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How long cats grow and how big they become depends partly on their genes, but external factors such as nutrition also play a role. A cat’s growth happens in six stages. By understanding these different phases, you can give your kitten the perfect start in life and support it as it grows up.
After around 66 days, pregnant cats give birth to their kittens. At this point, these tiny, adorable creatures don’t even weigh 100 grams. Yet over the next few months, they quickly grow into curious little house cats.
The development of kittens into adult cats can be divided into six different stages. Below, we introduce the individual phases of a cat’s life. We explain what matters most in terms of care and keeping, before answering general questions about how cats grow.
1st Stage: The First Week of Life
After birth, the still-blind and fragile kittens absolutely need their mother’s milk. Also known as colostrum, this milk contains essential nutrients and protective antibodies (protective proteins). The latter are particularly important for a kitten’s health, as its immune system is still immature and weakened after birth.
Anatomical Features
After about a week, the tiny kittens open their eyes and their umbilical cord dries up and falls off. As their coat is not yet fully developed, kittens still need their mother’s protective warmth for some time.
What Is Especially Important during this Time?
To give your kittens a healthy start in life, you should make sure to monitor their weight daily. Weight charts help you check whether the kittens are developing well and allow you to adjust their feeding if necessary.
Top tip: In the zooplus online magazine, you can find out how to monitor your kittens’ weight– including a growth chart for young cats.
2nd Stage: The Milk Teeth Come Through
In the first few weeks of life, kittens still have very little strength. That’s why they spend most of the day sleeping. Between the third and eighth week of life, the first milk teeth usually start to come through.
A kitten’s full set of milk teeth consists of 26 small teeth, which are much smaller and sharper than those of an adult cat.
3rd Stage: The First Solid Food
After four weeks, kittens have already gained quite a bit of weight. They can finally walk and play with their siblings. They also begin to eat solid food.
This is the right time to gradually offer your kitten soft kitten food. However, this change in diet should happen slowly. At first, the digestive system is still used to mother’s milk and needs time to adjust to the new food. Otherwise, digestive problems such as diarrhoea, constipation and stomach aches may occur.
Around four weeks after birth, kittens begin to eat their first solid food.
4th Stage: The Little Cats Continue to Grow Steadily
The kittens are now two months old and eating only solid food. They are, of course, still growing and therefore have a higher energy and nutrient requirement than their adult counterparts.
That’s why you should feed them special kitten food that is tailored precisely to this stage of life. Whether you prefer to serve your kitten dry food or wet food is entirely up to you.
Good to know: Between the third and sixth month of life , the change of teeth takes place. During this time, the milk teeth are replaced by 30 permanent teeth. For comparison, humans have around 32 teeth, while dogs have as many as 42 permanent teeth.
When Does a Cat’s Eye Colour Change?
Kittens are initially born with blue eyes. This is because the pigment cells in their eyes are not yet fully developed. Immediately after birth, a kitten’s eyes are colourless but appear bluish due to the way light is refracted.
After about three to four months, the pigment cells begin to produce the pigment melanin. During this time, the kitten develops its individual eye colour.
5th Stage: From Kitten to Cat
After seven exciting months of life, the cat is fully grown. Female cats now come into season and can become pregnant. Male cats usually reach sexual maturity about a month later. In what age should cats be neutered?
Once the cat has reached sexual maturity, and after careful consideration and advice, neutering your cat can be considered.
6th Stage: A Cat’s Growth Is Now Complete
The cats have completed their first year of life. In the years that follow, they no longer continue to grow. After around eight years of life experience, the fur around the muzzle may turn slightly white. This is often the first sign of ageing in cats. Gradually, increased tiredness and reluctance to move may follow.
When Do Kittens Become Calmer?
In the first months of life, cats are curious, playful and full of energy. Once they have completed their first year of life , they generally become noticeably calmer. Even so, they still love to play and enjoy mental stimulation.
From junior to senior: Discover our wide range of cat food and cat accessories – everything you need for a long and happy feline life in the online shop at zooplus.
How Big Do Cats Get?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. On the one hand, a cat’s growth depends on its genes and factors such as nutrition during kittenhood. On the other hand, many cat breeds differ greatly in their size and body build.
In the UK, for example, the European Shorthair is particularly popular and grows to an average length of 80 to 90 centimetres. Adult Maine Coon cats, especially males, can reach lengths of up to 120 centimetres.
How Much Can a Cat Weigh?
Just like their size, a cat’s weight varies depending on breed and sex: Male Persian cats can weigh up to eight kilograms. Female Bengal cats, on the other hand, are lightweights and usually weigh between three and four kilograms.
When Are Cats Fully Grown and How Long Do They Live?
Cats are considered fully grown by the end of their first year of life at the latest. Healthy cats live to an average age of around 15 years. Some cats even reach the age of 19. This shows that a cat’s life expectancy is individual and influenced by genetics. Illness, malnutrition or an unbalanced diet can have a negative impact on a cat’s lifespan. So it’s important to find out what your cat needs at every stage of life.
Top tip: You can find out how to convert cat years into human years in our article on cat age. You’ll also find more articles on caring for young kittens in our kitten section.
Important Note: The content provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your pet's health, please always consult a licensed veterinarian.
This article was translated using Artificial Intelligence from the original German zooplus Magazine. While the original content was authored by industry experts and reviewed by our editorial team, this automated translation has not been human-edited and is provided for informational purposes.
At the Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen I was extensively trained as a veterinarian and was able to gain experience in various fields such as small animal, large animal and exotic animal medicine as well as pharmacology, pathology and food hygiene.
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