An Informational Kitten Growth Chart, Monitoring Kitten Growth

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Kitten Growth Chart

Looking for a kitten growth chart? Well, look no further. Trying to get information about what to expect developmentally during the kitten years can be challenging. Sorting through multiple resources is difficult and time consuming for most people. Therefore, I've compiled a list to make life a bit easier.

All kittens have their own maturational time table that is based upon their heredity, breed, and the environment in which they live. So, when looking at the following table, keep in mind all kittens grow at different rates. And a slower growing kitten may still be on track to grow into a healthy adult cat.

It's a good idea to track your kitten's development and weight by writing the numbers in a journal or notebook. That way you have a written record to guage whether or not your kitten is on target for its age, size, and weight. In general, kittens gain about 1 pound per month until roughly 32 weeks of age.

Photo by Sneakerdog @ flickr.com

KITTEN AGE (in weeks)	DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES	WEIGHT
0	~Neonatal Period ~Heart Rate=200-300 Beats Per Minute ~Respiratory Rate=up to 35 Breathes Per Minute ~Body Temperature=95-99F ~Eyes and ear canals are closed. Kittens are born with blue eyes. ~The umbilical cord falls of around day 2. ~Kittens are born without teeth. ~>~Kitten gender can be determined.	3-4 oz
2	~Neonatal Period ~Heart Rate=200 Beats Per Minute ~Body Temperature=100F ~Eyes and ears begin to open. ~The suckling reflex becomes stronger. ~Deciduous (baby) teeth emerge.	6-8 oz
4	~Neonatal Period ~Crawling begins. ~Play becomes a central activity. ~Self-grooming begins. ~Weaning to solid food can take place. ~Kittens can eliminate on their own.	-
6	~Kittens gain the ability to stand ~Reactions to sights and sounds begin ~Litter box training can commence ~Male kitten testicles can be detected by touch ~Human socialization is critical at this point	1 lb
8	~Deciduous (baby) teeth fully emerge ~Spaying or neutering takes place	-
10	~Kittens begin to lose their mother cat's immunity. ~Susceptibility to respiratory and intestinal infection increases	2 lbs
12	~Adult eye color emerges in most breeds ~Best time to adopt a kitten ~Neurological development reaches adult levels	-
20	~Suckling reflex begins to subside	-
24	~Kittens begin to experience a decrease in growth rate	-
32	~Full adult size; depending upon the breed	8-12 lbs
36	~Sexual maturity reached; depending upon the breed	-
52	~Full adult size; depending upon the breed ~1 kitten year of life=16 human years	8-12 lbs

Remember...this kitten growth chart is simply a guide. Consult your veterinarian if you have any specific questions about your kitten's development.

Source: Eldredge, Debra, DVM, et al. Cat Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook.
Third Edition. New Jersey: Wiley Publishing Inc., 2008.

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