Kitten Growth Chart: Calculating Your Cat’s Growth

Are you just starting your journey to becoming a cat mother? Or did your cat give birth to a litter of kittens? Understanding your kitten’s growth stages is essential to make sure they are developing properly. A kitten goes through numerous changes to become a cat: their eyes and ear canals open, eye color changes, growth of teeth, and so much more.

When developing, their nutritional needs also change every week. This is when it becomes more essential to know what growth stage your cat is in. In this blog, you will find out how you can easily calculate your cat’s size, their growth chart, and how you can keep them healthy and strong.

Formula to Calculate Your Cat’s Size

It is not easy to calculate the exact size of a cat. A cat’s size depends on various factors like breed, nutrition, health, genetics, and the environment in which they grow. The very basic way you can calculate your cat’s size is the given formula:

Cat’s Size = ((Weight of your cat) / (Age of your cat)) * 32

This age should be in days or weeks only. This formula is a very general estimation of your cat’s size, and it might not give an accurate size for all cats. Pedigree breeds with particular growth patterns are not included. You should contact a vet to know more about your cat’s growth and health.

General Insight to Cat Size Calculator

There are various cat size calculators you can use to calculate your cat’s size and growth. From these cat size calculators, you can identify your kitten’s size based on age and weight. You must check the kitten’s weight chart for your cat’s growth stages.

How Big Can a Cat Get

As mentioned earlier, the size of pet or domesticated cats can vary depending upon the breed and individual genetics. Common domestic cats like Siamese, British Shorthair, and others normally weigh anything between 6 pounds and 10 pounds, that is, 2.7 kg to 4.5 kg. A cat’s size can also vary within the same breed.

Maine Coon, is one of the biggest domestic cat breeds that weigh 11 pounds to 25 pounds, that is, 4.9 kgs to 11 kgs. Moreover, males are larger than females. Himmy is the heaviest house cat to date, weighing over 46 pounds.

If you are someone planning to get a cat, make sure to keep monitoring your cat’s weight from time to time. Take them to a vet for regular check-ups.

Cat Growth Chart (Table)

Having a chart to monitor your cat’s growth is not only beneficial but also important. You can read in detail about your cat’s growth, and the following is a table you can refer to understand the weight of your cat.

Age of Your Cat	Weight of Your Cat
Newborn kitten	1.8 ounces to 5.3 ounces
1 week old kitten	5.3 ounces to 8.8 ounces
2 weeks old kitten	8.8 ounces to 12.3 ounces
3 weeks old kitten	12.3 ounces to 15.9 ounces
4 to 8 weeks kitten	1.4 pounds to 2 pounds
9 to 12 weeks old kitten	Around 3 pounds
12 to 16 weeks old kitten	Around 4 pounds
16 to 20 weeks old kitten	5 pounds to 6 pounds
6 months to Adulthood of a cat	6 pounds to 8 pounds

Learn in detail about kitten growth stages:

1. Newborn Kitten

Newborn babies have their eyes shut and ears folded. This way, their eyes get time to develop even after birth. Their noses and paws are pink in color. Also, they have no teeth or gums. These newborn kittens are helpless and need the aid of their mothers for everything.

2. Premature Kitten

Premature kittens are very weak and have low weight. Their body size is quite small, and there is almost no fur on their body. They don’t have enough energy to crawl to their mothers.

3. 1-Week Old Kitten

At this stage, their umbilical cord will be detached, but their eyes will be shut. Almost after the 7th day of their birth, their ears will unfold. One of their eyes might open faster than the other, but you should not forcefully try to open it at any time.

Initially, they might have blue eyes, but that will change over time. They will need stimulation from their mothers to pass their bowels or urinate.

4. 2 Week Old Kitten

At this stage, their eyes will be fully open, and their ears will be unfolded. You should consult a vet if you can’t see these signs. They can locate their mother’s nipples easily and cooperate with them.

