve themselves. You can teach them by gently putting them in the litter after every meal; so you will see how very soon he will understand that this is where he has to go every time he needs it.
With four weeks they begin to play with each other, jumping over the mother and biting each other. At this stage they learn that they must control the strength of your teethas they can sometimes hurt.
Second month
With functional eyes and ears, being able to maintain body temperature, and with an immense desire to explore everything, a very important stage begins: socialization. Little by little their mother will stop breastfeeding them, so the kittens will have to learn to be a little independent. So with this age the time will have come for the animal to have contact with humans. We will have to take them gently, and give them caresses and pampering so that they associate us with something positive (darling), since it is hoped that these cats are not scared by people, but quite the opposite.
With eight weeks, they can be adopted. But you should know that they are very active and very playful, something that your furniture may not like too much. Although if you have a scraper within reach, there need be no problems.
Between the third and sixth month
At this age the cat "already" is a cat. You already have everything you need to prepare for adulthood. It does not need a mother to survive, and it is very likely that you start wanting to go abroad, something that we will only allow you if we are completely sure that you will not be in danger.
Females will go into heat around 6 months. If you only want a friend, a pet, it will be more than recommended spay or neuter them (both male and female) around this age. Although it can be done between 4 and 6 months, the most advisable thing is to wait until 6, to avoid development problems (especially in the case of males). In addition, if you give him permission to go for a walk, this will prevent your cat from coming home with an injury or, if it is a female, with a surprise (pregnancy).
From the sixth month to the year
Now yes, you already have an adult cat. They may seem like they sleep too much, but you should know that they love to play, especially at night. Yes, they are nocturnal animals, so if you want your sleep at night you will have to take advantage of the time you are awake during the day to play with him and "tire him out." In the market you will find many types of toys, like ropes, laser pointers, stuffed animals ... Choose those that you think they will like the most, and have fun with your best furry friend.
From the first year to three
During this stage the cat will finish developing and will begin to show adolescent behaviors. It is usual that during these years do what you want, disobeying even the orders we give him. Despite their size, they are still puppies who love to play and attract attention, something they always achieve, right?
From three to seven years
Little by little we will notice that our cat does not want to play as much as before. He spends a lot of time sleeping (around 14:XNUMX p.m. a day), and his behaviors it becomes more territorial if it fits. In fact, from these ages it is difficult (but not impossible) for them to accept a new cat in their territory, which, by the way, is your home.
From seven to twelve years
From the age of seven a cat begins to age. They become even more sedentary, calmer. Your friend will spend a lot of time resting, and not so much playing. Of course, he will continue to do so at times, but as he approaches seniority you will no longer have so much desire from chasing toys.
From the age of twelve
Your cat is old. You will notice how his appetite decreases, and that his senses deteriorate. Can be produced dermatological changes, develop hyperthyroidism y their claws can grow too big due to little use. They spend less time grooming, something that will not take long to see in their coat, which will lose its shine.
The life expectancy of a cat is about 25 years. But regardless of how far it goes, if you give it care, attention and above all a lot of love, will become your best friend.
How old do cats grow?
How long do cats grow? As we have seen, the cat is a feline that has a very fast growth. In just one year, your bones and muscles will reach adulthood. This means that you will certainly be ready to 'see the world' or, in the event that you can't get out, to be a Cat Lord.
His behavior we will notice that it will change, little by little. The desire to play will continue to be high, but as time passes, he will prefer a cuddling session and not so much fun. But be careful, this does not mean that we do not have to play with him, but simply that we will not see him running around with as much energy as when he was a puppy.
But, despite the fact that it is recommended to give them feed (croquettes) for adult cats from the year of life, its development will not be finished yet. If during the first months its skeleton develops, from the second year on we will see that it 'takes on a body', that it widens. It is when the muscle mass finishes developing. This development can last more or less, depending on the final size of the animal and the breed, but will usually end by 3 years.
From then on, and from my point of view, we will have a truly adult cat, in every way.
When do you start seeing and hearing a cat?
En general, take between 9 and 16 days. The ability to begin to hear and to see appear almost at the same time. If we focus on the eyes, at first they will be blue, but as the days go by, their final color will be defined, which can be a greenish, brownish or more yellowish hue depending on their genetics.
His ears, which were attached at birth, now open and begin to be useful to the kitten. Thanks to them, little by little the sense of balance will dominate, as it is located in the middle ear of each ear.
What is the body mass of a cat?
The weight of the cat will increase as it grows. Therefore, below we will tell you what the average weight is:
- Newborn: 100 grams
- First week: 115-170 grams
- 2-3 weeks: 170-225 grams
- 4-5 weeks: 225-450 grams
- 2 months: 680-900 grams
- 3 months: 1,4 kilos
- 4 months: 1,8 kilos
- 6 months: 3 kilos
From half a year of life and until he reaches twelve months of age, between 100 and 150 grams are added approximately per month. But there are many cats that will not finish their growth until after two years, which will be when they have reached their maximum weight which is about 4 kilos on average.
Knowing the different stages of kitten growth can help you a lot to understand its development. So we hope this article has been helpful to you.