How big will my cat grow? And when do cat stop growing? This question probes every new cat owner from time to time. Cats grow fast when they are young, but there is no end period to their growth. Kittens can grow even after their growing phase, aka infancy. Also, there is indoor vs outdoor cats growth one must know. It is important to note at what age do cats stop growing based on their gender, birth order, and breed. Doing so will help you to prepare for the best nutrition for your kitty’s overall growth.
When Do Cats Stop Growing?
In general, cats grow in size from twelve to eighteen months. There are, however, a few caveats to this. The breed has a big hand in the growth of your cat; below are examples of big cat breeds that might cross the 18 month growth time.
Maine Coon
These are the largest domesticated indoor cats. Maine coon height can grow as tall as up to three or four feet and weigh between ten and twenty-five pounds; males tend to be heavier.
Savannah
Savannah cat is a result of interbreeding, they vary in size, but if their descendent is closer to a male, they will end up large. They weigh between twelve and twenty pounds and have a height of one to two feet. Their growth comes to an end after two years of age.
Ragdoll
Like Maine Coon, ragdolls are also known for being big; they continue to grow from twelve months to four years. They can weigh up to twenty pounds. And have a height of nine to eleven inches.
Bengals
Bengal cats are a mix between an Asian leopard cat and a domestic cat (yeah, weird), which results in an aggressive cat breed. A full grown Bengal cat can weigh up to twenty pounds and have a height of eleven to thirteen inches.
Domestic Short Hair
Domestic short hair cat have a growth period of twelve to nineteen months; they no longer grow in size and height. They weigh between ten and twenty-two pounds and have a height of eleven inches.
Growing in Indoor vs Outdoor Cats
Indoor cats get well fed, receive medical treatment, and have a safe growing environment. But, whether the cat is grown indoors or on the streets, there is little to no difference in their size. The difference between indoor feline and outdoor cats is indoor ones can grow fat and even become obese due to overfeeding if not properly cared for. So inorder to eliminate the obesity in your kitty go with the best weight loss cat food. Meanwhile, you have outdoors that aren’t skinny and malnourished; why would that be? It is because they are well-equipped to fend for themselves. Cats have the tools and instincts to take care of themselves.
How Big Do Cats Get?
How long do cats grow? This is a question every new cat owner or a cat wonder who brings home a new breed will ask themselves. Below is a short list of big cats on a general basis.
Ragdoll
Popular choice among cat lovers. They are quiet and gentle in their deposition. They grow to have up to twenty pounds at most and ten pounds minimum.
Persian
As the name suggests, the cat has its roots in Persia ( now Iran). They can grow to weigh between nine to thirteen pounds.
American Shorthair
These cats are small and energetic. A curiosity about everything around them, they weigh from eight to fifteen pounds.
Exotic Shorthair
These quiet cats weigh up to eight to fourteen pounds and have a lifespan of twelve to fifteen years.
Devon Rex
This breed is hypoallergenic; they are small in size and weigh from five to ten pounds.
Factors that Effect the Cat’s Growth
There are multiple factors and their combination that affect your cat’s growth. A good and healthy combination of these factors determines the quality of life for your cat.
Diet
Like everything, diet plays a pivotal role in the sound and healthy development of the body. During your cat’s infancy, it should be fed a proper and balanced diet. There are a few cats (the breeds that will grow big) that require kitten food even after the infancy period depending on there; this ensures that they grow large and to their utmost size.
Genetics
Genetics decides how big your cat can grow; based on that, you choose the preferred diet for your cat. This ties in the pure, mixed, and new breeds (although unknown or uncharted breeding only happens sometimes).
Birth Order
The later the birth order of a kitten is, the smaller it will grow down the line. We have an instinctual pull towards the cute little kitten, and we will go for the one that wouldn’t grow too big. But you should still pay attention to other ones you have gotten from a rescue shelter.
Gender
Gender is another important piece of information in deciding the average cat size. Female cats tend to grow fast but do not grow bigger than their male counterparts. Male cats, on the other hand, grow slowly but will outgrow female cats in the long run.
Conclusion
A cat’s developmental cycle is a big reflection of how big do cats get and its nutrition, gender, and breed. Depending on the mentioned factors, a cat can grow healthy and big or unhealthy and obese. The obese cat may appear fluffy and cuddly, but it is not a good thing for them. They will suffer in the long run. So from a health perspective, it is important to ask yourself about how big it can grow. Their well-being depends on it.