It would be best to get a litter box ready for the kittens. It would be best to clean the kittens with a soft, wet cloth.

5. 3 Week Old Kitten

Their eyes might still be blue, but their ears would now point upwards. They can even hear, and you might see some teeth grow. Their mothers will still be responsible for cleaning them after they defecate or urinate. They will also start purring and exploring their nearby places and recognize their littermates.

6. 4 to 8 Weeks Old Kitten

At this stage, their teeth development will be completed, and they can chew their food easily. You must help them brush their teeth every day. Cats are not colorblind and can see things around them. They will be urinating independently, so you will need to potty train them. When 7 weeks old, they can start consuming solid food.

7. 9 to 12 Weeks Old Kitten

They can now start weighing 1 pound per month on average. They will start to bond with their caregivers, and their baby teeth will be fully developed. But these teeth will soon start falling off. Kittens will now develop their adult eye color.

8. 12 to 16 Weeks Old Kitten

Now, they will need more nutritious food to grow healthy. Their appetite will increase, making them feel hungry all the time. Male kittens will now be able to develop testicles, so you will need to check if both testicles are present.

9. 16 to 20 weeks old kitten

They will not start acting like an adult cat and will be independent, not needing help from their mother. They can also start playing with their littermates. You should bring them some toys to play with since activities are needed for their growth.

10. 6 Months to Adulthood

Now, they might gain some weight, but you don’t need to feel pressured about it, as with time, they will get better. You need to again check for their testicles, and if you don’t see both of them, it means they have a condition called cryptorchidism.

This can turn cancerous over time, so you must consult the vet immediately. Once they reach puberty, these acts will start giving birth, and the process continues for the coming babies as well.

When Do Kittens Stop Growing

Kittens grow rapidly during their first six months, but they stop when they turn one year old. However, some cats might grow up to 2 years of age. The following are some factors that affect their growth:

• Bone growth: A cat’s bone growth is completed by the time they turn 12 months of age.
• Size & breed: By 9 to 12 months, medium-sized breeds reach their full size.
• Sexual maturity: A cat can start reproducing from 4 to 9 months, but that does not mean they have reached their maximum growth stage. They can grow after that as well.
• Nutrition & diet: It is essential that your cat’s food needs are being met so that they can reach their potential growth size.
• Weight: Some cats can gain weight when they are 18 months or 2 years old, but that doesn’t mean their height will increase too.

How to Weigh Your Kitten

Weighing your kitten at home is much easier than you can imagine. There are various tools or ways to weigh your cat, which can then help you check for their size. It is recommended that you weigh your cat every few months or, even better, weigh them every week.

If your cat does not like to be weighed, you can offer them treats during or after. You can even weigh them when they are sleeping. Following are some weighing options you can use depending on your convenience and availability of the products:

1. Veterinary Scale

Veterinary scales are used to measure the weight of animals. They are available in different and can accommodate animals of any weight. Flat scale is the most common type of veterinary scale. Others are hanging scales and beam scales.

2. Digital Pet Scale

These are electronic devices used to weigh pets. They can weigh pets up to 50 pounds. These tools also have features like a built-in timer or memory function to save the previous readings. Thus helping you to track your at’s health and growth.

3. Baby Scale

These are scales used to weigh babies, but you can also use them to weigh your cat. But remember, if your cat is too heavy or big, refrain from using this tool. These scales give accurate measurements with slight variations at times.

4. Regular Bathroom Scale

Another measurement tool you can use is a regular bathroom scale. These are used to weigh people at home. They make use of sensors that can detect the weight of a person and display the measurement digitally.

How Do You Tell How Old a Kitten Is?

Certain factors can help you understand the age of a kitten. However, getting in touch with a vet is essential to know the exact age.

1. Teeth Can Speak About a Cat’s Age

Younger kittens have deciduous teeth or baby teeth in the starting, which are replaced by adult teeth when they reach six months of age. The condition of their teeth and gums can help identify their age. As they grow old, they lose teeth.

