A kitten grows rapidly until the age of 4 to 5 months , which corresponds to the peak of growth: at this stage, a kitten gains about 20 g per day, or 140 g per week . Once past this stage, the kitten’s daily weight gain gradually decreases: when this weight gain becomes zero, the kitten has stopped growing !
A weekly weighing therefore helps to know when the kitten has reached its adult size: its weight at the end of growth must remain a reference for the whole life of the cat : it is necessary to prevent the kitten from gaining excess weight, even if it is sterilized. .
The age at the end of growth varies according to the breeds: Asian cats (Abyssinian, Siamese, Bengal, etc.) are light and slender: they reach their final weight and size around 12 to 14 months . On the other hand, the growth of kittens belonging to heavier breeds (such as the Persians or the Maine Coon) continues at least until the age of 20 months .
If the parent cats have very different weights, the weight of the kitten in adult stage will be roughly intermediate . A male cat is generally heavier than a female cat of the same breed: the growth of the male kitten therefore lasts a few weeks longer than that of the female.
Happy Cat Parenting!
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