Kittens quickly become cats during the last half of their first year of life, and some notable changes occur. The major developmental milestones may have already passed by six months, but that doesn’t mean your kitten is done growing physically or mentally.
How Much Do 5-Month-Old Kittens Weigh
2.5 to 3.5kg would be normal, more than that is pretty huge but some large breeds (Norwegian Forest, Maine Coon, etc) do grow that large by 5 months on their way to their final size. If your kitten is very large but not overweight (not too fat – rounded in the abdomen is ok but legs should be pretty skinny and ribs should be easy to feel) and still highly active, then it’s probably fine even if it weighs more than expected.
Here Are A Few Benchmarks To Watch For:
- 3-month-old kitten size: By the age of 3 months (12 weeks), your kitten should weigh between 2 and 4 pounds. They should be three to four times the size they were at birth.
- 4-month-old kitten size: By the age of 4 months (16 weeks), your kitten should weigh between 4 and 5 pounds
- 5-month-old kitten size: By the age of 5 months (20 weeks), your kitten should weigh between 5 and 6 pounds
- 6-month-old kitten size: By the age of 6 months (24 weeks), your kitten should weigh between 6 and 8 pounds.
Kitten Growth Chart
Monitoring growth for health reasons is always a good idea. On the other side of the equation, you won’t be surprised when the cat you thought was fully grown just keeps growing and growing. Growth charts also help you find the answer to the question of when do cats stop growing with reference to your own kitty. While a chart can never be 100% accurate, especially for mixed breed moggies, they still give you a useful reference.
| Weight | Age | Life stage |
| 5 ounces | Newborn | Kitten |
| 1 week | 12 ounces | |
| 2 weeks | 15 ounces | |
| 3 weeks | 1 pound | |
| 4 – 8 weeks | 3 pounds | |
| 9 – 12 weeks | 4 pounds | |
| 17 – 20 weeks | 5 – 6 pounds | |
| 6 – 8 pounds | 6 months – 12 months | Junior |
| 10 – 15 pounds | Above 1 year | Adult |
The average lifespan of a domestic cat is around 12 years. It’s important to know how fast your cat is growing so you can keep track of his nutritional needs throughout his life. The average weight of an adult cat is between 6 and 10 pounds, but some breeds can weigh up to 15 pounds.
It’s important to note that cats are generally not in good health when they reach their maximum weight as they can have heart problems or other health issues due to excess weight gain. The average height of an adult cat is around 14 inches from head to tail tip, but some breeds can be as tall as 18 inches when fully grown.
How Fast Do Cats Grow?
Cats are small, but they’re still mammals—and like all mammals, they go through a period of growth called the juvenile stage. This is when their bodies grow from infancy into adulthood. The rate of growth of cats can be accounted for by several factors. the most important factors are breed and health.
The rate at which cats grow can as well be categorized on a breed-specific basis. In other words, if you have a Bengal kitten, the answer to this question will be different than if you have an American Shorthair kitten or a Maine Coon kitten. And if you have a “mutt” kitten – a kitten whose parentage is unknown or only partially known, then good luck. Figuring out when is a kitten fully grown becomes even more of a mystery.
The growth rate of a cat is directly related to its overall health. If they’re growing too slowly or too quickly, there could be an issue with their health. It’s also important to know this information because it can help you make changes in your cat’s diet and environment that will keep them healthy and happy as they grow older.
At 5 months, a kitten still remains fairly young but it’s worth noting that puberty is just around the corner. That means your fluffy friend would soon receive a heavy dose of teenage hormones which lead to considerable changes in various aspects including daily behavior. In such a period, the pet is going to cause all kinds of mischief to everyone in the house without a care in the world. Though it’s hard to avoid troubles entirely, you could still minimize potential damages if you have a general picture of 5-month-old kitten behavior.
Generally speaking, the surge in body hormones makes the average cat more active at 5 months in most cases. As pets also eat a lot to support the rapid growth of their body, they need to do something to vent pent-up energy. In order to do that, a lot of cats prefer to hang around humans to play but others resort to clawing which often leaves unsightly marks all over the place. Needless to say, if you want peace of mind without leaving the house at the mercy of your furball, ensure that you arrange certain diversions.
When Do Kittens Stop Growing?
There isn’t really any hard and fast scientific evidence to prove at what age cats stop growing. Different feline breeds grow at different rates, and some breeds are quite petite at maturity. Others can be surprisingly robust in size and never seem to stop growing.
Most cat breeders agree that kittens stop growing somewhere between 8 and 16 months, depending upon the breed. That’s a pretty good rule of thumb for the vast majority of cats. However, it can be a bit more complicated than that. As we all know, cats are naturally contrary creatures and nothing is that simple.
Balanced Diet For a 5-month-old kitten
A balanced diet is important for all kittens, but especially those who are growing and developing fast. A 5-month-old kitten has a lot to do: they’re eating solid food, they’re learning proper litter box habits and how to play with their littermates, and they’re starting to explore their world.
The best way to make sure your kitty is growing up strong is to feed them a high-quality diet that meets all of its nutritional needs. Here’s what you should be feeding your 5-month-old kitten:
Water: Your kitten needs water every day—it should be available at all times in an easily accessible bowl or dish.
Food: When it comes to food, kittens need protein from meat sources like chicken or beef as well as carbohydrates from grains like rice or pasta. They also need fats from animal sources like eggs or dairy products like milk or cheese (which can be used as treats). The best way to give your kitten everything they need is by feeding them commercial pet foods that are specifically made for kittens’ nutritional needs; here are some good brands:
- Hill’s Science Diet.
- Royal Canin.
- Purina Pro Plan.
- Merrick.
- Farmina.
- VetDiet.
- Nature’s Logic.
- Earthborn Holistic.
Treats: Treats are a great way to reward your kitten for good behavior and keep him happy. However, you should not give your kitten too many treats. In fact, it’s best to limit treats to 10% of his daily caloric intake.
Can You Tell How Big A Kitten Will Get?
Unlike dogs that can vary in size from Chihuahuas to Great Danes, cats don’t have huge variations in size between breeds. Still, though, there is some variation. Some cats can be more than twice as big as others, depending on their genetics and other factors. An average adult cat weighs 10 pounds, but some petite cats can weigh closer to 5 or 6 pounds and others equally as healthy cats can tip the scales at over 15 pounds. Get to know what’s normal for your unique pet. That way you’ll notice if your cat is gaining or losing weight.
Tips For Healthy Kitten Weight Gain
Your kitten’s growth may be affected by many factors, including genetics, nutrition, parasites, illnesses, surgeries, and other variables.
So, how do you ensure your kitten is growing at a healthy rate? Try these tips.
-Feed your pet kitten food, not adult food, since kittens and adult cats have different nutritional needs.
-Use the feeding guidelines on your kitten food packaging as a starting point for how much to feed and adjust over time as your kitten grows (and adjust again as their growth slows down).
-Feed several small meals per day, rather than one big meal.
-Don’t add supplements or vitamins unless specifically instructed to do so by your vet. It’s possible to have “too much of a good thing,” and excesses of certain nutrients can cause health problems.
-Monitor your kitty. Their weight and body condition will be checked at each kitten visit, and you can always call your vet’s office with questions between appointments.
Final thoughts
As a new kitten parent, you will want to monitor your kitten’s overall growth (length, height, weight) from two perspectives. These are healthy kitten growth expectations and breed-specific adult cat growth expectations. The former is critical to detect any situation where your kitten may fail to thrive. If you are worried that they are growing too slowly, you can seek veterinary care without any delay.