When is a kitten no longer considered to be a kitten? It’s a question that all cat owners wonder and the answer isn’t as straightforward as it may seem. Knowing when your cat will stop growing will go a long way to helping you predict her needs.
There are 3 stages of cat growth, the kitten, adolescent and adulthood. As reported by the popular cat blog Pacific Tail Pets in their article When do cat's stop growing? it is stated cats stop growing at 12 months old.
A Matter of Time
While kittens are generally considered to be adults when they hit 12 months of age, there are several factors that determine when your cat will finally stop growing, and in the case of many breeds, that doesn’t happen for several years.
In general, kittens tend to grow near their final size around the 1 year mark. However, most cats continue growing past their first birthday, albeit much more slowly and not nearly as noticeably as it is during the first few months.
Experts agree that most cats will do most of their growth during the first year of their life, and many breeds will continue to develop until around 18 months of age. In the case of larger breeds of cats like the Maine Coon, growth can continue up until their 4th birthday.