So at what age is a kitten a cat?
By Pigglies
@Pigglies (9329)
United States
July 13, 2007 6:42pm CST
I've been helping my friends adopt out some feral kittens they rescued. We've got 3 of 4 adopted out, but now the 4th one is 4 months old. We've been referring to it as being 16 weeks old, but still, when the last potential adopter saw it, they said it was just too old and they really wanted a kitten.
I figured cats were technically kittens until a year, but looked like kittens until 6 months. To me, the 4 month old still looks like a kitten. But I've posted a photo so that you can decide.
So is this kitten still a kitten?
7 people like this
16 responses
@ElicBxn (63643)
• United States
14 Jul 07
According to the Cat Fanciers you show a kitten in the kitten classes up to age 8 months.
Technically, a cat doesn't reach his or her full development until 2. Not that they actually grow much after 8-10 months, but they fill out & gain muscle mass.
Having said that, my cat, The Doctor did actually gain a bit more size after 1 year - about an inch in length & a half in height, but he was the biggest 8 week old kitten I'd ever seen. He wasn't as big as a Maine Coone, but he was a siamese mix with no sign of Maine c. or Norwegian Forest cat in his back ground.
@Rico_The1 (24)
• United States
14 Jul 07
A kitten would be a cat when its 1 years old IMO. That would be the only reasoneble thing to say. Buit I actually don't know what age a kitten would be a cat. Never really thought about it. I thought it would just when it looks like one lol
@theproperator (2429)
• United States
14 Jul 07
I would definately consider 4 months old to be a kitten. I think the cut-off would fall somewhere between 6 and 9 months, but I don't know if there is an "official" age at which a kitten becomes a cat. I think so long as you are referring to her as a "16 week old kitten" you certainly aren't trying to decieve anyone. Ithink some people just don't realize how fast cats grow up.
BTW, she is a very pretty kitten. If her personality is good, I can't believe someone hasn't snapped her up already!
Good Luck!
@theproperator (2429)
• United States
14 Jul 07
Yes, I could see how the process would slow the adoption process down, but it is good that you are so careful where the cats end up. We went through a similar process when we adopted our dog, but they were not very far from where we were living, so it wasn't too bad.
@cheetah311 (343)
• United States
14 Jul 07
4 months is still a kitten. Last September I picked up a stray and when I brought it to the vet he said she was 6 months old and still a kitten until a year old. Then, he said, they are considered teenagers between the ages of 1 to 3. I would say, at a year old the kitten is considered an adult cat.
The cat is adorable and someone is bound to adopt him/her. Good Luck, you're doing a great thing by finding homes for these kittens.
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
14 Jul 07
That is interesting about the teenage years. I was told that a cat was considered a teen until from 12 up to 24 months and you could tell when they enter and exit the stage by their attitude because they were like teenage kids.
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
14 Jul 07
I hadn't heard of the teenage thing. That makes sense that they'd have that stage.
Normally, I rescue guinea pigs. They have a teenage stage from about 6 months to about a year. It can be pretty crazy.
I've learned quite a bit helping to rehome kittens. But I think if I did it again, I'd take the kittens myself and not help my friends out. They're not really doing much of the work it seems like.
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
14 Jul 07
I just saw the picture and she looks like an adult but looks can be deceiving..The only way would be to ask a vet how you would tell her age..She is very pretty..
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
14 Jul 07
I am thinking that they are like dogs..They become a cat at the age of one year..They can get pregnant much earlier than that though..Some cats do still look like kittens..I am not sure if you can tell by their teeth like you can a dog..were they looking for a small kitten or wasn't size the issue?..I did not see the picture..sorry..I hope I helped..
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
14 Jul 07
She can't get pregnant, we had her spayed. :)
We know their age because they were found at a couple weeks old and were taken from their mom around 8-10 weeks old. They should be 4 months old now and the vet agreed.
But yes, you can tell by their teeth too to some extent. Cats get bad dental problems too if the owners don't take them in for cleanings.
The adopters wanted a young kitten, they don't really care about the size at adulthood. The mom of this kitten was very petite, so we're thinking she might stay small.
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
14 Jul 07
Thank you for the information and I think it is wonderful what you are doing...Keep up the good work....
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
14 Jul 07
We were told by our vet - and even on cat food bags - that cats are kittens and should eat kitten food until they are one. Your little one still looks like a kitten.
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
28 Jul 07
The people who ended up adopting her just loved how she looks now. Even more so than when she was a kitten. And they were definitely pleased that she already knows how to use a litterbox and is trained for scratching posts rather than furniture, etc.
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
14 Jul 07
That is one adorable kitten!!!
According to foods and things a cat isn't an adult until their a year old. But as far as peoples personal preferences I don't know.
When I went to adopt my first cat, Leo, I went to adopt a small kitten. Well to make a long story short our Leo choose us. He was still a kitten in my opinion but a bigger kitten - close to six months old - than some of the others they had.
So yes I think that kitten is still a kitten :)
@gwendovere (1279)
• United States
5 Aug 07
I think it's about a year. Mine have always kept growing till they were about 1 year old.
@myfanwy65 (1030)
• United States
15 Jul 07
I have also heard that they are kittens until they are about a year old. But, I'm no expert. I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't want a kitten because it is already four months old. That's crazy to me. But, again, it is just my opinion.
@micheleg34 (141)
• United States
14 Jul 07
It still looks like a kitten to me... baby kitten face, big ears it still has to grow into.... yup, still a kitten. I'm with you though, and consider a cat a kitten until it's about a year old. It's a beautiful kitten too! I'd adopt it if you lived close to me!
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
14 Jul 07
Too bad you didn't live near Los Angeles.
The next pending adopter said it didn't look like a kitten anymore to her either, but is a beautiful cat and despite looking more grown up now, she is still interested. So cross your fingers, maybe she'll have a home tomorrow. :)
@meljessxena (2315)
• Australia
14 Jul 07
16 weeks old i think is still a kitten, i think maybe about 6- 8 months old then they are turning into a cat. the one in your picture looks like a kitten to me
@freak369 (5113)
• United States
14 Jul 07
I would have to say that a cat is still a kitten until it can fend for itself and reaches a size that it won't be picked on by other animals or cats. I am not a cat person but have had a few here and there when people have left them on my doorstep. I'd say six months - yep, still a kitten!
