At what age is a cat an adult? This is the question that many people ask themselves. The transition to adulthood involves many stages, from behavioral changes to feeding behaviors.
In this article, we will look at the different stages leading to the adulthood of the cat and especially what are the characteristics of a cat that is adult so that you can have an accurate opinion.
At what age a cat is adult : Generally 1 year
A cat usually becomes an adult at the age of one, here’s how to tell if your cat has reached adult size:
- He has finished his growth Your cat is no longer growing and is the size of an adult cat. You could notice before that it grew more and more slowly until it stopped completely.
- His behaviour is stable He is not as crazy as he was when he was a kitten. His aggressive and rebellious period is also behind him. In short, he has a totally adult behavior.
- He eats like a normal cat. His nutritional needs correspond to an adult cat. He has a diversified diet and eats at regular intervals.
The 6 steps to adulthood
Your cat goes through many stages to reach adulthood. Knowing them allows you to know exactly what stage your cat is in.
Here are the 6 stages that lead to a cat’s adulthood:
The neonatal period
This period begins at birth and ends on the ninth day. He is then only a newborn who is very thin and does not yet open his eyes. His senses are limited and he is entirely dependent on his mother. It is not weaned and can do almost nothing on its own; its mother must constantly take care of it.
Kittens of this age are still in their cat flaps and are not yet fit to live with humans.
The transition period
At this time, the kitten develops his senses and begins to be a little mobile. It can open its eyes and move around a bit. This period lasts from the ninth day to the fifteenth day. He begins to learn the most rudimentary things of life and to discover his environment while remaining totally unfit to have a real autonomy and to live without his mother.
The period of socialization
Until the seventh or eighth week, the cat will enter a phase where it learns the life in group and will begin to move a lot and to play with the other kittens of the range. It will also consume food other than the mother’s milk. This period is the one when the cat is weaned and can therefore do without its mother for food.
He finally achieves real autonomy, although it is very incomplete and he still does not have complete control of his body, being able to cause loss and fracas in an apartment as you probably know very well ????
The juvenile period
The cat reaches its adult size during this phase of life. It will still be energetic but will be much more dexterous when moving around and will be aware of its body. Sexual behaviours appear in unspayed cats. He will normally no longer cause damage by knocking over everything in his path.
He will be able to have a real autonomy and will be totally able to have good habits. No more furniture used as a scratching post or refusal of the litter box.
The puberty period
At 6 or 7 months of age, cats reach the puberty phase, for 5 to 8 months for females. This stage corresponds to adolescence and cats are generally rebellious during this phase of life, often being aggressive and disobedient.
Don’t worry, this period is short and once the transition to adulthood is made, he will return to normal behavior.
The adult period
The cat is now mature and more balanced and calm. After going through the various stages of a cat’s growth, he reaches his final stage, at the age of one year. Both his body and mind are much calmer and he no longer needs to jump around to expend all his energy.
If you have a house cat, this is the definitive end to excess energy. ✊
Cat Adulthood: A Breed-by-Breed Review
While the average is 1 year, this changes a lot for some breeds. For example, the Maine Coon can take up to 4 years to become an adult. Brittanics take almost 3 years to reach that age.
Siamese and Persians take up to 2 years.
But in any case, at the age of one year, he will have a behavior that will be close to that of an adult.
At what age a cat is an adult: The final word
Cats take an average of 1 year to reach adulthood, but in order to accurately know your cat’s age, knowing its various behavioral and physical characteristics is essential. With this article, we hope to have given you all the clues to find out!
See you soon! ????♀️
