Add More Food Options:
If your cats food is dry kibble, offer them canned food. Try adding different flavors to their diet with the consistencies of both dry and wet food.
Few cats prefer a grilled chicken while others a salmon stew- Consider adding these items to their diet, so they get more prone to eating, but make sure to transition their food to avoid any digestive imbalance properly.
Why Is It Important To Know When Your Cat Is An Adult
It is important to know when your cat is an adult, so you know if they are maturing properly. Using the standard aging of a cat will help create timelines and milestones for your training. For instance, kittens learn how to use the litter box at a very young age, and by the time they are an adult, they should know their nameeven if they dont respond to it.
What Age What Stage
Cats can live for an amazingly long time considering their small size. In general, smaller mammals have shorter lifespans, but cats are a little different. For example, although cats are smaller than most dogs, they generally live longer. Also, they are only slightly larger than rabbits, yet again live a great deal longer. The average lifespan for a pet cat is probably around 13 to 14 years. However, although their lifespan varies, a well cared for cat may commonly live to 15 or beyond, some make it to 18 or 20 and a few extraordinary felines even pass 25 or 30 years of age.
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The Problem With Average Cat Weight
Resources listing an average weight or range may not take into consideration other factors that affect weight. Factors like breed, sex and spayed/neutered status could all have an impact.
For example, the weight range for a Siamese Cat is 8 to 15 pounds. Females typically weigh 8 to 12 pounds, however, while males can weigh 11 to 15. So, a 15-pound female Siamese would be overweight, whereas that size might be healthy for a male.
Those resources also dont account for mixed breed cats. If your cat is a mix of two or more breeds, you may struggle to pinpoint an average weight or range for her. What then?
When Are Cats Considered Elderly
Your senior cat will eventually become elderly. Its important to note that this is more a statement of your cats health and is not a completely separate life phase. An elderly cat is still considered to be in its senior adult life.
As your cat becomes elderly, you will see their appetite, activity levels, and sometimes their patience drop. Outdoor cats are generally considered elderly from 13 years onward, while indoor cats are elderly at 15 years, but this varies depending on your cats fitness and wellbeing.
At this senior stage of adulthood is when most of your cats health issues will arise. Many cats encounter hyperthyroidism, arthritis, and dental disease during this time. Kidney and bladder issues are also common in elderly cats. Elderly cats will also commonly endure hair loss, brittle nails, and dry or patchy skin.
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At What Age Are Cats Fully Grown
Reviewed for accuracy on September 30, 2019, by Dr. Jennifer Coates, DVM
When a child finally turns 18 years old, they are generally considered to be an adult.
But what about our feline family members? At what age are cats fully grown? How do you know when to start feeding them adult cat food?
Your cat will hit several different milestones that signify that shes becoming an adult cat, but theres no one magic age where a cat stops growing and maturing.
Although theres no definitive age, there are general age ranges where most cats generally stop growing and reach adulthood. Heres what you can expect as your cat makes that transition.
How To Determine Your Cat’s Age
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
There are a lot of mysteries about cats that have been adopted or rescued, and that includes the feline’s age. A veterinarian is your best partner in determining the current age of a cat, as well as in planning a care program to ensure the optimal quality of life and longevity. A thorough veterinary examination of the cat’s entire body will generally help to determine an approximate age of the cat however, vets tend to look at a few body parts in particular when trying to estimate how old the cat might be.
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Moving Into Adulthood And Lifestyle Changes: Your Cats Changing Nutritional Needs
When your kitten has reached the age of 6 months, with sexual maturity fast approaching, this is sometimes considered the best time to consider neutering. For health reasons, many veterinarians often recommend early neutering when your kitten is between 4 and 6 months old. It is important to be aware that neutering will have certain consequences on your cats appetite and metabolism. For example, a neutered cats ability to burn calories is modified and weight gain could increase up to 20% quickly . There is a chance she may also be more inclined to beg for food in an attempt to satisfy her new found hunger. Hence, it is crucial to pay close attention to her body weight throughout this potentially tricky 18 week period following neutering and to closely monitor her food intake.