2. Identify a Cat’s Age by Their Coat Color

Like humans, cats also get grey hair as they grow older. But this can vary depending on the cat’s genes and original coat fur when they were young.

3. Activities of Your Cat

As your cat ages, they stop indulging in spots or playing around like before. They spend more time sleeping.

4. Musculature

Cats start to lose muscle mass when they grow old. Cats that have grown old get thin and weaker than their younger counterparts.

What Should Kittens Eat to Grow Strong and Healthy?

Your cat needs carbohydrates, dietary fibers, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and many other nutrients to grow healthy and strong. You should know what you should feed them, how much they need to eat, and how often they need to be fed.

Your kitten’s diet plan will be different from that of an adult cat. They need to be high in protein levels, many calories, and a high amount of certain nutrients like calcium.

Also, you need to provide them with wet cat food as well as dry cat food. Wet cat food is high in moisture, which keeps your kittens hydrated, keeps their kidneys healthy, and cleans the urinary tract properly. However, it would be best if you kept in mind that they can stick to your teeth, resulting in dental diseases or painful cavity problems for your cat.

On the other hand, dry cat food is easy to feed your kittens. Ensure your cat is not eating too much of this dry cat food, as overeating can lead to various health ailments. Heart problems, blood pressure issues, respiratory problems, and arthritis are a few to name.

Kittens grow rapidly, so they need to eat a lot more food compared to adult cats. But making sure that you are developing healthy long-term eating habits is essential.

You can use the instructions or directions provided on the labels to feed your kittens initially until they adjust according to their needs. You should also consult a vet to discuss the proportions you should give them.

The vet can calculate the kitten’s weight using a tool called body condition score. Young kittens should be given one-fourth to half a cup of food. If your kitten is losing weight, you will have to increase their caloric requirement, and if they are gaining too much weight, then you need to cut down on their calories.

There are two types of feeding methods that you can use to feed your kitten, which include the free feeding method and the meal feeding method. The free-feeding method uses dry food and leaves the bowl of food for some time before it gets ready.

This helps you feed your kitten anywhere, anytime, with ease. However, meal-feeding methods use wet food that can’t be left outside for long and needs to be consumed immediately.

Feeding Tips for Raising a Healthy Cat

Choosing the right kitten food and proper feeding is essential to raise a healthy cat. Following are some tips to help your kitten grow better through nutrition:

• Follow a diet for your kittens that includes all the nutrients and is essential. At times, pet food labels can be complex and difficult to read, so the best you can do is reach out to your cat’s vet for better understanding.
• Avoid introducing new food to your kittens suddenly. You will have to make your diet changes slowly. These changes should be done over 7 days or so. The best way to do this is to decrease the quantity of old food and increase the quantity of new food.
• It would be best if you kept your cat’s appetite in check. When there is a sudden decrease in their appetite, it might be an indication of some growing illness.
• Make sure that you are feeding the best quality kitten food to your kitten till they cross the one-year-old age mark.

Conclusion

It is normal for a cat owner to think about your cat’s growth and development. Having a cat growth chart helps you monitor their birth and adulthood development. Depending on breed, genetics, and growth patterns, a cat’s size can vary sharply.

Giving them the right nutrition is also essential to make sure their growth does not become stagnant at any point in time. Besides referring to these cat growth charts, you should stay connected to your cat’s vet for a better understanding of their development.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Kitten Growth Chart?

A kitten growth chart is a visual representation of weight and size expectations at different stages of your cat’s growth journey. You can monitor their growth and development using these charts.

How Can I Ensure My Cat’s Healthy Growth?

You can help your cat achieve healthy growth by providing a balanced diet, taking them to regular vet check-ups, playing with them, and creating a safe environment.

What Should I Do if My Cat’s Growth Seems Stunted or Excessive?

When you find that your cat’s growth has become stagnant or is excessive, you should immediately consult a veterinarian to check if your cat has developed any health issues.