Cat Life Stages

This stage of your cat’s life is classed as their infancy stage. During this 6-month period, a kitten will transition through the stages very similar to those of a human child. New-born to toddler to pre-schooler to big kid.

Appearance – As with most baby animals, kittens look like a tiny version of their adult selves. Very easy to spot and, of course, very cute! You will also notice that your kitten may have shorter ears and tail, however, these will grow to be more proportionate.

Behaviour – While they are a kitten they are completely reliant on their mother (and you) to support them with every aspect of their care and protection. As they develop, you will see their desire and curiosity to explore their environment. Combined with a lack of fear and energy, this can lead to a lot of mischief. At this impressionable age, we recommend focusing on socialising your kitten with as many people and animals as possible, to help them develop into a well-rounded cat.

Care – Typically, your kitten should have received their first vaccination by the time you are ready to bring them home. We recommend the 2^nd vaccinations from around 12 weeks onwards, followed by annual booster vaccinations. At your first appointment here with us, we will also offer your kitten a wellness check, discuss neutering and parasite treatment options. We will be able to discuss nutritional needs, providing guidance on appropriate amounts of protein required to support growth and development. We will also advise on ranges of high-quality kitten food that will help to deliver this to your kitten.

Equivalent to human adolescence. Your kitten will now be maturing both physically and mentally, with obvious changes to both as they grow through this period.

Appearance – You may notice that during this period your junior cat begins to look more lean and lanky. This is due to them experiencing many growth spurts as they develop their adult frame.

Behaviour – Your cat will begin to lose their kitten-like ways and will learn to become more like an adult cat. Usually, by the time they are 18 months old, they will have a much calmer demeanour compared to those early few months. We would normally recommend the continued socialisation of your cat, where possible, along with training about rules and boundaries around the home.

Care – Don’t forget to ensure that you continue your routine parasite treatments and your cat’s established vaccination schedule as they continue to age. At around a year old, we also recommend transitioning your cat from kitten food to adult cat food, which could be canned (wet), kibble or a mixture of both depending on their preference. Please be aware that it is not uncommon for cats at this stage to put on additional weight after being neutered. It is important to ensure intake is monitored and your cat isn’t overfed. Our team are always on hand to discuss your junior cat’s feeding requirements so, please ask when you next visit us.

At this stage, we class your cat as being in the 'prime of their life’. Very similar to a human in their 20s and 30s.

Appearance – During this stage, your cat will be at the peak of their health and physical fitness. Their once lanky frame will be filled out, but not overweight, with a sleek body and shiny healthy coat.  They are now classed as 'fully' grown and will be as tall and long as they are going to be throughout the rest of their adult life.

Behaviour – Your cat will also now be much more settled into their personality (which of course varies from cat to cat). This personality is the one they will have for the rest of their life. We would expect to see a playful and active cat, with well-established routines and their own territory. Your cat should also be fully trained however if you do notice problematic/unwanted behaviours, we can help! We would check for any underlying medical conditions that may be causing the unwanted behaviour and we can also help with training.

Care – Although in peak health, caring for your adult cat should still involve regular health checks with us here at the practice, as well as booster vaccinations and all-year-round parasite treatments. The nutritional needs of your cat will continue as they did during their junior stage, barring any special health requirements that may arise.

At this time in their life, your cat is equivalent to that of a middle-aged human in their 40s or 50s.

Appearance – From looking at your cat outwardly there will be very little difference to how they looked when they were in the prime stage of their life. It is, however, important to be aware that your cat could be prone to weight gain and their coat may look a little less shiny.

Behaviour – While many cats remain active through this life stage, it is common to see mature cats slowing down.

Care – At this stage of your cat’s life, care does require more involvement from you as an owner. This is due to their increased risk of obesity and related health problems, including high blood pressure, diabetes etc. All of these can increase your cat’s risk of cancer, kidney and thyroid disease. We recommend regular check-ups with our vets who will help to monitor your cat’s health, as well as provide advice on how to spot signs of illness at home, such as weight loss, diarrhoea etc. Part of the health check will also focus on your cat’s diet as at this stage in life, your cat will require an array of nutrients to keep them healthy, such as vitamins C and E. We may also need to adjust levels of food as their activity levels decrease.

Just like all of their previous life stages, it is important to ensure your cat’s vaccinations and all-year-round parasite treatments are up to date.