How To Tell A Cat’s Age: Possible But Tricky
As we’ve seen, it’s possible to get a ballpark estimate of how old your cat is by looking at a few features. If they have lots of energy, appear smaller, have soft fur, and don’t have all their teeth, you’re looking at a kitten. If they still have lots of energy, smooth hair, but have all their teeth, you’re probably looking at a cat in its prime. Finally, if you’re looking at a cat that has eye discharge, has a duller coat, and has less energy, you probably have a senior cat.
When in doubt, ask a vet! Since they have seen so many cats before, they often have remarkably accurate guesses on how old these felines are.
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Benefits Of Adopting An Adult Cat
Cats are considered adults from around one-years old, when they enter the “prime” stage of life that lasts until they are about seven.
One of the many advantages of adopting an older cat is that you won’t have to spend much time training her. Litter-training, for example, can be daunting for new pet parents, but adult cats already know what to do you’ll just have to show them where.
Another benefit, notes the ASPCA , is that “adult animals require less supervision than puppies or kittens who sometimes can’t distinguish between safe situations and dangerous ones and may not know or care what ‘no’ means.” Less time training your cat what not to do means more time spent doing the fun stuff, like snuggling and chilling out on the couch.
Grown-up cats also have established personalities, which facilitates the adoption process. “Adult cats show you their genuine personalities,” explains PAWS Chicago, “making it easier to choose one who fits your lifestyle and family.” Unlike kittens that are still developing their traits, adult cats know what they want, when they want it and how.
Go With Food Puzzles:
Food puzzles make your cat low at eating and great at work. These play tricks will require a more work part for a cat to gain the kibble.
It is suggested to go with something as clean as a muffin pan. By doing so, your cat doesnt gorge and eat all at once instead, the cat is forced to forage for the food and eventually will eat more slowly.
This will help in both the workout and slow eating food therapy.
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Assess Their Grooming Habits
Cats are very meticulous when it comes to grooming, and most younger cats will keep their coats looking pristine. However, once cats reach a certain age, they might not be as thorough with their grooming as they once were.
Many factors can contribute to a cat losing the ability to groom themselves well. Dental issues in particular can cause a cat to stop grooming because it is painful. They also could gain weight as they get older, which in turn makes it harder to reach certain spots, Dr. Horvath says.
Arthritis can be another factor since the contortions necessary to reach everywhere on the body become painful. Losing the ability to groom is more obvious in medium-haired and long-haired cats, adds Dr. Horvath.
How Do You Tell The Age Of A Cat
The best way to tell a cat’s age is to observe its behavior. Older and very young cats need to sleep a lot more. Cats that are in their prime need the least amount of sleep. Young cats have loads of energy and love to play. Older cats might just head to their sleeping space. Observing activity alone will give you a pretty good sense as to what age the cat is.
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How To Examine A Cats Mouth
To estimate your cats age by her teeth, you will need to lift her lips up gently and open her mouth. Please be aware that cats generally do not like this process and will not open their mouths willingly. Because of which opening your cats mouth might need some preparation, patience, and cautiousness. Here are the tips how to do it:
Physical And Mental Exercise
Obesity and arthritis are common concerns for older cats, which is why keeping your cat fit is an important part of keeping her healthy. Senior cats enjoy playing with toys, such as feathered wands, and most cant resist catnip-enhanced cat toys.
You also can toss kibble for your cat to hunt. Or take her daily food allotment, split it up into four or five portions, and put them around the house, preferably elevated so your cat must jump. All of these options can help sharpen your cats mind and trim her body.
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Fact Checked By Dr Antoinette Martin Dvm
If you have ever owned a kitten before, you have probably noticed how quickly they grow. In fact, by just six months of age, most kittens have already reached puberty and are nearing their full adult size. While you may assume that this rapid growth cycle means kittens become adults as soon as they reach half a year of age, nailing down a specific age is not so simple.
In cats, adulthood is signified by physical milestones rather than reaching a specific age. Since kittens and adult cats have different dietary needs, many cat owners wonder when they can begin treating their kitten as an adult cat, which is why you must know when your cat can be considered an adult.
While many veterinarians subscribe to the belief that a kitten is an adult cat after it has reached one year of age, this is more of a general guideline rather than an exact age where your cat will stop growing and maturing.
From Three To Seven Years
Little by little, we will notice that our cat is not as eager to play as before. Spend a lot of time sleeping and their behavior becomes more territorial if possible. In fact from these ages, it is complicated to accept a new cat in its territory that by the way it is your home. You need to see the cat weight chart and then analyze your cat growth. At this time even your cat licks you and you can see this article why does my cat lick me and know about the pet cats.
From Seven to Twelve Years
From the age of seven, a cat begins to age. They become even more sedentary and calmer. Your friend will spend a lot of time resting and not so much playing. Of course, it will continue to do so at times. But as you get closer to old age you will not have as much desire to pursue toys.
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When Is A Cat An Adult Food
Like humans, your cats nutritional needs will change as they age. Your cats health will be influenced by whether or not their bodies received the right nutrients at the right time.
One of the biggest times of change in nutritional needs for cats is when they move from being kittens to being adult cats.
Getting a new kitty? Check out my guide to How to Look after a Kitten, 6 Best Kitten Wet FoodOptions and 8 Best Kitten Dry Food Options
Leaving The Litter Behind
Even if your kitten consistently used her litter box from day one, you may see some changes in her bathroom behavior as she ages, such as urinating outside the box.
First you need to determine if her inappropriate urination is for territorial reasons or because she now dislikes her litter.
Address the situation immediately before it becomes habitual, eliminating the odor so the smell wont reel her back to that spot for future bathroom breaks.
Always put a litter box on each floor of a multi-level home to make it convenient for your cat. Keep the minimum rule in mind: One litter box for each cat, plus an extra box be sure the sides of the box are low enough for your cat to access easily.
Fastidious by nature, cats can teach us all something. They dont like using a dirty litter box so clean it daily and completely scoop out and change their litter weekly.
If youd like to try a new litter, do so gradually by mixing some new litter in with the older formula. Abrupt change can cause your cat to leave her litter box behind so transition slowly.
Consider a litter thats specifically formulated to lure cats back to their boxes, such as natural herbal blends that have been proven to attract cats.
If your cat is still avoiding her litter box even after youve addressed behavioral issues, she may have a urinary tract infection or kidney disease, which is common in aging cats. See your veterinarian immediately to rule out possible health issues.
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Monitoring Your Young Adult Cats Weight
As your cat grows older and transitions to adult food it is especially important to monitor her body weight. In order to help your cat maintain a healthy bodyweight, you could try adding wet food to your cats dry food diet. Wet food also has the advantage of much higher water content, which is always good for your cat. You can also try out puzzle feeding toys that stimulating her mentally. Finally, you can also help your cat maintain a healthy bodyweight by regularly engaging in games they love using cat toys to encourage physical exercise.
Ask Your Vet To Check For Cloudiness In Your Cats Eyes
Beyond teeth, vets may also look to your cats eyes to help determine age.
Around the age of 6 or 7, a cats eye lenses become denser, not unlike what happens to humans around age 40. If you look with an ophthalmoscope, you can see a bit of cloudiness around this age, Dr. Horvath explains.
Its not really noticeable to owners until a cat is about 10 years oldthen their eyes might start to look a little cloudy.
Dr. Nappier adds that looking at the cloudiness in the eye is something that vets must do, especially when the cat is younger. Its a fairly reliable system with a set of standards, but its not something owners can do at home without having certain tools and knowledge, he says.
As cats age into their senior years, their iris can show changes. Called iris atrophy, the inside of the iris can break down so that your cats pupil doesn’t get as small as it used to. Or, sometimes the inner edge of the iris becomes wavy.
Either way, this is a normal aging change and does not cause any pain or problems for your cat.
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